Guided tours to Japan

The modern, vibrant city of Tokyo is Japan's capital and leads the nation in fashion, finance, and technology. A mind-boggling 50 million people live in the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo, but despite its size, Tokyo is a pleasure to discover. Old neighbourhoods like Yanaka are still dominated by two-storey wooden houses that sit side-by-side with small temples and shrines.
Visit Meiji shrine in Yoyogi park and then see the fashionable Omote-sando area. Shop in glitzy Ginza, and then have dinner in Shinbashi. Get up early and see the catch come in at Tsukiji fish market, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world.

We visit Tokyo on the Shoguns and Samurai, Mountain Spirits, Land of Fire, and Northern Horizons tours.

Click on a destination for a short description.

Eastern Hokkaido is a land of volcanoes, marshes, and lakes. In winter the area sees the arrival of Japanese Cranes and is covered in a deep layer of snow.

Abundant hot springs are fed by the volcanic activity deep underground, with many remote hot spring baths to discover.

The biggest city on the northern island of Hokkaido, Sapporo is famed for its annual snow festival each February. Beer (Sapporo is on the same latitude as Munich, and the brewing technology was imported from there) is also a year-round pleasure with many local breweries.

We visit Sapporo on our Northern Horizons trip.

This 350-year old traditional ryokan was once used by the local daimyo (feudal lord) and has eight separate baths with milky white spring water. Nyuto hot spring is nestled in the mountains of Akita Prefecture.

We visit Nyuto hot spring on the Mountain Spirits trip.

Dewa Sanzan (literally ‘three peaks of Dewa’), refers to the three sacred peaks of Haguro-san, Gas-san, and Yudono-san. The lowest of the three, Haguro-san (414 metres) is the spiritual home of the Shugendo sect, a mixture of the native Shinto belief and Buddhism involving some rather arduous forms of mountain worship. Mountain ascetics known as yamabushi can still be seen with their conch shells, used to call the spirits. The 17th century poet Basho came this way on his famed journey through northern Japan and penned the following praise:

How cool it is
A pale crescent shining
Above the dark hollow
Of Mount Haguro

We visit Dewa Sanzan on the Mountain Spirits trip.

The remote Tono Valley is famous in Japan for its rich folklore.
This rural community set in a broad green valley takes great pride in its folk tales, which feature such characters as the Kappa, child-sized beings that live in or near rivers. There are also the distinctive local L-shaped farmhouses – magariya. Tono is ideal for experiencing life in rural Japan, best seen by walking and cycling on the country lanes.

We visit Tono on the Mountain Spirits trip.

During the Heian Period (794-1185), Hiraizumi was the seat of the powerful Fujiwara warrior clan, and was a rival to Kyoto. The splendid Konjiki-do (Golden Hall) is completely covered in gold.

We visit Hiraizumi on the Mountain Spirits trip.

The Ryushaku-ji temple complex extends up the entire side of a hill to the Okuno-in (inner sanctum) which is bathed in incense. Yamadera was a stop on Basho’s journey to the north and he wrote the following poem:

Stillness
Penetrating into the rocks
The cry of the cicada

We visit Yamadera on the Mountain Spirits trip.

Japan's last frontier, the Shiretoko Peninsula (meaning 'end of the earth' in the Ainu language) juts out in the Sea of Okhotsk, and his home to bears, sealions, stellar's sea eagles, and other wildlife. Hike to the famous kamuiwakka hot spring water falls, enjoy a fishing boat trip, hike the Shiretoko Five Lakes, or climb Mount Rausu-dake.

We visit Shiretoko on our Northern Horizons trip.

Wild monkeys congregate here to bathe in the open-air hot spring bath. Originally built by a sympathetic lodge owner, the bath is strictly 'monkeys only'! Nearby several hot spring lodges cater to humans.

We visit the Yudanaka Onsen on the Shoguns and Samurai and Snow Country trips.

