Guided walking holidays in Japan
| country: | Japan |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 11 Apr, 13 Apr, 16 May, 19 Jul, 26 Sep, 9 Oct, 25 Oct |
| price: | From £2245 (12 days) - £2590 (14 days) excluding flights. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to Guided walking holidays in Japan
We offer a selection of small-group guided tours in Japan. These trips travel the quieter backroads and trails to catch a glimpse of lost Japan. From the temples of Kyoto and Nara to the mountain villages of Kyushu we reveal a side of Japan that most visitors never see.
Typically, our tours involve a wide variety of activities, but the pace is relaxed and there is ample time to visit temples, wander through small villages, and enjoy soaking in rural hot springs, surely reason enough to visit Japan!
With a maximum group size of 12, the trip is both more personal and memorable. Our tours draw upon our combined years' of experience travelling the length of the country. Each tour is lead by a qualified Japanese-speaking tour leader. We work with local Japanese guides to enhance the experience through their local knowledge of certain regions.
Mountain spirits
From £2390 (13 days) excluding flights. 2009: 12 Jul, 23 Aug, 13 Sep, 2010: 19 Jul 26 Sep
Highlights include Ultra-modern Tokyo – the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toshogu shrine at Nikko – spectacular walking in the Oze marshland – accommodation in traditional ryokan – natural hot spring baths – a temple stay in the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan – the Rushaku-ji temple complex at Yamadera – Golden hall at Hiraizumi – gentle walks and cycling in the Tono valley – Samurai houses and gardens at Kakunodate – relax in the milky-white waters of the remote Nyuto hot spring – travel on the bullet train.
Our journey will take us north from Tokyo into a landscape rich in spirituality and tradition. Though off the established tourist circuit, the sights of northern Japan can rival anywhere in the country in their beauty and atmospheric grandeur. By travelling on Japan’s modern rail system as well as our own vehicle, we will be able to visit both the better-known, magnificent destinations, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toshogu shrine at Nikko, Yamadera, Hiraizumi and Dewa Sanzan, as well as the region’s more out of the way natural hot springs and beautiful national parks. We will take exhilarating walks through beautiful scenery in the Oze Marshlands, Mount Gas-san, and the Tono Valley.
The Japanese poet Matsuo Basho traveled through this region in the 17th century, a journey subsequently published as The Narrow Road to the Deep North. We will visit several of the places which inspired his famous haiku poems. Onsen, natural hot spring baths, are one of the highlights of our journey. At Tochio near Oze our hot spring ryokan has open-air baths next to a rushing river, while at Nyuto near Lake Tazawako, the 300-year old Tsuru-no-yu ryokan has eight baths, some with the famous milky-white spring water. The tour starts and ends in Tokyo, with time for sightseeing and shopping. Our small group will stay at traditional ryokan and minshuku country inns in the countryside – always with a flawless service and beautifully-prepared regional cuisine of fresh local ingredients.
Land of fire
From £2590 (14 days) excluding flights. 2009: 10 Oct, 2010: 13 Apr, 09 Oct
Highlights: Imperial Kyoto – Samurai houses and castle at Obi – Traditional Yokagura dances at Takachiho – Yakushima Island UNESCO World Heritage site - Hot sand baths on the beach – Hiroshima - Accommodation in traditional ryokan – natural hot spring baths – gentle walks along country paths - Osaka.
We will start our journey in Kyoto, seeing the former imperial capital and repositories of much of Japan's cultural heritage. Visits to grand temples and shrines will be balanced with easy walking in the Nara plain south of Kyoto, before continuing to Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. Kyushu is known for its numerous active volcanoes, and we will explore the Kuju and Aso areas, as well as the spectacular island of Yakushima to the south, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site. A natural by-product of the volcanoes are 'onsen', or hot springs, and we will enjoy many relaxing dips in their soothing waters, as well as the unforgettable hot sand baths at Yamakawa where you will be buried in sand heated by the hot spring water. We will travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, before heading back to Osaka where our journey ends.
