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Central Japan is a region of tall mountain ranges and fast-flowing rivers. It wasn&rsquo;t until recently that roads reached the more remote villages, and today many remain remarkably well-preserved and evocative of centuries past. Our journey takes us through Japanese history from modern Tōkyō, known as Edo during Japan&rsquo;s period of rule by the shōgun, to end near Kyōto, Japan&rsquo;s capital for 1,000 years and the repository of much of the country&#39;s cultural heritage. From Tōkyō, we head first to Yudanaka Onsen, where the famous &#39;snow monkeys&#39; come to enjoy the natural hot spring baths just like humans.

In feudal times, people travelling from Kyōto to Tōkyō would use the Nakasendō way &ndash; the road through the central mountains &ndash; one of a network of ancient highways. We will visit one of the best-preserved sections in the Kiso Valley, where the lovely villages of Tsumago and Magome have been immaculately restored.

Please note it may also be possible to end our Shōguns and Samurai tour early on Day 13 in Ōsaka. Please enquire for further details.

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Shoguns and Samurai

A small-group guided cultural tour exploring the highlights of central Japan.

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The Nakasendō Trail linked Kyōto to Tōkyō during Japan&#39;s feudal period. It was the &#39;road through the mountains&#39; (as opposed to the Tokaido route, which travelled the Pacific coast) travelled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai, merchants, and travellers. Along the route were 69 post towns where weary travellers could rest before continuing to the next leg of their journey.

Our journey will start in Tōkyō, known as Edo during Japan&#39;s period of rule by the shōgun. We will then spend four days walking along the Nakasendō. By day we will walk along the ancient route as it passes through beautifully preserved villages, and by evening we will stay in traditional country inns, enjoying exquisite regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, soaking in natural hot springs, and enjoying the warm hospitality of our hosts.

If you would like to experience these magical landscapes covered with snow, we offer a winter version of the Nakasendō Trail&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okujapan.com/trips/winter-nakasendo-trail">here</a>.

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Nakasendo Trail

From Tōkyō, visit the &#39;road through the mountains&#39; once travelled by feudal lords. Stay in traditional country inns, enjoying exquisite regional cuisine and soaking in natural hot springs before ending in Kyōto.

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Opened in 2019, the Michinoku Coastal Trail was created as a joint effort by local governments to help the area rebuild after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Stretching over 1,000 km along the coastline of four prefectures, the Michinoku Coastal Trail offers some of the most beautiful and breathtaking views.&nbsp;

Our Michinoku Coastal Trail self-guided 6-day walking tour curates the best portions of the northern section of the trail. Walk with confidence, guided by our detailed maps and turn-by-turn walking directions, and supported by our Kyōto office.

Your walk begins in the town of Hachinohe and then heads south along the coast, alternating between sandy beaches, cosy hamlets, and forested trails. Coming into view often is the Pacific Ocean, dotted with stunning rock formations, sweeping cliffs, and gorgeous beaches. Just a sampling of the places you&rsquo;ll visit includes Kabushima Shrine, known as a breeding ground for thousands of black-tailed gulls; Samuraiishi or &lsquo;Samurai Rock&rsquo;, which gives you an impressive, panoramic view of the Sanriku coast; and Jōdogahama Beach, whose beauty has earned it a name that translates to &lsquo;paradise&rsquo;.

You&rsquo;ll also get to see the unique way of life, centred around fishing and the sea. This vibrant community has rebuilt in the wake of tragedy and continues to work to preserve and revitalize its traditional way of life. One of your nights will be in Fudai Village, which has an impressive story of survival during the earthquake and tsunami. You&rsquo;ll stay in a mix of family-owned traditional guesthouses and city hotels, &nbsp;with ample opportunities to try the local flavour, which boasts some of the freshest seafood &ndash; particularly sea urchin.&nbsp;

Your journey will end with sightseeing in Morioka, the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, before continuing your Japan trip or returning home. &nbsp;

Our fureai&nbsp;local experiences, allow you to meet and connect with local members of the community. When you show the special tag we provide to you at fureai points, you will receive a gift or experience, as well as a unique chance to learn a bit more about the area.&nbsp;

See below for a full itinerary of the tour, or send us an enquiry! We hope to see you on the trail soon.

Please note that this tour heavily features seafood due to the culture and cuisine of the region. As a result, we may be unable to accommodate diets that exclude fish and seafood.

Michinoku Coastal Trail self-guided walking 6 days

Curated sections of northern Japan&rsquo;s newest hiking trail, with walks along a rugged, dramatic coastline and through lush mixed forests.

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A place of profound natural beauty, the Michinoku Coastal Trail is Japan&rsquo;s newest long trail, situated in eastern Tōhoku and stretching over 1,000 km in total. A major focus of this tour is the revitalisation of communities that were devastated by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

The Sanriku Coast (nicknamed &lsquo;the Alps of the Sea&rsquo;) is a dramatic coastline running from southern Aomori prefecture to Miyagi prefecture. We&rsquo;ve curated the best parts of this trail, allowing you to walk through the most memorable areas, before continuing onto the next section via train, bus, and taxi.

