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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 that Days 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 differ slightly between 2025 and 2026 departures.&nbsp;Please see the details in the below itinerary for more information.&nbsp;

<a href="https://static-oku.diqit.io/uploads/oku/itinerary_shoguns_and_samurai_guided_fe5jy5a.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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Discover the charm of central Japan. Explore history, culture and nature on a small-group guided cultural tour

Shōguns and Samurai

Shoguns and Samurai

Discover the charm of central Japan. Explore history, culture and nature on a small-group guided cultural tour