Nakasendo Trail
From £2245 (12 days) excluding flights. 2009: 12 April, 1 June, 19 July, 27 September & 18 October, 2010: 11 Apr, 16 May, 25 Oct
Highlights include four days of village-to-village walking on the old Nakasendo trail – Imperial Nara and Kyoto – modern Tokyo - the mountain-top village of Yoshino - visit sacred Mount Koya and stay in a temple – relax in the bath at a lovely hot spring ryokan – travel on the bullet train.
The Nakasendo trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal period. It was the ‘road through the mountains’ (as opposed to the Tokaido route which travelled the Pacific coast) travelled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai, merchants, and travelers. Along the route were 69 ‘post towns’, where weary travelers could rest before continuing on the next leg.
Our journey will start in Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan’s period of rule by the Shoguns. We will then spend three days walking along the Nakasendo. By day we will walk along the ancient route as it passes through beautifully-preserved villages along an easy path, and by evening we will stay in traditional country inns enjoying exquisite regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, soak in natural hot springs, and enjoy the warm hospitality of our hosts. Enjoy bathing in hot spring water after a day on the trails! We’ll then continue by bullet train to Nara, to explore the former imperial capital, wander the old town and see the famous Todaiji temple, Nara park.
From Nara we will continue to Yoshino, a beautiful village famous for its cherry blossoms in springtime and also for its ‘warrior’ monks. We will walk in the hills and relax in the evening in a lovely ryokan. After Yoshino we visit Mount Koya, in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, a temple complex founded in the 9th century by the monk Kobo Daishi, where we will stay in a ‘shukubo’ (temple lodging), enjoying the vegetarian shojin-ryori cuisine. Finally, we travel by train to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, at the western end of the Nakasendo, with time to explore some of the most important temples and shrines, as well as the craft shops and food markets. Our tour ends here and we say farewell.
Typically, our tours involve a wide variety of activities, but the pace is relaxed and there is ample time to visit temples, wander through small villages, and enjoy soaking in rural hot springs, surely reason enough to visit Japan!
With a maximum group size of 12, the trip is both more personal and memorable. Our tours draw upon our combined years' of experience travelling the length of the country. Each tour is lead by a qualified Japanese-speaking tour leader. We work with local Japanese guides to enhance the experience through their local knowledge of certain regions.
Mountain spirits
From £2390 (13 days) excluding flights. 2009: 12 Jul, 23 Aug, 13 Sep, 2010: 19 Jul 26 Sep
Highlights include Ultra-modern Tokyo – the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toshogu shrine at Nikko – spectacular walking in the Oze marshland – accommodation in traditional ryokan – natural hot spring baths – a temple stay in the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan – the Rushaku-ji temple complex at Yamadera – Golden hall at Hiraizumi – gentle walks and cycling in the Tono valley – Samurai houses and gardens at Kakunodate – relax in the milky-white waters of the remote Nyuto hot spring – travel on the bullet train.
Our journey will take us north from Tokyo into a landscape rich in spirituality and tradition. Though off the established tourist circuit, the sights of northern Japan can rival anywhere in the country in their beauty and atmospheric grandeur. By travelling on Japan’s modern rail system as well as our own vehicle, we will be able to visit both the better-known, magnificent destinations, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toshogu shrine at Nikko, Yamadera, Hiraizumi and Dewa Sanzan, as well as the region’s more out of the way natural hot springs and beautiful national parks. We will take exhilarating walks through beautiful scenery in the Oze Marshlands, Mount Gas-san, and the Tono Valley. The Japanese poet Matsuo Basho traveled through this region in the 17th century, a journey subsequently published as The Narrow Road to the Deep North. We will visit several of the places which inspired his famous haiku poems. Onsen, natural hot spring baths, are one of the highlights of our journey. At Tochio near Oze our hot spring ryokan has open-air baths next to a rushing river, while at Nyuto near Lake Tazawako, the 300-year old Tsuru-no-yu ryokan has eight baths, some with the famous milky-white spring water. The tour starts and ends in Tokyo, with time for sightseeing and shopping. Our small group will stay at traditional ryokan and minshuku country inns in the countryside – always with a flawless service and beautifully-prepared regional cuisine of fresh local ingredients.