With our fureai experiences, you&rsquo;ll be able to meet and connect with locals while getting more insight into the way of life along the Sanriku Coast.

Starting in the town of Hachinohe, you will travel south over sandy beaches, forested trails, and coastal paved roads, while staying in a delightful mixture of cosy guest houses run by locals and local hotels, enjoying the freshest varieties of seafood along the way. Particularly recommended is the uni sea urchin, which is a regional speciality.

The northern trailhead of the Michinoku is Kabushima Shrine, famous as a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls. It&rsquo;s the first of many commanding views over the Pacific Ocean that you will enjoy during your journey.

A highlight of our 7-day self-guided walking tour is a day spent walking to Cape Kitayamazaki, a coastline of cliffs and jagged rocks that reach up to 200 metres high. With three observation decks, as well as a descent that allows you to take in the majesty of the cliffs from below, there is no shortage of splendour here.

Other highlights include the Samuraiishi (Samurai Rock), which offers a panoramic view over the coastline, and Jōdogahama Beach, a magnificent, tranquil beach of white stones, blue water, and green pines, whose name means &lsquo;paradise&rsquo;.

Why not start planning your trip? See below for the full itinerary.

Please note that this tour heavily features seafood due to the culture and cuisine of the region. As a result, we may be unable to accommodate diets that exclude fish and seafood.

Michinoku Coastal Trail self-guided walking 7 days

Hike Tōhoku&rsquo;s Michinoku Coastal Trail and travel to the breathtaking Kitayamazaki Coast, where cliffs over 200 metres high stretch up over the ocean.

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The Nakasendō or &#39;Road Through the Central Mountains&#39; was part of feudal Japan&#39;s network of highways. Travellers moving between Kyōto and Tōkyō took several days to travel the Nakasendō, staying overnight in post towns along the way. Today&#39;s visitors can walk sections of the original route by day and stay in local inns by night.

Our classic 5-day Nakasendō itinerary includes the best sections of the Kiso Valley portion of the Nakasendō Trail, following the same linear path from Magome through to Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima, Narai, and Kiso-Hirasawa.

After visiting Kiso-Hirasawa, you will head to Matsumoto with the opportunity to visit one of Japan&rsquo;s few remaining original castles, Matsumoto Castle, also called &lsquo;Crow Castle&rsquo; due to its black exterior.&nbsp;

Then, continue by train to one of the mountain towns of Komoro or Karuizawa, where you&rsquo;ll enjoy a traditional ryokan stay. Your final day of walking is a beautifully remote walk from Karuizawa, descending through the forest to the town of Yokokawa. From Yokokawa, travel onward by train to Tōkyō.

You&rsquo;re supported by our team in Kyōto, <a href="http://www.okujapan.com/about-us/our-nakasendo-branch">our local Tsumago office</a>, and guided by our bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and detailed maps, created by our team of hikers for you.

Please see <a href="http://www.okujapan.com/help/luggage-transfer">here</a> for luggage options.

<a href="https://static-oku.diqit.io/uploads/oku/nakasendoselfguided5days2023-1693886687168.pdf">Download PDF itinerary</a>

Nakasendo self-guided walking 5 days

Our best-loved Nakasendō Trail package is a 5-day hike perfect for hiking enthusiasts and those who wish to experience more of the Nakasendō. Enjoy hikes of 1 to 6 hours and visits to the most beautiful post towns.

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South of Japan&rsquo;s ancient capital of Kyōto and bustling Ōsaka lies the Kii Peninsula, the largest peninsula on Japan&rsquo;s main island of Honshū. The history of this region goes back more than 1,000 years as a spiritual centre, with pilgrims ranging from emperors to common folk walking the trails that made up the Kumano Kodō. The Kumano Kodō (Kumano Ancient Trail) is made of five specific routes: the Nakahechi, Kohechi, Iseji, Kiiji, and Ōhechi.

Our 4-day Kumano Kodō tour is our shortest on this ancient pilgrimage, and introduces you to the classic Nakahechi route, weaving through forested mountains and small villages towards Hongū Grand Shrine.

After visiting ridgetop villages and peaceful countryside settlements, arrive in Hongū to visit the Grand Shrine here. Afterwards, arrive in Shingū, home of Hayatama Grand Shrine and Kamikura Shrine, a sacred place where it is believed the gods first descended before being enshrined.

You&rsquo;re supported by our team in Kyōto, <a href="https://okujapan.com/about-us/kumano-kodo-branch/">our local Chikatsuyu office</a>, and by our bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and topographical maps to guide you on your way, created by our team of hikers for you.

If you&rsquo;re looking for a condensed version of the Kumano Kodō experience, our 4-day self-guided tour will introduce you to many of its highlights, as you enjoy delicious local meals at your traditional Japanese inns and refresh yourself in onsen baths&nbsp;between your hikes.

Have you walked the Camino de Santiago? You can obtain Dual Pilgrim status on our tour, or earn your credentials and obtain the status on your future Camino de Santiago trip.&nbsp;

Daily luggage transfer is also available along the Kumano Kodō trail as an <a href="https://www.okujapan.com/help/luggage-transfer">optional extra service</a>.

