Walking through the traditions & history of Japan

Your journey begins in the thriving urban jungle of Japan's capital city; Tokyo. Situated on the main island of Honshu, Tokyo offers the visitor a fabulous juxtaposition of uber-modern, alongside examples of traditional Japan which never fails to inspire, and excite.To keep flexibility for your arrival plans, we offer a shared shuttle service to transfer you directly to your hotel, where you can relax and rest after your long flight, or refresh and head out to explore. We provide you with a local Suica card that is preloaded with 1,500JPY and usable on most local public transport nationwide. This gives you flexibility throughout the trip, to customise your free time, for example by heading for a night out where there is free time.This evening, timing of arrival permitting, the group will meet together to enjoy a welcome briefing and dinner.For those arriving early, please note that you will be able to leave your luggage at the start hotel, but room check-in is only available after 15:00.Stay at: The Akasaka

Leaving the urbanised landscape of the Tokyo Metropolis behind this morning, we discover some tranquillity and fantastic views from the summit of Mount Takao (599m elevation), which, weather permitting, may include the peak of Mount Fuji. Just a little more than an hour's journey by train, we will head out after breakfast to explore the variety of easy-to-follow hiking trails that have been developed in the forested slopes of Takao-san. From the base of the mountain, we have the option of taking the most used Trail 1 - the 3km Omotesando Trail. It is paved and takes in the essential sites but will probably be the busiest, so you may wish to take one of the many other varied options to suit your aspirations and depending on whether you want to head over a suspension bridge, waterfall, or through plum groves! All routes converge at the summit observation deck.Near the summit look out for Temple Yakuoin where it is tradition to pray to the 'tengu' - a powerful mythical creature venerated in the Shinto & Buddhist religions - for good fortune. You may also like to have a look around the nature museum (free entry) to learn more about the ecology of the area. Returning to the city in the late afternoon, with all the sensory input that brings, we have an evening of leisure to eat as a group or independently. Stay at: The Akasaka

We join the throng of locals using Tokyo's excellent public transport system to head to the train station for a Bullet Train west (2nd class ticket included), to the Japanese Alps. Arriving into Nagano, a temple town that hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, we are just passing through at this point, en-route to our destination for the day, Yamanouchi. A small town popular for its abundant nature, plentiful hot springs and home to the snow monkeys of Jigokudani, Yamanouchi has long been known as an area to visit to seek refuge, to heal, and renew! We enjoy a short hike (25-40mins) through the forest to reach Jigokudani Yaen Koen, where the famous monkeys frequently bathe in the park's thermal pools to stay warm and relax - a wonderful photo opportunity if they oblige us with a good soak! (park pass included)After some time with the monkeys we set off on foot to explore the beautiful ancient hot spring resort of Shibu Onsen, which lies below the monkey park, alongside the Yokoyugawa River. Traditional ryokan (Japanese-style inns) line the narrow streets, some over 400 years old. We get to soak in the famous onsen, and enjoy a delicious regional dinner of local specialities. Transfer to Yamanouchi by local bus/train; entrance to Jigokudani Monkey Park included; hiking in Shibu Onsen and nearby areas; transfer to Nagano by local bus/train.Stay at: Nagano Tokyu Rei

After a Japanese breakfast, we take public transport from Yamanouchi back to Nagano where we can leave our luggage and jump on a bus to take us up the winding mountain roads. Our destination today is Mount Togakushi, one of Japan's most sacred peaks, and home to 5 shrines located on the forested mountain slopes where the tall Japanese cedars create a mystical atmosphere, entirely suitable for an area steeped in Japanese mythology;On Kyushu, Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess is said to have hidden herself in a cave, blocking herself in with a boulder, and leaving the world in darkness. To lure her back out, the other deities performed a spectacular dance in front of the cave and as she peeked out, one of the deities grabbed the door to the cave and threw it away so she couldn't hide again. The stone door is said to have landed here, in Nagano Prefecture forming Mt Togakushi, which literally means 'hidden door'. 5 shrines were built to worship the mythical deities:First reaching Hokosha (lower shrine) you climb a long flight of stairs to its praying hall. A 2km ascent through the forest, with trees as old as 800 years, takes you to the middle shrines of Hinomikosha and Chusha which stand at the top of a small town of shops and restaurants. Continue a further 2km to reach the entrance to the upper shrines of Kuzuryusah and Okusha which lay homage to the god who threw the boulder and released sunlight back into the world. Over 300 cryptomeria trees line the approach to the temples and the shrine itself is spectacularly located on the steep mountainside, against a backdrop of peaks.We descend from the mountain, taking a bus (included) back to Nagano station and jumping on a train (ticket included) to Azumino where we stay at a wonderfully restored kominka (old folk house) with traditional Japanese decor, but Western bedding. Shared bathroom facilities.Stay at: Nagano Tokyu Rei