The marshland area of Oze was formed by the natural damming of a river high in the mountains of Gunma, Niigata and Tochigi Prefectures. Completely innaccesible in winter, in late spring the blooming of the mizu basho (skunk cabbage) draws Japanese hikers. In summer and autumn lush grasses, beautiful flowers and the serene tranquility make the marshland area a haven.

We visit Oze on the Mountains Spirits trip.

The Japan Alps were given their name by British explorers at the end of the 19th century, and the three ranges (southern, central, and northern) offer world-class Alpine hiking, with many peaks over 3,000 metres (10,000 feet). The hiking season starts in earnest in early July in the popular alpine base of Kamikochi. Less energetic activities can be found in the areas' many natural hot spring (onsen) villages, with traditional ryokan (inns) offering pampering service and exquisite freshly-prepared food.

We visit the Japan Alps on the Mountains of Central Japan trip.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the shrines and temples of Nikko are two hours north of Tokyo, in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture. Toshogu shrine is an opulent, intracantly designed memorial to Japan's first shogun, surrounded by tall cryptomerai trees. The surrounding mountains and forests offer wonderful opportunities for walking and dipping in natural hot spring (onsen).

We visit Nikko on the Mountain Spirits trip.

In the Hida region is the castle town of Takayama, isolated by a barrage of mountains. The superb local crafts and architecture are much in evidence in the old town, with the preserved merchants’ houses, teahouses, local sake, and crafts shops specialising in lacquer ware, pottery, antique kimonos and furniture.

We visit the Nakasendo on the Shoguns and Samurai and Snow Country trips.

Shirakawa-go

Since 1995 a UNESCO World Heritage site, Shirakawa-go comprises three villages with restored gasshozukuri (so called because the the roofs look like praying hands - gassho in Japanese) thatched houses. The houses have large roofspaces, and can accommodate extended families, important in an area with little land for building. Lasting 30-40 years, and taking around 200 villagers in a combined effort to re-thatch the houses, the roofs have to be cleared regularly in winter due to the heavy snowfall. Several of the gasshozukuri houses are operated as guesthouses.

We visit the Nakasendo on the Shoguns and Samurai, Snow Country and Mountains of Central Japan trips.

One of the old inland roads from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo), the Nakasendo (literally road through the mountains') was the route taken by traders, monks, emperors, and feudal lords on their journeys from the capital to the seat of government. 'Post towns', situated along the route, provided accommodation and a fresh supply of horses. Preserved today through the efforts of local villagers, the villages of Narai, Tsumago and Magome are particularly lovely and reminiscent of their historic past.

We visit the Nakasendo on the Shoguns and Samurai trip.

Japan's capital for over 1000 years, and repository of much of Japan's cultural heritage, Kyoto is a city worth more than a casual visit. With over 2000 temples and Shinto shrines, plus imperial palaces, gardens, and museums, there is enough to engage the visitor for many days. Highlights include Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion, above), Ryoan-ji temple with its famous rock garden, Kiyomizu-dera temple overlooking the city from its eastern hills, and the Gion, the geisha quarter.

We visit the Kyoto on the Shoguns and Samurai, Land of Fire, Mountains of Central Japan, West Japan Explorer and Imperial Pilgrimage trips.

Nara was the imperial capital in the 7th century, precursor to Kyoto, and the area around the city has the world's oldest standing wooden structure (Horyu-ji temple), and reputedly the largest wooden structure (Todai-ji temple, above). At Asuka-mura are the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, founded in the 5th century by Prince Shotoku. Nara's famous deer park and Naramachi, its old preserved quarter are delightful. Nara is smaller and quieter than Kyoto, and is highly recommended as an addition to any stay in the area, reachable in 40 minutes from both Osaka and Kyoto.

We visit the Nara on the Shoguns and Samurai, Land of Fire, Mountains of Central Japan, and Imperial Pilgrimage trips.

