8 Nights
9 Day Japan Past to Present
from $3,355 AUD

*Price is per person.

Details

* Excludes Airfares
* Departure: (April to November only) Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (expect peak season)  
* Seasonal surcharges apply for all other dates
* Minimum of 2 people

Highlights
1. Discover a new side of Kyoto by bicycle
2. Walk village to village on the historic Nakasendo Trail (not available during Winter Dec - Mar)
3. Stay in a family-run Minshuku and try a Japanese home cooked meal
4. Experience the contrast of tranquillity in the Kiso Valley to the ultramodern neon city of Tokyo

Price Per Person (From):
Departure   Twin Triple

Sun, Tue, Thurs & Sat

 $3,355

$3,225


B: Breakfast | L: Lunch | D: Dinner

Day 1 Kansai Airport Kyoto

Kansai Airport  Kyoto

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Kansai Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival exit point and take you to your Kyoto accommodation by shared shuttle. After check in at your hotel, you will have free time to explore Kyoto -  Japan’s ancient capital.

Hotel:  Hearton Hotel Kyoto, or similar

Day 2 Kyoto

Kyoto

This morning, head out to the designated departure point to meet your guide and embark on a morning cycling tour which will begin near Kyoto Station. Cycle through the backstreets of Kyoto city with the English-speaking guide to explore real Kyoto which cannot be accessed by cars. This 15km cycling tour visits Geisha Quarters Miyagawa-cho, Ishibei Koji Alley, the Gion district, Yasaka Shrine, Shirakawa River and Heian-jingu Shrine. The tour will end at Kyoto Station between 12:30 and 13:00. Please note participants on this tour must be between the ages of 12 and 70, and be 155cm in height or taller. The afternoon / evening is free to spend at your leisure exploring Japan’s ancient capital. We recommend taking in sights such as Arashiyama Sagano Bamboo Grove - Explore beautiful bamboo forests and historic temples set among the sublime natural environment.

Hotel:  Hearton Hotel Kyoto, or similar

Day 3 Kyoto

Kyoto

Today, enjoy a full free day at leisure exploring Kyoto at your own pace. With an abundance of beautiful, and historically significant, gardens, temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures dotted around the city you are sure to have a full day of sightseeing ahead of you! *Please remember to collect your train tickets from your hotel reception for the journey to the Nakasendo Trail tomorrow.

Hotel:  Hearton Hotel Kyoto, or similar

Day 4 Kyoto Nagoya Nakatsugawa {hike} Magome {hike} Tsumago

Kyoto  Nagoya  Nakatsugawa {hike} Magome {hike} Tsumago

Today, your adventure to Tsumago begins! Start the day by taking the bullet train from Kyoto to Nagoya, followed by a local train to Nakatsugawa. Once in Nakatsugawa head to the Magome Trail entrance by local bus (costs approx. 560 yen). A fantastic suggestion is to arrange a luggage transfer from your Kyoto hotel or Magome information centre (costs between 1,500-2,500 yen). With this service, you can just carry a small backpack with the necessities for 1-2 days. Once you reach the trail entrance, start your 8.3km walk from Magome to Tsumago. It is one of the best preserved and most evocative of the Nakasendo post-towns. Tonight you will spend the night at a family-run Minshuku in Tsumago, or in the nearby village of Otsumago. Enjoy a delicious home-cooked Japanese dinner and in the evening stroll through Tsumago Village in the magical peace of the evening, wearing a cotton yukata gown supplied by your inn.  

Hotel:  Tsumago Ryokan or Minshuku
Meals: Dinner

Day 5 Tsumago {Hike} Kiso-Fukushima Minshuku

Tsumago {Hike} Kiso-Fukushima  Minshuku

Following breakfast at the Minshuku, you will start the longest day of the trail which would take approx. 6 hours. The 18.4km trail is a beautiful and varied hike from Tsumago to Nojiri. There is the option to take a shorter 3.7km route to Nagiso instead (approx. 1 hour). The trail ventures through small valleys, and forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar. This goes through some of the least-developed sceneries on the tour. At the end of the route, transfer to Kiso-Fukushima Station where the Ryokan staff will pick you up. Stay at a lovely Ryokan in a peaceful valley. Relax your body in the natural hot springs and have local specialty dishes for dinner. 