Land of fire
From £2590 (14 days) excluding flights. 2009: 10 Oct, 2010: 13 Apr, 09 Oct
Highlights: Imperial Kyoto – Samurai houses and castle at Obi – Traditional Yokagura dances at Takachiho – Yakushima Island UNESCO World Heritage site - Hot sand baths on the beach – Hiroshima - Accommodation in traditional ryokan – natural hot spring baths – gentle walks along country paths - Osaka.
We will start our journey in Kyoto, seeing the former imperial capital and repositories of much of Japan's cultural heritage. Visits to grand temples and shrines will be balanced with easy walking in the Nara plain south of Kyoto, before continuing to Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. Kyushu is known for its numerous active volcanoes, and we will explore the Kuju and Aso areas, as well as the spectacular island of Yakushima to the south, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site. A natural by-product of the volcanoes are 'onsen', or hot springs, and we will enjoy many relaxing dips in their soothing waters, as well as the unforgettable hot sand baths at Yamakawa where you will be buried in sand heated by the hot spring water. We will travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, before heading back to Osaka where our journey ends. Nakasendo Trail
From £2245 (12 days) excluding flights. 2009: 12 April, 1 June, 19 July, 27 September & 18 October, 2010: 11 Apr, 16 May, 25 Oct
Highlights include four days of village-to-village walking on the old Nakasendo trail – Imperial Nara and Kyoto – modern Tokyo - the mountain-top village of Yoshino - visit sacred Mount Koya and stay in a temple – relax in the bath at a lovely hot spring ryokan – travel on the bullet train.
The Nakasendo trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal period. It was the ‘road through the mountains’ (as opposed to the Tokaido route which travelled the Pacific coast) travelled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai, merchants, and travelers. Along the route were 69 ‘post towns’, where weary travelers could rest before continuing on the next leg.
Our journey will start in Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan’s period of rule by the Shoguns. We will then spend three days walking along the Nakasendo. By day we will walk along the ancient route as it passes through beautifully-preserved villages along an easy path, and by evening we will stay in traditional country inns enjoying exquisite regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, soak in natural hot springs, and enjoy the warm hospitality of our hosts. Enjoy bathing in hot spring water after a day on the trails! We’ll then continue by bullet train to Nara, to explore the former imperial capital, wander the old town and see the famous Todaiji temple, Nara park.From Nara we will continue to Yoshino, a beautiful village famous for its cherry blossoms in springtime and also for its ‘warrior’ monks. We will walk in the hills and relax in the evening in a lovely ryokan. After Yoshino we visit Mount Koya, in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, a temple complex founded in the 9th century by the monk Kobo Daishi, where we will stay in a ‘shukubo’ (temple lodging), enjoying the vegetarian shojin-ryori cuisine. Finally, we travel by train to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, at the western end of the Nakasendo, with time to explore some of the most important temples and shrines, as well as the craft shops and food markets. Our tour ends here and we say farewell.
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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This tour is part of a new trend in rural tourism in Japan, supporting small, family-run inns and guesthouses in small towns and villages where there are few work opportunities. In contrast to the most widespread form of tourism here - large groups visiting impersonal concrete hotels - our tours go off the main tourist trail. As well as bringing revenue to these areas, demonstrating the tourist potential of these destinations encourages local people to take pride in and conserve their areas and their older, traditionally constructed buildings.
The village of Aya in Kyushu is at the forefront of organic agriculture in Japan, and is also famous for its production of traditional crafts, such as dyeing and pottery. Our company is one of the few to bring visitors to this beautiful but economically depressed region of Japan. This area has relied in the past on public works projects financed by central government, which have often been the source of much environmental degradation in Japan. The introduction of rural tourism here will bring a welcome alternative source of revenue. We have a policy of 'leave no trace' for visiting rural areas. We only use established walking trails to limit damage to vegetation, all rubbish is removed, and the taking of any plants, rocks, etc. is discouraged. We use public transport as much as possible to lessen the environmental impact of this tour.  The presence of a Japanese-speaking tour leader makes a big difference in cultural interaction; it allows for communication between the visitors and local people and lessens the possibility of minor cultural gaffes by foreigners that might otherwise create nervousness on the part of local people about hosting foreign guests. We also make a donation for each customer to the Nature Conservation Society of Japan and the Japan National Trust, organisations which help protect the nature and also architectural heritage of Japan. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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