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On this tour you will visit areas of western Japan and learn about the history and culture that has been nurtured in each region. Make your way through seaside towns, mountain villages, castle towns, cities and islands, each with its own history, climate, and way of life.&nbsp;

Our journey begins in Japan&#39;s old capital of Kyōto, which held the position for over 1,000 years. From here, travel through western Japan, stopping in places such as Yunotsu Onsen, one of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan; picturesque Tsuwano, with its Edo-period buildings and canals populated by koi fish; Hiroshima and the adjacent island of Miyajima, home to Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii gate; and much more. Your tour will end in energetic Ōsaka, whose neon lights and bustling streets welcome you back to modern Japan.

From Hagi&#39;s famed Hagi-yaki pottery, to the Shimotsui-bushi folk music in Kojima, to a special performance of the lively Iwami Kagura dance, each stop will give you a glimpse into the varied cultures, crafts, and specialities of each region. Learn how the people in these far-flung areas made their living during feudal times &ndash; whether through Kojima&#39;s port and its textile industry, or the famed Iwami Ginzan silver mine. &nbsp;

Along the way, you will see the charming landscape of western Japan, including the coasts of both the Sea of Japan to the north and the Seto Inland Sea to the south.&nbsp;

<a href="https://static-oku.diqit.io/uploads/oku/itinerary_in_the_shadow_of_mountains_guided_vr3wl6s.pdf" target="_blank"><svg style="display: inline-block; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.125em;" viewbox="0 0 512 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M64 464l48 0 0 48-48 0c-35.3 0-64-28.7-64-64L0 64C0 28.7 28.7 0 64 0L229.5 0c17 0 33.3 6.7 45.3 18.7l90.5 90.5c12 12 18.7 28.3 18.7 45.3L384 304l-48 0 0-144-80 0c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32l0-80L64 48c-8.8 0-16 7.2-16 16l0 384c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16zM176 352l32 0c30.9 0 56 25.1 56 56s-25.1 56-56 56l-16 0 0 32c0 8.8-7.2 16-16 16s-16-7.2-16-16l0-48 0-80c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16zm32 80c13.3 0 24-10.7 24-24s-10.7-24-24-24l-16 0 0 48 16 0zm96-80l32 0c26.5 0 48 21.5 48 48l0 64c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48l-32 0c-8.8 0-16-7.2-16-16l0-128c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16zm32 128c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16l0-64c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16l-16 0 0 96 16 0zm80-112c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16l48 0c8.8 0 16 7.2 16 16s-7.2 16-16 16l-32 0 0 32 32 0c8.8 0 16 7.2 16 16s-7.2 16-16 16l-32 0 0 48c0 8.8-7.2 16-16 16s-16-7.2-16-16l0-64 0-64z" fill="#ed1c24"></path></svg> Download PDF itinerary</a>

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A small-group guided cultural tour exploring two sides of western Japan - the Japan Sea Coast and the Inland Sea

In the Shadow of Mountains

A small-group guided tour that visits western Japan, travelling to cities on both the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea. Experience the culture, history and lifestyle of this unique region.