Hotel:  Kiso-Fukushima Ryokan or Minshuku
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Day 6 Minshuku Kiso-Fukushima {Hike} Narai

Minshuku  Kiso-Fukushima {Hike} Narai

Following breakfast at your ryokan, pack up your luggage and continue the hike. Your Ryokan may also offer a luggage transfer service too if you have yet to use it and would like to offload any luggage to your Tokyo accommodation. The Ryokan staff will drop you off at Kiso-Fukushima Station. From there, start the journey to the Yabuhara Trail which is the starting point for the Torii Pass to Narai. Take the time to explore this atmospheric village before checking in to your family-run inn in the heart of the Narai Village. 

Hotel:  Narai Ryokan or Minshuku
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Day 7 Narai {hike} Kiso-Hirasawa Tokyo

Narai {hike} Kiso-Hirasawa  Tokyo

Following breakfast at your accommodation, hike for about 40 minutes to the famous lacquer ware town of Kiso-Hirasawa. There are many shops selling beautifully crafted table ware and furniture. Catch a train from Kiso-Hirasawa Station to Tokyo, arriving mid-afternoon. You have the option to have a break in your journey at Matsumoto to visit Matsumoto Castle (a small additional train fare is required on the spot). This evening check in at your accommodation in Ginza, the famous high-end shopping, dining and entertainment district in Tokyo. You will notice the huge difference between the bright neon metropolis of Tokyo and the old tranquil atmosphere of the Kiso Valley. 

Hotel:  Sunshine City Prince Hotel, or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Tokyo

Tokyo

Today, enjoy a free day at leisure in Tokyo, the bustling and exciting capital city that never sleeps! Recommended areas for self-directed sightseeing include TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN® where you can explore Japan’s tallest structure freely (admission fee required to access TOKYO SKYTREE® observation decks). The Odaiba area is perfect for taking photos of Tokyo’s beautiful rainbow bridge, and of course, Shinjuku and Shibuya provide ample opportunity to experience the heart of Tokyo and see the famed Hachiko dog statue and congested scramble crossing.

Hotel:  Sunshine City Prince Hotel, or similar

Day 9 Tokyo Narita / Haneda Airport

Tokyo  Narita / Haneda Airport

Today, spend part of the day further exploring Tokyo at your own leisure, until it is time to depart to Narita or Haneda Airport via shared shuttle. Pick up for shared shuttle services is generally 4 hours prior to flight departure.

  • Hotels: Kyoto (3 nights), Tsumago (1 night), Kiso-Fukushima (1 night), Narai (1 night), Tokyo (2 nights)
  • Meals: 3 Breakfast, 3 Dinners
  • Guide: English speaking guide on Day 2 only.
  • Transportation:
    • Train ticket from:
      • Kyoto to Nakatsugawa, 
      • Nojiri to Kiso-Fukushima,
      • Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara,
      • Kiso-Hirasawa to Tokyo

Costing may vary  depending on the exchange rate, the final rate will be confirmed at time of booking confirmation.
※The above itinerary is subject to availability
※For full terms and conditions, please contact our travel specialists.

Day 2 Kyoto Cycling Tour
※Participants are required to have the ability to ride a bicycle on a public road. There will be no refund given if participants are not able to ride the bicycle during this tour.
※This 15 m cycling tour will be held regardless of weather conditions. Rain gear will be provided free of charge.
※Areas requiring admission fees at Heian Jingu Shrine will not be visited.
※Only customers who are 12-70 years of age and with a height 155cm or taller may participate.
※Tour location cannot be changed. Please check the itinerary beforehand.

Day 4: Nakansendo Self-guided walking 4 days / Day 1
※Walking distance: 8.3km / 5.2 miles
※Elevation gain: 326m / 1069 feet of ascent and 430m / 1410 feet of descent
※Time required: About 3 hours

Day 5: Nakansendo Self-guided walking 4 days / Day 2
※Walking distance: 18.4km / 11.5 miles
※Elevation gain: 723m / 2275 feet of ascent and 644m / 2112 feet of descent
※Time required: About 6 hours

Day 6: Nakansendo Self-guided walking 4 days / Day 3
※Walking distance: 6.2km / 3.9 miles
※Elevation gain: 344m / 1128 feet of ascent and 270m / 885 feet of descent
※Time required: About 3 hours

Day 7: Nakansendo Self-guided walking 4 days / Day 4
※Walking distance: 2.5km / 1.6 miles
※Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
※Time required: About 1 hour

Ready to explore?

or call us on 1800 802 552

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