Japan's Culture and Countryside

Plan to arrive at either Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Osaka International Airport (ITM) in time for the first group meeting planned for 6:00 p.m. at the trip hotel on Day 1. Please note that you will likely need to leave the U.S. on the day prior to the start date of this trip, as most flights from the U.S. arrive in the afternoon or early evening. Detailed instructions for getting to your trip hotel will be sent in your pre-departure document. We'll gather in the lobby of the hotel where we'll meet our local guide as well as each other. After Welcome and Introductions, we'll walk to a local restaurant for our first shared meal where our local guide will give us a trip overview and orientation. We'll undoubtedly all be ready for an early bedtime tonight. (D)

Overnight: Hearton Hotel or similar Western-style hotel

Today we'll spend getting to know Kyoto, starting with a visit to Fushimi Inari shrine in southeastern Kyoto. Fushimi Inari is known for its rows of vermilion torii gates that snake their way up the mountain from the street level shrine to the upper sanctuary. The gates are left by devotees in gratitude or to seek the good graces of the titular spirit of this Shinto shrine. After ascending the shrine, we'll descend to nearby Tofukuji Temple, a Buddhist temple that is a UNESCO World Heritage temple and shows us another side of the spiritual traditions of Japan.

We'll break for lunch and then continue in the afternoon for a walk of the Gion district, famous for its many teahouses and schools that serve a lively community of geisha and maiko, or apprentice Geisha. If we are lucky, perhaps we will spot a colorfully attired maiko on her way to a class or evening appointment. Tonight, dinner is on your own so you can choose a restaurant of your liking with the assistance of our guide. (B, L)

Walking: 5 - 7 miles on dirt paths, steep steps and city streets. Overnight: Hearton Hotel or similar

This morning we send our luggage ahead to be reunited with us tomorrow afternoon - this means we will carry what we need for today, tonight and tomorrow in our daypack. We will travel by train to Asuka, a small community on the Yamato plain in Nara prefecture. Before Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara were political centers of the Japanese archipelago, Asuka claimed that title. The town is associated with Prince Shotoku, who brought the Buddhist faith to Japan. On our arrival in Asuka, we'll visit an organic farm where we will pick vegetables and then enjoy a home-cooked meal that we help prepare. After lunch, we’ll take a local bus to the Inabushi rice terraces, where there is an observation deck that overlooks the terraces and the mountains. We then continue by train to Nara, check into our hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Hiking: about 2 hours, 3 miles. Elevation gain/loss: about 200 feet. Overnight: Piazza Nara or similar Western- style hotel

Our day begins with a short bus ride to the Enjo-ji temple where we will begin our hike. Today’s hike follows in the footsteps of warriors who took this route from Nara to the sword-making village of Yagyu. Our section of this route is approximately 7.3 miles and begins at the Enjo-ji Temple. The hike ends with a wonderful stroll through Nara Park, with its famous deer and numerous temples. We'll visit Todaiji Temple in the afternoon. Tonight, we'll choose from among the many restaurant options in Nara. (B, L, D)

Hiking: about 7 hours, 7.3 miles, an additional 2 miles sightseeing; ascent 550 feet/descent 1,500 feet. Overnight: Piazza Nara or similar Western-style hotel

Today we once again send our luggage ahead to be reunited with use tomorrow evening. We will be walking the Nakasendo Way. Translation of this name is literally, 'Middle Mountain Way' and once was an important trade route connecting Japan's capital Kyoto to Tokyo. It is now one of Japan's most famous hiking routes. Our hike will begin in Magome and end in Tsumago. Along the way we’ll enjoy waterfalls, bamboo groves, cedar forests and beautiful vistas over the Kiso Valley. To reach the beginning our trail, we will travel by a combination of regional trains and the shinkansen, or bullet train, to Nakatsugawa. At Nakatsugawa we board a local bus for the short journey to Magome. We then walk approximately 4 miles along the Magome Pass to O-Tsumago, a small hamlet on the Nakasendo Trail. Upon arrival, we’ll walk through the picturesque town to our lodging for check in. After settling in, we’ll gather for another wonderful Japanese dinner. If time and energy allow, an after-dinner stroll through town is always an option. After a bit of exploring in Tsumago you can choose to continue to Nagiso by foot or by local bus. Once in Nagiso, the group will transfer by shuttle to our rural country minshuku. Our main luggage will be sent ahead to the ryokan in Kiso-Fukushima where we stay tomorrow night, so today we'll carry only what we need for the night. (B, L, D)

