OKU Japan

Nikko National Park is just 125km from Tokyo in the Tochigi Prefecture where, after a quick train ride from the busy metropolis, you will discover a stunning mountainous landscape, with ancient villages and UNESCO protected ancient heritage. This heritage dates back to the rule of Ieyasu, first Shogun of the Tokugawa clan in the 1600’s. And your starting point of Nikko town is home to mausoleum with a shrine that is said to be Japan’s most decorative. Nikko town is gateway to the national park, where you can walk through the tranquil Oku Nikko plains, with views of Mount Mitsudake and Mount Orogura. Discover trails through ancient forests with secret waterfall spots such as Ryuzu and ...Read more >

The Nakasendo Trail is not only one of Japan’s most ancient thoroughfares, it is also one of modern Japan’s most aesthetically exquisite walking trails. Used since the 8th century by feudal lords needing to traverse this magnificent, mountainous terrain between Kyoto and Edo (today’s Tokyo), this itinerary includes five days of walking along the trail, from one ancient ‘post town’ to another. Walks range from two to six hours long, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the traditional ryokan inns and minshuku guesthouses that the Nakasendo Trail is so famous for. Here you can soak in traditional Japanese baths and even thermal springs but also in the culture, always so enlightening for visitors ...Read more >

Discover one of the world’s great pilgrimage routes as you walk Japan’s iconic Nakasendo Trail, starting from either Tokyo or Kyoto, with carefully curated routes available based on how far you want to go and how much time you have. Some of the itineraries include additional areas of magnificent hiking accessible from the Nakasendo Trail. The Nakasendo Trail is one of the oldest roads in Japan, used since the 8th century by feudal lords and their samurai, as well as traders and religious pilgrims. It is also one of the most beautiful roads, surrounded by majestic mountains, passing through forests of bamboo and cedar, past lakes, waterfalls and the historic post towns that are dotted ...Read more >

A Japan small group tour spending twelve days discovering the cities, cultural and coastal highlights of this unique country. Any Japan cultural tour has to include metropolitan and historical greats such as Kyoto, but this holiday also steps off the tourist trail to visit the country’s lesser known coastal treats such as Kojima and Yunotsu as well, reminding you that Japan is actually a collection of islands with eclectic, exquisite landscapes, seascapes and eco escapes. Using Japan’s famous railway system, including bullet trains, to travel from one place to the next, staying in traditional ryokan and minshuku inns and having plenty of opportunities to, literally, immerse yourselves in ...Read more >

This Japan walking holiday starts in Tokyo and heads north, off the traditional tourist trail and into serene, spiritual natural and cultural landscapes. There are some classic sites en route, however, such as the UNESCO Toshogu shrine at Nikko, a stunning area protected by national park status. We continue to the three sacred peaks of Dewa Sanzan where pilgrims gather, and where we have a chance to stay at a shukubo, or temple lodging. As well as divine hiking in Nikko NP, the Oze Marshlands and Tono Valley make for superb treks here in the north, a region portrayed beautifully by Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s most important haiku poets from the 17th century. Staying in traditional ...Read more >

The Kumano Kodo is an iconic network of long-distance walking trails. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and nobility from 11th century Japan as they travelled from Kyoto to the three great shrines of Kumano, scattered among the Kii Mountains in the Kii Peninsula. This is the largest peninsula on Japan's main island of Honshu and the Kumano Kodo trail is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This small-group guided walking holiday is accompanied by one of our expert local guides and allows you to discover the best of the Kumano Kodo. Read more >

This Japan self guided walking tour is a five day trip around the ancient heart of the Kansai region, on the main island of Honshu. A tailor made itinerary, the route we have planned below can always be tweaked to suit your budget and time frame. The walking holiday revolves around the region’s three ancient capitals of Kyoto, Nara and Asuka as well as the ancient walking trails that spread out from all of them. Easily accessible by train, you can explore the varied histories of each location, walking along the likes of Yamanobe no Michi Trail around Nara. This is part of Japan’s oldest road, known as the Shinkaido , and is peppered with shrines, temples and tombs. The Yagyu Kaido Trail ...Read more >

Embark on one of Japan’s most renowned long-distance walks, the Shikoku Pilgrimage, with a self-guided tour designed to show you the very best sections of a 1,200km route that many devoted pilgrims take years to complete in its entirety. The route takes you through some of Japan’s most magnificent scenery: cloud-wreathed mountains; peaceful fishing villages; hot spring resorts and rice paddies, with simply stunning views that you can pause to drink in whenever you please. Expect vigorous hiking, with some demanding sections of ascent and descent as you follow the routes of pilgrims. You can’t miss the Shikoku pilgrims – they dress all in white, with conical hats, staffs, and incense ...Read more >

This two week holiday begins in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Kyoto and perfect cultural starting point for this trip. Taking in the vast array of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines that the city is famous for, we will also explore the region’s natural gems, such as Nara Park at foot of Mount Wakakusa. Heading to Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s islands, there is a plethora of walking trails with four national parks on this volcanic gem of an island alone. Historically, Kyushu is considered the birthplace of civilization in Japan and, consequently, is the source of great storytelling and mythology, all of which pervade our explorations of its tracks and trails, villages and ...Read more >

