Walking up a hill among orange arches in Japan

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Japan Hiking & Walking Tour

The Alps to Imperial Kyoto

Vibrant markets and seventh-century shrines. Alpine hiking and tidy remote tea houses. A world of natural beauty combined with enduring culture—grace and tradition unlike anywhere else.

8 days, 7 nights

Luxury Hotels

See itinerary with Casual Hotels

Activity Levels 1-3

Couples, Friends & Solos

Also Available for: Women

From $10,099 - $18,899/person

Itinerary Where You’ll Stay What to Know Reviews

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Trip at a Glance

Highlights

Experience sublime Kamikōchi National Park, one of the country’s most celebrated landscapes
Dive deep into Japanese culture with our local guides as they introduce you to time-honored customs and ceremonies, including a private geiko performance
In the stunning Alps, hike through old-growth woodland to sacred temples, historic mountain villages and delicate waterfalls
Savor the delicate flavors of fresh edamame, mochi, soba noodles and sushi—and sip superb sake
Stay in a classic ryokan with open-air hot tubs and tatami-matted floors

Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.

Start Tokyo Airport & Travel Details

Hike amid the ever-changing landscapes of the Japanese Northern Alps
Explore the alpine scenery of Kamikōchi, a spectacular slice of Chūbu-Sangaku National Park
Take in the gorgeous setting of traditional mountain villages
With a backdrop of dense birch and larch forests and soaring snow-blanketed peaks, this area is among Japan’s most celebrated
Savor delicious Japanese specialties
Walk along beautifully crafted wooden bridges that span rushing streams.

Miyama Ouan

(Luxury Hotel, 2 nights)

Activity Options & Terrain

Exterior view of orange and black building, with large trees surrounding the building

Rectangle dining table with a kettle handing from a metal pipe in the ceiling

Stone pathway with a wooden archway, surrounded by large boulders and tall mountains in the distance

Desk in front of a large window, overlooking orange and green trees on a hill

Nights 1-2

Miyama Ouan

Okuhida Onsenkyo

Luxury Hotel

A tranquil retreat nestled in the Hida Mountains featuring rejuvenating onsen (hot spring baths) and beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. (spa)

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Walk on the famed Utsueshijuhatsu Falls trail, where a variety cascading falls await
Enjoy a relaxing soak in an open-air hot tub (or onsen)
Forest bathe among old-growth Japanese cedar trees
Meandering trails lead past stone monuments to a 14th-century Buddhist temple
Experience unique hospitality and atmosphere at a superb ryokan.

Hidatei Hanaougi

(Luxury Hotel, 2 nights)

Activity Options & Terrain

Building with traditional Japanese barricades, surrounded by trees

Wooden pathway surrounded by moss and large trees

Nights 3-4

Hidatei Hanaougi

Takayama

Luxury Hotel

Highlights of this ryokan include exquisite timber architecture, traditional hospitality and natural hot spring baths.

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Explore 17th- and 18th-century merchants’ houses and shops in Takayama’s old quarter
Peruse the city’s bustling street market stalls for a one-of-a-kind souvenir
Take a scenic journey to Kyoto aboard a bullet train
Follow a wooded path along the crystal clear Kiyotaki River
Visit Buddhist temples and a beautiful Shinto shrine
Partake in an abbreviated traditional tea ceremony.

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel

(Luxury Hotel, 2 nights)

Activity Options & Terrain

Exterior view of Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel

terrace with bistro tables looking out onto water

Nights 5-6

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Ukyo-Ku

Luxury Hotel

An intimate Japanese-style haven set along the serene Hozu River and surrounded by woodland. (spa)

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Behold views of Kyoto from a summit above the city
Be entertained by a geiko (geisha in Kyoto) during a Japanese lunch
Walk through quiet forests and pass by bright orange torii, the iconic gates found at the entrance to sacred Shinto sites.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

(Luxury Hotel, 1 night)

Activity Options & Terrain

Outdoor balcony with cushioned chairs, looking out to a small lake and forest

Indoor hotel lobby with large wooden panels on the walls and large windows looking out to the forest

Large wooden statues next to a hotel building

Man and woman sitting on a wooden balcony, looking out to a pond filled with koi fish

Indoor bar and lounge with marble floors and gray cushioned chairs

Night 7

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Luxury Hotel

Fusuma panels, paper lanterns and lacquerware are among the artisanal elements at this refined property in the well-preserved Higashiyama District. (pool, spa)

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

End Kyoto Airport & Travel Details

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This trip has an activity level range of 1-3

Route & Terrain Notes

The walking and hiking routes on this trip include dirt trails through forests, river valleys and mountains, cobblestone footpaths, and paved paths and roads in more urban areas and at cultural sites. The terrain ranges from relatively level to rolling, with some steeper ascents and descents. Some routes include substantial climbs and descents on stairs, plus sections with a lot of exposed roots and rocks.

Day 1

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

4 miles

500 ft. gain

Level 2

6 miles

700 ft. gain

Day 2

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

2 miles

100 ft. gain

Level 4

9 miles

600 ft. gain

Day 3

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

3 miles

700 ft. gain

Level 2

5 miles

1300 ft. gain

Other

Private Sake Tasting & Brewery Tour (1 hour)

Day 4

Hiking & Walking

Level 2

5 miles

300 ft. gain

Level 3

8 miles

1100 ft. gain

Day 5

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

2 miles

100 ft. gain

Level 2

4 miles

400 ft. gain

Day 6

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

4 miles

400 ft. gain

Level 3

7 miles

1300 ft. gain

Other

Tea Ceremony (45 minutes)

Day 7

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

5 miles

700 ft. gain

Level 3

5 miles

1300 ft. gain

Day 8

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

2 miles

500 ft. gain

View Dates & Prices From $10,099/person

What to Know

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Accommodations

Even at five-star, Western-style hotels in Japan, the local preference for ordered, austere aesthetics is prioritized. This means simple rooms with fewer amenities than one might find at a typical Backroads Premiere Hotel and an emphasis on tranquility and refined onsen (Japanese-style spas).

Meals & Dietary Restrictions

Japan’s fierce pride in its cuisine offers many culinary riches. This same pride, however, also creates an inflexibility that can be challenging for Western guests. Menus are planned well in advance, and Japanese restaurants are not accustomed to or able to make substitutions or additions, even if requested several days in advance.

Japanese menus include a significant amount of seafood and beef in most meals. Crucially, soy sauce and bonito (made from smoked skipjack tuna) are used as base ingredients throughout Japanese cuisine. Because of this, Japanese cuisine is not conducive to celiac or kosher diets and adhering to strict vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets while in Japan requires careful planning so alternate dishes can be prepared. It is critical to ensure that the dietary information you provide to Backroads in advance of your trip is accurate and representative of what you want to eat in Japan, since changes or “cheats” will generally not be possible once on trip.

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