Osaka is a bustling modern city, with a strong merchant tradition and distinctive local flavour. It's famous for its food, and Osakans for their love of good food.

We visit the Osaka on the Shoguns and Samurai, Mountains of Central Japan, and Imperial Pilgrimage trips.

The mystical Kii Peninsula pointing south from Nara and Osaka has traditionally been a place of mountain ascetics, remote villages and religious fervour. Mount Koya is a mountain-top temple complex founded in the 9th century by the monk Kobo Daishi, and centre of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route was a route deep into the mountains to the Grand Shrines of Kumano, where emperors would come with their retinues. It's also home to many wonderful hot springs such as Yunomine, Kawanoyu and Ryujin.

We visit the Kii Peninsula on the Shoguns and Samurai, Mountains of Central Japan, and Imperial Pilgrimage trips.

The historic city district (above) has many restored kura (storehouses), samurai houses and a pretty tree-lined canal. It was also the place where the Tokugawa government set up the first local magistrates and the first state school for the samurai and merchant classes.

Famous for being the world's first atomic bomb target, Hiroshima is a livey city and former important castle town. Sitting near to the Seto inland sea, and Miyajima, famous for its red torii (shrine gate) submerged in the sea.

We visit Hiroshima on the West Japan Explorer trip.

One of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, Beppu has dozens of hotels, ryokan (inns) and minshuku (guesthouses) all benefitting from an abundant supply of hot water gushing from springs deep in the mountains surrounding the city. The many pipes of escaping steam give the city a ghostly appearance at night.

We visit Beppu on the Land of Fire trip.

Better known for being the world's second atomic bomb target, Nagasaki is a beautiful port city that was the only city during the sakoku (Japan's 250 year period of official isolation) to allow trading with the outside world. Consequently it was influenced by the European and Asian traders and has always had a more cosmopolitan air than most Japanese cities.

One of the world's largest calderas (volcanic crater), Aso is famous for its stunning scenery and abundant natural hot springs. A cable car goes to the top of the central Nakadake peak, from where there are walks and hikes.

We visit Mount Aso on the Land of Fire and West Japan Explorer trips.

Miyazaki is home to a beautiful coastline, rugged mountains, and has many sights traditionally connected with Japan's creation myths. In the north is Takachiho, with its stunning gorge, and yokagura dances (above). Aya is a small organic farming town with a castle and arts and crafts centre. At Obi there are restored samurai houses and Kirishima is a chain of dormant volcanoes overlooking Kagoshima Bay.

We visit Miyazaki on the Land of Fire and trip.

A lively city sitting across the bay from the active volcano Sakurajima. With its own distinctive cuisine, the fiery shochu spirit made from sweet potatoes, Kagoshima has a strong regional identity. Visit the beatiful former home of the powerful Shimazu clan, take the ferry across Kagoshima Bay to Sakurajima, or visit Chiran, with its restored samurai houses and museum to the kamikaze pilots of WWII.

We visit Kagoshima on the Land of Fire and West Japan Explorer trips.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the sub-tropical island has a dense inland forest of giant yakusugi trees, some of them thousands of years old. Beautiful beaches, remote waterfalls, and a laid-back atmosphere make Yakushima a good addition to any visit to Kyushu.

We visit Yakushima on the West Japan Explorer trip.

The Okinawa Islands stretch down from Kyushu almost to Taiwan. White sand beaches, coral, and excellent diving make them a popular destination.

The southern islands of Ishigaki, Miyakojima, and Iriomote are less developed and offer a relaxing, beautiful getaway.

The most 'Japanese' of Japan's ski resorts, Nozawa Onsen is a lovely hot spring village with some excellent skiing. With 13 free hot spring baths dotted around the village, and a good selection of ryokan (inns) and minshuku (guesthouses), it's a fun place to visit even if you don't ski.

We visit Nozawa Onsen on our winter Snow Country tour.