Hiking: about 3.5 hours, 4 miles; ascent 550 feet/descent 1,100 feet. Overnight: traditional Japanese hotel in O-Tsumago or similar

Today we continue our hike on the Nakasendo Way. We’ll walk from O-Tsumago to Tsumago, approximately a 30-minute walk. Once arriving in Tsumago, we’ll have a short time to walk through the town before we are shuttled to the start of our hike today. The trail travels through small valleys and past forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar, through some of the least-developed scenery on the tour. At the end of our hike, we’ll transfer by van to Kiso-Fukushima where we'll stay at a lovely hot spring ryokan set in a remote valley above the town. After enjoying the ryokan's lovely indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths, we'll feast on a Japanese dinner with fresh local produce. (B, L, D)

Hiking: about 4 hours. 6.5 miles; ascent 2,275 feet/descent 2,112 feet. Overnight: Japanese Hot Springs inn, a Ryokan, or similar

Once more we send our luggage ahead to be reunited with us tomorrow night in Tokyo. To get to the beginning of our hike today, we will take the train to Yabuhara. From there we hike over the Torii pass to Narai (about 3.5 hours). Arriving in Narai, we'll enjoy a late lunch and then a bit of free time to explore this historic and well preserved town. (B, L, D)

Hiking: about 3.5 hours, 4 miles; ascent/descent: 900 feet. Overnight: at a Minshuku

We'll finish our journey on the Nakasendo Way with a short walk to the small town of Kiso-Hirasawa, famous for its lacquerware. After spending some time exploring the town with its many small shops selling beautifully crafted tableware and furniture and enjoying lunch, we board a train to Tokyo. We arrive at Shinjuku station - one of the busiest rail stations in the world and a bit of a culture-shock after our sojourn in the countryside, and check into our hotel. For those who are interested, late afternoon we'll visit one of the near-by towers for a great view of the city before deciding what neighborhood restaurant looks best for dinner. Dinner is on your own, but your local guide will have lots of suggestions. (B, L)

Hiking: about 1 hour. 1.6 miles; negligible ascent and descent. Overnight: Shiba Park Hotel or a similar Western-style hotel

We can't be in Japan and not spend some time seeing one of the world's great cities. We start in Asakusa, an old quarter in Tokyo's shitamachi ('low city') which still displays some narrow streets reminiscent of Edo period Tokyo. Its main attraction is Senso-ji, a large Buddhist temple with a five-story pagoda, dating originally from the 7th century and rebuilt after its destruction during World War II. Leading up to the main temple buildings is the Nakamise-dori, a pedestrian street lined with shops selling a variety of Japanese arts and crafts and souvenirs. At the end of the street is the Kaminari-mon, the famous entrance gate to the temple. In the afternoon, we continue on to the modern Harajuku district. We'll visit Meiji Jingu, a shrine to the Emperor and Empress Shoken who were instrumental in bringing Japan into the modern age. Empress Shoken in particular had a deep love for poetry and it is possible to buy a fortune at the shrine that takes the form of a poetic verse. After a stroll through Harajuku and Omotesando, we'll have some free time before we convene again for a farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant. Whew - a very busy day! (B, L, D)

Overnight at Shiba Park Hotel or similar.

This morning we bid farewell to Japan and our Japanese guide. She'll assist us with our tickets to Narita Airport (NRT), or the Haneda Airport (HND), for our departure flights from Japan which can be scheduled for any convenient time. The ride to Narita Airport is approximately 2 hours, and the bus does have toilet facilities, you will be picked up 4 hours prior to your scheduled flight. The trasport to the Haneda Airport is a short 30-minute ride. (B)