This morning we explore rural Azumino with the fantastic opportunity to explore (including a boat tour) one of Japan's largest wasabi farms; Daio Wasabi Farm. Wasabi is a plant of the family Brassicaceae used to create a paste that frequently accompanies sushi and other Japanese dishes. Wasabi grows naturally along stream beds in mountain river valleys and Azumino has developed this cultivation to become one of the main production areas in the country. You may think you have tried it before, but outside of Japan, the high cost of wasabi means that the western horseradish is often used in its place - today you learn about how it is grown, but also get to taste the real thing for yourself. Sticking with the theme of traditional dishes, we attend a local workshop to learn how to make soba (buckwheat noodles) with the help of an expert. We enjoy the end-result for lunch before moving on to visit a miso brewery. Miso, a Japanese staple, is a fermented soybean paste that has recently gained much popularity in the Western world as part of a dietary regime to encourage a healthy gut biome. The beans are fermented with salt and koi (fungus Aspergillus oryzae) and sometimes other ingredients are added such as rice, barley or seaweed. It is high in protein and rich in vitamins and minerals and is used for soups, sauces and spreads, as well as for pickling vegetables, fish & meats. Last, but certainly not least, it would be remiss to not visit a 'nihonshu' brewery to learn more about the process used to make the infamous rice wine. In Japan, all alcoholic drinks are referred to as Sake. What we know as sake (fermented rice wine and soft water) is in fact, known as nihonshu. After a tasting, we return to the kominka in Azumino for dinner and to stay our second night. After a tasting, we take a coach ride to Matsumoto where we will stay the night.Stay at: Dormy Inn Matsumoto

After breakfast we purchase a packed lunch and jump on a bus (return ticket included) for a magnificent day in the mountains of Kamikochi, part of Chuba Sangaku National park. Kamikochi, in the Northern Japanese Alps, is a 15km plateau in the Azusa River valley, surrounded by tall mountains and the active volcano; Yakedake (2455m). A ban on cars has kept the area pristine and encouraged visitors to explore the choice of stunning hiking trails on foot. Not to be missed are Kappa bridge, the Takezawa marsh and Myojin pond (about 1hrs gentle walk on the flat). The views for your picnic will be breathtaking but at some point we tear ourselves away to return to Matsumoto where we stay in a convenient, westernised business hotel with all the modern facilities you required. We take the time to prepare our luggage for one night away with a change of clothes and personal supplies, and secure our main luggage which will be sent by courier (included) to our hotel in Kyoto.You have this evening free to enjoy Matsumoto (knowing we get to explore it during the day tomorrow).Stay at: Dormy Inn Matsumoto

Wish your luggage 'sayonara' and feeling the freedom, we head to the famous Matsumoto 'hirajiro' (a castle built on a plain rather than a hill/mountain), one of just 12 original Japanese castles that have remained intact. The black wooden keep, built in the late 16th century has earnt the castle the name of Crow Castle, and is in remarkably good condition; particularly its wooden interiors and external stonework. Don't miss out on seeing some of the steepest staircases in Japan and the openings from where stones were dropped onto invaders. The views from the observation deck on the 6th floor are worth the climb. Depending on time, we may also visit the City Art Museum, with its collection of works by Yahoo Kusama, born in Matsumoto, before collecting our overnight bags from last nights hotel and taking train to Kiso Fukushima, gateway to the beautiful Kiso Valley (and quite unrelated to the village in Fukushima prefecture that was so badly affected by a tsunami a decade ago). We explore the village on foot and spend the night in a ryokan where we get to relax in beautiful hot springs and enjoy a delicious dinner. Stay at: Kaido Roman Onyado Tsutaya

The Kiso valley runs alongside the mountains of the Central Japanese Alps. An ancient trade route, running 70kms along the valley, served as an essential means of commerce, particularly at the start of the Edo Period when it was joined to other local trade routes to form the 500km long Nakasendo ("path through the mountains"). This route offered an effective alternative for trade between Edo & Kyoto, to the coastal path (the Tokaido). Due to restrictions by the shogunate, in ancient times travellers were almost always forced to make their trips on foot, so every few kilometres 'post towns' popped up to provide accommodation and sustenance. A few towns in the valley, particularly Magome & Tsumago, have been preserved to look as they did when the served travellers, with stone paths and wooden buildings taking you back to a bygone era. After a traditional Japanese breakfast we check out of our ryokan and journey to Nakatsugawa by train, then a local bus to Magome-juku for the start of a wonderful Nakasendo hike. The gentle walk, at a leisurely pace, takes us from the post town of Magome, to Tsumago. Here we pause and refresh before continuing for a little less than an hour to the nearby village of Nagiso. We jump on a train (included), to the city of Nagoya and transfer onto a Shinkansen (bullet train) for Kyoto where we are re-united, at our hotel, with our luggage. You have free time for an explore and dinner.Stay at: Miyako Hotel Hachijo

