Active Japan

For travellers who like to explore on foot: classic Japan combined with mountain scenery, the historic Nakasendo Trail and four days on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.

Start with three nights in Tokyo, then take the Romance Car to Hakone, where a Hakone Free Pass covers the trains, cable car, ropeway and boat around Mount Fuji. Head into the Japanese Alps for three nights in Takayama, with a Zen meditation and temple walk and tickets for Kamikochi and the Shin Hotaka Ropeway, then on to Kanazawa for two nights.

From Nagoya, walk a section of the Nakasendo Trail through the Kiso Valley, before three nights in Kyoto. Then head to the Kii Peninsula for a self-guided walk on the Kumano Kodo, staying in traditional inns, with your main luggage sent ahead where possible. You finish with two nights in Osaka.

Kumano Kodo inns are small and book up early, so it pays to plan ahead. Like all our trips, it’s easy to adjust: add nights, change the walks or add a guide for part of the route.

Is this a private trip, and can I change it?

It’s a private trip built around your dates, not a group tour on fixed departures. The walking is self-guided, with detailed walking notes and route guidance for each section. If you’d like a guide for part of the Kumano Kodo, we can add one. You can change anything: add nights, swap places, upgrade hotels or slow the pace, and we’ll reprice it for you.

When is the best time to go?

Spring (April and May) and autumn (October and November) are best for walking. June to mid-July is the rainy season, and July and August are hot and humid on the trails. In winter, snow closes some mountain areas, including Kamikochi.

The inns on the Kumano Kodo are small and book up early, so plan ahead.

Which airlines do you use?

We most often use British Airways or Japan Airlines, which fly direct from London to Tokyo, or Finnair via Helsinki, which is often good value. We can also book flights from regional UK airports.

Flights to Japan are overnight, so you arrive the day after you leave. Most flights home leave in the morning and land in the UK the same day, though some connecting flights are overnight.

What are the hotels like?

In the cities we choose well-run hotels close to the main stations, which makes travelling by train much easier. Boutique hotels are rare in Japanese cities, so many are modern business-style hotels. They’re spotless and efficient, but the rooms are small, especially in Tokyo. Check-in is usually from 3pm and check-out around 10 or 11am. On most trips you can upgrade to superior or deluxe hotels.

What’s it like staying in a ryokan?

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. You sleep on futons laid out on tatami mats, dinner is usually a multi-course kaiseki meal, and most have hot spring baths. The baths are often shared and separated by gender, and some still don’t allow visible tattoos. If that’s a concern, we can choose a ryokan with a private bath. We can add a ryokan night to any trip.

View itinerary in detail

To get a feel for the trip, choose one of the options below to view a sample day-by-day itinerary. This will open in a new window.

All of our Japan holidays are completely tailor-made, so this is simply a starting point.

We can of course adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit your plans.