Hokkaido has long been regarded as a remote wilderness with abundant nature. Known in feudal times as Ezo, Japan's second-largest island was originally inhabited only by the indigenous Ainu people. Today, the pristine paradise of Hokkaido attracts nature lovers and bird watchers with its snow capped mountain ranges, serene forests and indescribably beautiful crater lakes produced by volcanic activity. Our Hokkaido winter adventure starts in Kushiro on Hokkaido’s eastern Pacific coast, passes through Akan-Mashu National Park, visiting Lake Akan, Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, as well as Mount Io, known for its sulphur rocks. The holiday continues through to the Shiretoko Peninsula and stretches ...Read more >

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 four 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 ...Read more >

A two week long, small group tour around Japan’s cultural highlights with our expert and highly experienced local guide. This unique country’s culture and history are so rich, that even a two week long Japan culture tour will still only feel like an introduction, but this itinerary will immerse you deeply and quickly. Every day is different, with the likes of Imperial Kyoto and Nara one day or the ancient Nakasendo Trail, where you can follow in the footsteps of feudal warlords through the mountains, on another. The Trail is 500km long, but we will take on the Kiso Valley section visiting the traditional ‘post towns’ of Magome and Tsumago further over the Magome Pass. Hot springs and ...Read more >

The Kumano Kodo is an iconic network of long-distance walking trails. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and nobility from 11th century Japan as they travelled from Kyoto to the three great shrines of Kumano, scattered among the Kii Mountains in the Kii Peninsula. This is the largest peninsula on Japan's main island of Honshu and the Kumano Kodo trail is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Divided into three main sub-routes - Nakahechi Trail, Kohechi Trail and Iseji Trail - the Kumano Kodo offers a whole range of walking options. This self-guided walking holiday can be designed in various lengths with up to 6 hiking days, with some fairly strenuous treks of up to eight hours of walking per day. ...Read more >

Hokkaido is the second-largest of Japan’s islands, long regarded as a remote wilderness by other residents of the Japanese archipelago. Known in feudal times as Ezo, Hokkaido was originally inhabited only by the indigenous Ainu people. Today the island attracts nature lovers, known as is a pristine paradise of mountain ranges, lush forests and indescribably beautiful crater lakes produced by volcanic activity. When you join our small-group guided tour on a wonderful journey from Kushiro on Hokkaido’s eastern Pacific coast, you will travel through to the Shiretoko Peninsula stretching out into the Sea of Okhotsk. See untouched nature, visit UNESCO wetland nature reserves, experience ...Read more >

This 8-day small group guided tour features key walks along the Nakasendo Trail and exploration time of the atmospheric post-towns along the way. Experience hot-spring baths at multiple Ryokan inns and stay a charming family-run Minshuku inns, offering excellent Omotenashi service. This tour begins with two nights in Kyoto, where the trail begins, and includes a side-trip to an excellent hike in nearby Nara before heading to the Kiso Valley. After 3 days of fantastic walking along the historic Nakasendo Trail, passing through beautifully preserved villages, and enjoying exquisite regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, the tour then visits Matsumoto with its iconic black ...Read more >

Shikoku is the fourth largest island in Japan and famous for its Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage Trail, with numbered temples and shrines all along the way. This walking holiday, starting in Osaka, takes on a selection of walking trails along the pilgrimage route, including the starting point, Mount Koya, the centre of Shingon Buddhism and an elevated, almost ethereal temple town. We also take hikes through the Iya Valley, famous for its traditional thatched roof farmhouses and ancient vine bridges as well as staying in ryokan inns, with plenty of hot spring baths to enjoy along the way.Read more >

This Japan culinary heritage tour is an eleven day feast of what many people consider to be Japan’s cultural highlight: food. Having cuisine at the core of a cultural tour of Japan certainly is a wonderful way to discover great cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto. As well as hidden rural villages and the extraordinary Awaji Island where culinary traditions have been handed down through the generations. Japan utilises its local produce brilliantly, benefitting from fertile arable land which has been farmed sustainably for centuries. A term that you will come across often on this trip is Satoyama, which translates as the border between flat arable land and the mountains. This is where small ...Read more >

We begin in the historical city of Kyoto, exploring a city that houses much of Japan’s cultural heritage, and 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Next, we travel south to the Kumano region, where we discover the mystical ‘Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range’ – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over four days we follow in the footsteps of Emperors along this 1000-year-old pilgrimage route known as the Kumano Kodo – the Old Road of Kumano. We will dine on the freshest local ingredients in a hot spring ryokan, and enjoy the most civilized way to end a hike of great hiking – a natural hot spring bath! We then continue on to the Nakasendo Trail where we enjoy village to ...Read more >

An eight day guided snowshoeing or winter walking holiday in Japan that takes you not only on one of the country’s most heavenly hiking routes, the Nakasendo Trail, but also to Kyoto and Tokyo. This is, in fact, an ancient trail between these two cities dating back to the 8th century when Tokyo was still known as Edo. It is over 500km long, and was originally created so that feudal lords could traverse the mountainous terrain to access all their different territories. This trip includes five winter walks on the Trail, following in ancient footsteps on some of our favourite segments and taking you through traditional villages feel unchanged by time. Usually very popular with tourists at ...Read more >