<a href="https://s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/static-oku.diqit.io/uploads/oku/Kumano-self-guided-4days-2022.pdf">Download&nbsp;PDF Itinerary</a>

Kumano Kodo self-guided walking 4 days

A condensed version of the wonderful Nakahechi route, introducing you to the highlights of the Kumano Kodō. With 3 hikes of 2-7 hours, this tour offers more challenging options on day 3 for avid hikers and is eligible for Dual Pilgrim certification.

The quintessential Kumano Kodo experience on the classic Nakahechi route.

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The Kumano Kodō is an ancient pilgrimage located on the remote Kii Peninsula, its mysterious atmosphere further amplified by the high rainfall and resulting mist that hangs over the mountains and valleys. With a history going back more than 1,000 years, the Kumano Kodō has long been a pilgrimage walked by people from all levels of society, ranging from common folk to emperors.&nbsp;

This ancient pilgrimage is made up of several trails, including the Nakahechi, Kiiji, Iseji, Kohechi, and Ohechi. Our 6-day Kumano Kodō self-guided tour is our best-loved Kumano Kodō offering and explores the classic Nakahechi route, including the Ōgumotorigoe Pass approach to Nachi Grand Shrine.&nbsp;

Walk village to village as you take in the scenery provided by the Kii Mountains, believed to be a sacred location that serves as the home of the gods. Try your hand at shinrinyoku (forest bathing) and feel the serenity of the deep, forested walks and dreamy landscapes softly blanketed in fog. You will have ample opportunities to take in gorgeous mountain scenery, sample exquisite local cuisine, enjoy soaking in onsen hot springs to soothe you after a day of hiking, and visit all three of the Grand Shrines of Kumano.&nbsp;

You&rsquo;re supported by our team in Kyōto, <a href="https://okujapan.com/about-us/kumano-kodo-branch/">our local Chikatsuyu office</a>, and by our bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and topographical maps to guide you on your way, created by our team of hikers for you.&nbsp; 
Have you walked the Camino de Santiago? You can obtain Dual Pilgrim status on our Kumano Kodō tours, or earn credentials and obtain the status on your future Camino de Santiago trip. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Daily luggage transfer is also available along the Kumano Kodo trail as an <a href="https://www.okujapan.com/help/luggage-transfer" target="_blank">optional extra service</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/static-oku.diqit.io/uploads/oku/Kumano-self-guided-6days-2022.pdf">Download PDF itinerary</a>

Kumano Kodo self-guided walking 6 days

Experience all of the best parts of the classic Nakahechi route on our best-loved offering. Suitable for hiking enthusiasts, enjoy village-to-village walking with 5 hikes of 2-7 hours. Eligible for Dual Pilgrim certification!

The quintessential Kumano Kodō experience on the classic Nakahechi route.

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Shikoku is Japan&#39;s fourth-largest island, home to some of the country&#39;s most spectacular and undeveloped scenery. The island is also the setting for an ancient walking trail, the challenging Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. The trail connects 88 Buddhist temples and the full walk covers more than a thousand kilometres.

Pilgrims known as ohenro traditionally covered the journey on foot over many weeks, staying overnight at shukubo temple lodgings. Most modern travellers now travel from temple to temple by tour bus, but we have found sections of the original route which can still be enjoyed on foot.

Please ask for information about tour extensions to the mountain-top temple town of&nbsp;Mount Kōya&nbsp;with its monastery lodgings, the&nbsp;art island of&nbsp;Naoshima&nbsp;or the&nbsp;UNESCO World Heritage of&nbsp;Miyajima Island, and Tomonoura Bay&nbsp;on the Setouchi inland sea.

Read about luggage options&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okujapan.com/help/luggage-transfer">here</a>.

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Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage self-guided 8 days

Mixed town roads (paved) and forest trails (unpaved) - the walk is strenuous at times, with days of up to 8 hours of hiking

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The Kansai region, situated at the centre of Japan&#39;s main island of Honshu, is home to three historic capitals: Kyōto, Nara and the smaller, lesser-known Asuka. All three have rich and varied histories. Our tour includes scenic and culturally significant hiking trails, as well as overnight stays in charming Japanese guesthouses, allowing you to experience the rural lifestyle of the Japanese countryside in Asuka. Learn about this historic area of Japan and discover its cultural heritage on these less familiar walks.

You may wish to upgrade to a traditional machiya in Nara. Machiya are beautiful wooden townhouses that have seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to younger craftsmen and designers realising the cultural significance of such majestic and historic buildings.

We happily welcome younger walkers on our trips with an accompanying adult. We offer a 10% price reduction for children (6-11) and an 80% price reduction for infants (0-5). &nbsp;Please contact us for specific hiking, meal or bedding enquiries.

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Nara Ancient Capitals self-guided walking 5 days

Explore ancient Nara through paved and forest trails &ndash; the walks are typically moderate, but strenuous at times, with days of up to 5 hours of hiking.