Japan's former capital (some might say 'better capital) is waiting to be explored this morning - and there is SO much to see! The eastern side of the city is best walked at a leisurely pace from North to South to appreciate the numerous historic sites, but first we could do with some perspective, so we use public transport to arrive at the start of a short trail (1.5km, 220m ascent) to the top of one of Kyoto's most iconic mountains; Mt Daimonji. It gives us long panoramic views over Kyoto and is famous for the large Japanese character '大' meaning 'big', carved on the mountain side. At the foot of the mountain lies the Ginkakuji ("Silver Pavillion"), one of the most exquisite zen temples in the city (entrance included), and a former retirement villa of a shogun before it was converted into a temple in 1492. As well as the main pavilion, there are half a dozen other temple buildings, a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry sand garden; the 'Sea of Silver Sand. From here we wander south along the Philosophers path, a tree lined canal-side pathway named after Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most famous philosophers who walked to Kyoto University by this route. The pathway takes us past the Eikando and Nanzenji temples and we veer off here to visit Heian Jingu (entrance included). Heian is the former name of Kyoto, and this shrine, modelled after the ancient Imperial Palace and built just over a century ago, is dedicated to the spirits of the first and last emperors who reigned the city. Nishiki Market offers us the perfect lunch opportunity before we walk through Gion the most famous 'hanamachi' (Geisha District) in the city. As we continue our walk south, we visit 'Yasaka', one of the most well known shrines in Kyoto, fronted by a dance stage where hundreds of lanterns, lit each evening and bearing the name of local businesses, hang in the breeze. Next up is the beautifully preserved historical district of Higashiyama, famous for its narrow lanes, wooden buildings and traditional merchant inns.We end our tour at the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Kyomizudera, the temple of pure water, founded in 780, and one of the most celebrated Buddhist temples of Japan. The wooden stage that protrudes from the main hall and offers beautiful views of the city and surrounding hillside, was built entirely without the use of nails! We return to our hotel for a well earned relaxing evening at leisure.Stay at: Miyako Hotel Hachijo

Today we experience one of the most beautiful hikes in the Kansai region. Using the cute Eizan train to Kibune-guchi station, we walk for 20mins or so to the village of Kibune, renowned for its traditional inns offering Kawadoko dining on top of the decks that span the narrow river.We walk up a lantern-lined stone path to reach the Kibune shrine, erected in honour of the water goddess who travelled to the spot in a yellow boat (ki+bune). From here we start our hike (1hr) to Kurama-Dera temple, up an occasionally steep trail, through the majestic cedar forests. Here we find the main temple in Mount Kurama, dating back to 770, and known for its spirituality and breathtaking natural beauty. The temple's main hall offers a gorgeous view out over the surrounding mountains and is believed to be the birthplace of reiki.Tengu, long-nosed or beaked creatures, thought to be guardians of the mountain, can be found as statues, arts and souvenirs in the village and temple complex. We visit the temple before walking down to the village where you can relax and enjoy some free time, with the option of bathing in a local onsen. After a tranquil day, immersed in nature, we take the train back to Kyoto (included) for an evening at leisure.Stay at: Miyako Hotel Hachijo

Mount Koya is our destination today, a temple settlement (and UNESCO Heritage site) in Wakayama prefecture, south of Osaka.We enjoy all manner of transport this morning: a train from Kyoto to Osaka, crossing the city to Namba station for another train bound for Gokurakubashi, and then a cable car climbing up the mountain! Finally we use a local bus for the last leg of our journey, into the heart of Koya-san.In 805 Kobo Daishi, one of Japan's most significant religious figures introduced Shingon Buddhism to the area, Koya-san becoming the sect's religious centre. Over 100 temples have sprung up along the streets, transforming it into a secluded temple town. We visit Kongobuji temple, with its beautiful sliding doors and famous rock garden, and the atmospheric Okunoiun cemetery, the largest in Japan, with over 200,000 tombstones lining the 2km approach to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.This evening we stay at a Shukubo - a temple offering lodging which gives us some insight into the simple and traditional lifestyle led by Buddhist monks. We will have simple private Japanese rooms, with tatami floors, sliding doors and shared toilets. Futon mattresses are spread on the tatami floor for sleeping. Dinner will be served early with unique vegetarian cuisine called shojin-ryori. We will be given access to the temple, halls and garden as well as its communal, gender-separated baths.Stay at: Henjoson Inn or similar

Guests staying at the temple are invited by the monks to participate in morning prayers (starting around 06:00), followed by breakfast at around 7.00.We spend the morning in Koya-San, perhaps choosing to walk a part of the Choishi Michi, the old pilgrimage trails winding up the mountain. They are marked by stone signposts every few hundred metres. A variety of trails are available to suit your aspirations. Alternatively, you may wish to wander around the town, relaxing and absorbing the serene and spiritual atmosphere, before choosing somewhere for lunch.Don't eat too much at lunchtime as this afternoon we will make our way back to Osaka for our last evening in Japan. Osaka is well known for being Japan's kitchen: a city for foodies! 'Kuidaore' is a quintessentially Osaka word meaning 'eat until you drop', and embodies the dedication of the local people to their food.Time permitting we will visit the Dotombori area - known for its food markets. After a celebratory group meal, your leader will accompany you back to your hotel and say goodbye.Stay at: Osaka Hinode

After breakfast you have some leisure time until your airport transfer by limousine bus (a scheduled service departing at fixed times from various stops around the city). Your guide will have explained to you how to reach the bus stop, or you can ask for help at your hotel reception.Time to plan your next escape!