Backroads of Japan
Member Savings
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
Highlights
- Wander the bustling streets of Tokyo, Japan's capital city
- Behold the iconic, perfectly formed Mt Fuji and its glistening five lakes
- Hike through postal towns & forest trails on the Nakasendo Way
- Be enthralled by the world class attractions of Kyoto, incl the geisha district and The Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji
- Savour Japanese delicacies with many included meals
- Explore and experience the markets of Osaka
- Walk along ancient pilgrim trails leading to the sacred peak of Omine in Nara
What's this trip about?
Compare to similar trips
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 8 dinners
- Comfortable accommodation on twin share basis
- Traditional 'ryokan' inns
- Expert bilingual guide
- Luggage transfers as listed in the itinerary
- Sightseeing and entry fees as listed in itinerary
- All transportation by public train, public bus and taxi
- Medical kit
View Similar Trips
Itinerary
On arrival you will need to make your own way to the group hotel. We will have an important tour briefing at approximately 6.00pm, so please check with reception for the exact time and location. Following the meeting your guide will take you to a local restaurant (mea...
After breakfast we head off to explore a small part of this incredible city. We begin with a subway trip to the Tsukiji Outer Market'. From the market we continue to Tokyo's downtown area near Sumida River where we visit Sensoji Temple - the oldest temple in Tokyo, an...
After breakfast, we will head out for today’s guided hike. Your guide will select the best trail for the group. This might be a trail at the base of Mount Fuji or climbing one of the lower mountains in the area. Ideally, Mount Fuji will show itself (weather permitting...
A series of train journeys through the morning will get us to Tsumago, one of the historic mountain-bound towns of Kiso, an historic trade route through a thick-forested valley. Our base in Tsumago, is a town preserved more or less as it stood in the 18th century. Ki...
We spend the day hiking along the ancient Nakasendo Way which connects the old capital Kyoto, to the new capital, Tokyo. Magome and Tsumago, the southernmost post towns have single main streets that are lined with shops selling traditional foods and local crafted good...
There is a great deal to see by day in Kyoto, and the content of our days here may be re-shuffled to optimise weather conditions and local events from the busy communal calendar of festivities. The highlights of today’s guided tour will be visiting at least two of the...
The low lying plains and river scenery of the Kyoto Basin have been the stage for some of the most edifying and poignant episodes in Japanese lore. A guided climb to the lookout atop the mountain known colloquially as Daimonji will give us a bird’s eye view of history...
Essentially a free day for you (non guided), today you will have the opportunity to explore this fascinating city at your own pace. You may want to catch up on some shopping, write some postcards, or just reflect on the experience of recent days by the bank of the Kam...
Following an early breakfast we board our train to the Nara Basin (our main luggage will be forwarded to Dorogawa). Gradually leaving suburbia behind, we can now look forward to the next couple of days of our walking adventure. In the 6th Century the first mainland As...
In the morning we will hike through the historic Asuka region, along trails connecting mysterious domed tomb mounds and several of Japan’s oldest temples. The remnants of the Asuka Period that remain today are mostly limited to stone monuments and archaeological excav...
The trail we follow out of Yoshino today weaves through mountains thick with cherry trees, and as we climb higher these mix with fir, pine, and cedar. We will stop to rest at wayside shrines and panoramic mountain passes as we follow a famous pilgrim trail to Omine. ...
Today we explore the riverside trails and mountain passes surrounding the village of Dorogawa. Your tour leader will choose a route to walk depending on the weather conditions and season and you are welcome to join him or her, or explore on your own. For those wishin...
Following a river this picturesque walk through Mitarai gorge takes us up some steep stairs and across a few suspension bridges. During early summer the gorge is a mass of bright green leaves which change to various shades of red and yellow with the on set of autumn. ...
This morning we will explore some of the sights in Osaka’s Namba area, for example Kuromon market - a market for fish, fruit, vegetables and other foods which has been open since the mid-Taisho period (1912-1926) – or Sennichimae Doguya-Suji, a narrow street with many...
The trip concludes today after breakfast. For those travelling to the Kansai International Airport the journey takes approximately 90mins. From Osaka to Tokyo Narita International Airport, takes the best part of 5 hours.
meals : B
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with World Expeditions.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
World Expeditions Reviews & Ratings
Overall this was a great trip
We enjoyed the route, the scenery, the food, our fantastic guide (Akemi) and our fellow travelers. A couple of the accommodations might have been better, but the ma...
I am very happy to say this trip exceeded my expectations
Our group of three singles from Australia & Germany, and a Canadian couple made a great mix. What made the tour exceptional was our guide Akemi. She was caring, ...
Fantastic & memorable trip
Loved spending time in both the cities & the countryside & travelling by public transport & on foot. Just the right amount of hiking to keep it active &a...
Our trekking on the backroads of Japan was amazing
We were able to go to places where most tourists do not go to. There is a lot of walking and you need some stamina to walk many kilometers. The people on our tour we...
Amazing trip
Accommodation was great as was the meals ( but I'm not a fan of Japanese food which made breakfasts restrictive). However the walking (challenging at times) and scen...
Other World Expeditions Reviews
I had to leave the tour early because of illness
My tour guide, Tien, was wonderful. There was a tour participant from Australia who was a physician, and he acted like the tour medical director, demanding I leave...
An amazing experience that was made truly possible by booking through World Expeditions
. The team in Nepal went above and beyond to ensure our every requirement was met within their control.. The sherpas, guides, cook, and porters were exemplary, very ...
My wife and I had a wonderful trek in the Annapurna region
We are both 80 but fit and the route was designed to be less exacting than on our last visit to the same area. This allowed ample time to look at the flowering Rhodo...
Travelers also viewed
Tour Operator
Taking the Paths Less Travelled Since 1975
Since its inception in 1975, World Expeditions has earned an outstanding reputation as an innovator and world leader in quality, small group adventure holidays. Responsible travel at our core, we always believed that it is not only where but also how you travel that truly creates an experience of a lifetime. Over the past decades World Expeditions has been operating authentic and innovative adventure holidays with a genuine focus on the paths less travelled. We are the pioneers in designing groundbreaking itineraries and many say our trips start where others end. As a leader in responsible travel, we offer big adventures with a small environmental footprint. While safety is core to how we operate, we’re also focused on the fun factor and suitably challenging you to reach that great sensation of personal achievement while enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded travellers.
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
What's excluded
- International airfare, visa and travel insurance (compulsory)
- Meals and beverages not indicated in the program
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, alcohol etc
- Arrival and departure transfers
Accommodation
- 15 day trip
- 6 day hike
- 9 nights hotel
- 5 nights traditional inns
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations