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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 remoter villages, and today many remain remarkably well-preserved, and evocative of centuries past. Our journey takes us through Japanese history from modern Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan&rsquo;s period of rule by the Shoguns, to end near Kyoto, Japan&rsquo;s capital for 400 years and the repository of much of the countries cultural heritage. From Tokyo we head first to Yudanaka Onsen hot spring where the famous &ldquo;snow monkeys&rdquo; come to enjoy the natural hot spring baths just like humans. In feudal times people travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo would use the Nakasendo 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 Shoguns and Samurai tour early on Day 13 in Osaka.&nbsp;Please enquire&nbsp;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 Nakasendo Trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo 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 travelers. Along the route were 69 &#39;post towns&#39;, where weary travelers could rest before continuing on the next leg. Our journey will start in Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan&#39;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 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!

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

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Nakasendo Trail

From Tokyo, visit the &#39;road through the mountains&#39; once traveled by feudal lords, staying in traditional country inns, enjoying exquisite regional cuisine and soak in natural hot springs before ending in Kyoto

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

All our&nbsp;self-guided Nakasendo Trail tours&nbsp;offer the opportunity to spend a leisurely second night at the comfortable Ryokan in Kiso-Fukushima, part-way along the trail. Please ask for information about our tour extensions; enjoy spectacular views of&nbsp;Mount Fuji&nbsp;from the Hakone hot spring area and the rural village of Oshino Mura, or the peaceful,&nbsp;agricultural community of&nbsp;Asuka&nbsp;at a charming Japanese inn or with a local family for a unique homestay experience.

Learn more about how our resident staff support our guests in interacting with locals in the village of Tsumago along the Nakasendo trail, and how we we foster relationships with, and contribute to the community by visiting our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okujapan.com/about-us/our-nakasendo-branch">local Nakasendo branch</a>&nbsp;page.

Daily luggage transfer is available as an optional extra service on some sections of the trail - read about luggage options&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okujapan.com/help/luggage-transfer">here</a>

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Nakasendo self-guided walking 5 days

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

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The Nakasendo or &#39;Road through the Central Mountains&#39; was part of feudal Japan&#39;s network of highways. Enjoy the best forest walks and Juku post towns, before heading into the Oku-Hida mountains to explore the biodiverse Kamikochi before arriving in iconic Takayama.

Please ask for information about our tour extensions; spend more time in the Hida region with our&nbsp;Takayama extension, visiting the UNESCO thatched-roof community of Shirakawa-go and the wonderful teahouses of Kanazawa; enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji from the&nbsp;Hakone hot spring area&nbsp;and the rural village of Oshino Mura, or the peaceful,&nbsp;agricultural community of Asuka&nbsp;at a charming Japanese inn or with a local family for a unique homestay experience.

Learn more about how our resident staff support our guests in interacting with locals in the village of Tsumago along the Nakasendo trail, and how we we foster relationships with, and contribute to the community by visiting our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okujapan.com/about-us/our-nakasendo-branch">local Nakasendo branch</a>&nbsp;page.

Daily luggage transfer is available as an optional extra service on some sections of the trail - read about luggage options&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okujapan.com/help/luggage-transfer">here</a>

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

Nakasendo and Kamikochi walking 6 days

Combine all the best of the Kiso Valley sections of the Nakasendo Trail, with upgraded onsen ryokan accommodation, and walks in Kamikochi in the Oku-Hida mountains, before finishing in historic Takayama.

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The Kumano Kodo 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 Kodo 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 Kodo self-guided tour is our best-loved Kumano Kodo offering and explores the classic Nakahechi route, including the Ogumotorigoe 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 (森林浴/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 Kyoto, our local Chikatsuyu office, 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 Kodo tours, or earn credentials and obtain the status on your future Camino de Santiago trip. &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;

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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!

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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 Pilgrimage. The trail connects 88 Buddhist temples and the full walk covers more than a thousand kilometres. Pilgrims, known as O-henro, 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.

On your Day 5, you may wish to&nbsp;try your hand at Sanuki Udon noodle-making. Please ask for information about tour extensions to the mountain-top temple town of&nbsp;Mount Koya&nbsp;with its monastery lodgings, 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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Hiroshima and the Seto Inland Sea are some of the most scenic areas of Japan. This tour offers exploration of the wonderful variety of towns, villages and islands in both rural and central Hiroshima, experienced through activities suited to you, with kayaking, cycling, sightseeing walks and hiking available. Explore the seaside town of Tomonoura and UNESCO World Heritage island Miyajima (famous for its friendly deer and the iconic &#39;floating&#39; Torii gate off Itsukushima Shrine), walk through the emotional history of Hiroshima and timeless hilltop communities of Onomichi, finishing with our version of the varied and scenic island-hopping cycling course Shimanami Kaido. Pass over the Setouchi Inland Sea visiting remote islands, which together with deliciously fresh seafood cuisine, offer a uniquely modern cafe culture, before arriving in Ehime prefecture on Shikoku Island; the perfect entry point of our 4-day Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage tour.

Please ask for information about tour extensions to the port villages and thatched-roof communities of mountainous northern Kyoto or the&nbsp;historic ancient capital of Nara.

This tour offers gentle cycling and hiking suitable for children of 12 and up. All activities are optional, so please enquire for alternatives if travelling with younger passengers. For the cyling sections, E-bikes are also available for a supplement.

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Hiroshima & Shimanami Kaido self-guided 6 Days

Enjoy the slow island life on the Setouchi Inland Sea with cycling, kayaking and walking

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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: Kyoto, Nara and the smaller, lesser-known Asuka. &nbsp;All three have rich and varied histories. Our tour includes scenic and culturally significant hiking trails, as well as overnight stays in truly charming Japanese guesthouse or friendly farmstay in the rural community of Asuka.

Learn about this historic area of Japan and discover its cultural heritage on these less familiar walks.

You can opt to upgrade to a wonderful Machiya Townhouse 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, typically historic buildings.

Experience the rural lifestyle of the Japanese countryside in Asuka.

In this peaceful agricultural community, you stay overnight in a charming Japanese guesthouse or can stay with a local family for an immersive farm-stay experience.

We happily welcome younger walkers on to 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

Mixed town roads (paved) and forest trails (unpaved) - the walks are typically moderate, but strenuous at times, with days of up to 5 hours of hiking

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