Unique experiences to bring you and the local communities together

Off-the-beaten-track Japan

Book your Michinoku Coastal Trail tour by 15 May and a portion of the proceeds will go towards restoration efforts in the area.  

Supporting Ōfunato in the wake of wildfires

'On the Henro, gifts come in all forms, not least of which is the chance to connect with people still tied to the land'.

Oku Japan in National Geographic

Head to northern Japan this summer and experience the unique history and landscapes of beautiful destinations that offer respite from the season's heat.

Visit Japan this summer!

Nakasendo Trail

Weaving through the mountains of central Japan, the historic Nakasendō Trail connected Kyōto and Edo-period Tōkyō. This trail stretches 534 km and the shukuba&nbsp;post towns along the way provided accommodation for weary travellers walking along this route dating back to the seventh century.

Kumano Kodo Trail

The Kumano Kodō is a region of Japan comprised of branching pilgrimage routes that stretch into varying corners of the Kii Peninsula. The pilgrimage itself dates back more than 1,000 years and its routes have been walked by all levels of society.

Northern Japan

Northern Japan, collectively known as the Tōhoku region, connects Tōkyō in the south-east with the island of Hokkaidō in the north. The area itself is coated in forest and mountain with most of the population concentrated within the lowlands.

Shikoku

Lush with greenery, towering trees and majestic mountains, Shikoku is a welcome escape from the densely populated regions of Japan.

Hokkaido

The island of Hokkaidō, formerly known as Ezo, is not only Japan&#39;s second largest and most northern prefecture, but also its largest wild frontier.

Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara)

Nestled between the central and western regions of Japan, Kansai serves as the ideal hub location from which to explore much of the country.

Central Japan

Central Japan is the widest part of Honshu, the main island of Japan. The area features the vast Japanese Alps, which contain some of the highest mountains in all of Japan and separates the region into a north and south side with different climates.

Western Japan

Nestled between central Kansai to the east and Kyūshū Island to the far west, westerb Honshū features the key destinations of Hiroshima and Okayama.

Kyushu

Kyūshū is the third largest of the islands that comprise the Japanese archipelago and is easily accessible via boat, plane or train. The island itself is popular for its temperate climate as it maintains a few additional degrees of warmth compared to other parts of mainland Japan. Whether a city dweller, adventure traveller, hot spring enthusiast or even simply a lover of Japanese anime, Kyūshū serves as an idyllic destination for any traveller to Japan searching for something new.

Kanto (Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone)

Both the historical center of feudal power and later the birthplace of modern Japan, the Kantō region has adapted to Japan&rsquo;s wider development in the same way the waves have shaped Tōkyō Bay. This eastern area of Japan&rsquo;s main island, Honshū, is home to the most extensive lowland in all of Japan, making it the most populated and productive region of the country.

Premium Kansai

Kansai is a remarkable and expansive region of central Japan, perhaps best known for destinations including Kyoto, Osaka, Lake Biwa and the ancient Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage. With excellent access by train and plane, the region works as an excellent base for both first-time visitors and veterans to Japan alike.

We used Oku Japan to book a 6-day hike on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trail. From the beginning, they were very helpful and accommodating to our wishes. We had a rest day in between and booked a meditation with a monk. This was a special experience, but probably not for everyone. Each accommodation that we stayed at was awesome and everything was planned accordingly. We used the luggage service which was very helpful. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was provided at each accommodation and the food was more than you could eat! We never ran into any issues and felt very taken care of. This is an extremely busy time for booking self-guided tours, and we feel very grateful to have had such a positive experience. Great job, Oku Japan!

Caitlin F and Terra F, United States

We recently did two self guided Oku tours - the 6 day Kumano Kodo Kiiji hike and the 6 day Kumano Kodo taking in the Iseji trail.  Both trips were fantastic.  The organisation was excellent.  Very detailed instructions, maps, and ongoing support by staff on all matters. Accomodation and food was very traditional and a great part of the overall experience. The walks are not particularly difficult (with plenty of options for extending or shortening the length of the walks) and go through a wonderful range of landscapes, past many gorgeous temples, shrines and villages.  The side trips were really appreciated. For those who appreciate seeing Japan without the throng of tourists, I would highly recommend the Oku hikes. 

Cristina C, Australia

I am writing to pass our thanks onto to the Oku team and the accommodation providers you had arranged for our trip. We arrived safely back on Tuesday into Tokyo. We thoroughly enjoyed our walk with the perfect weather we had and experiencing the beautiful autumn/fall colours as we progressed along our walk. The highlights of our trip: The friendly accommodation hosts we stayed with; The food, the food and the food 😊;
Meeting the Oku rep at Tsumago; The monkeys along the way; The extra day at Kiso Fukushima giving us time to explore the waterfall and more of the natural beauty in that area.

Peter N, Australia

Making friends is half the fun of even a self-guided trekking tour. I enjoyed being able to go at my own pace, contemplating the culture and nature of the pilgrimage route while also hooking up with my new friends for meals and onsen. A perfect balance for reflection and connection on this ancient and accessible trek.

Karen H, United States

My partner and I wanted to do an interesting walk in Japan during our 3 week May 2018 stay in Japan. JTB Australia who we chose to book our whole tour with due to their knowledge of Japan recommended OKU JAPAN for the Komuno Kodo trail walk. A 3 night 4 day walk across the Kii Peninsular was arranged from Kii-Tanabe on the west coast to Hongu in the centre.

Our walk itinerary, maps and a waterproof plastic map holder were delivered to our Kyoto hotel to meet us on arrival as promised.

Sure enough the first challenging day greeted us with heavy rain, with all clothing including shoes and packs saturated - but for our waterproof itinerary and maps!

The walk was quite challenging at times, but very satisfying, with a number of shrines and villages visited, and comprehensive notes on the deep historical origins of the walk.

The accommodation ranged from a small Ryokan, to a private homestay, and finally a luxury onsen “spa hotel”. They were very different and interesting, and two meals and a packed lunch were provided each day and bags forwarded without fault.

The highlight of our OKU JAPAN experience though was how we were cared for when my wallet was lost on the second day of the walk. Without exception we were told you will get it back, you can trust Japanese who are so very honest, which turned out to be right.

On arrival at Chikatsuyu where the OKU office is based we went straight to the OKU JAPAN office in the centre of the village. There we met Satoe and Mayumi who welcomed us partner like family. After offering tea or coffee, phone calls were made to our hosts the previous night, the owners of a cafe at the base of the main climb for the day, and the police. Then because I had developed a painful groin injury we were driven to the local supermarket to buy some treats.

The following afternoon we received a delightful call from Mayumi at OKU advising that my wallet had been handed in to the cafe, with all contents in place, and that the Chikatsuyu Police would deliver it to me that evening.

I was so pleased to have my wallet with cash, credit cards and driver’s licence returned in tact. Most of all I was so impressed by the efficiency, courtesy and kindness shown by Satoe and Mayumi in the OKU JAPAN Chikatsuyu office. This company choose its staff very well!