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Mountain Spirits
13 days Tokyo and northern Japan

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Toshogu shrine at Nikko – spectacular walking in the Oze wetlands surrounded by mountain peaks– accommodation in traditional ryokan – natural hot spring baths – a temple stay in the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan – hiking on sacred Mount Gas-san - gentle walks and cycling in the Tono valley – stay at a traditional farmhouse converted to an inn - Samurai houses and gardens at Kakunodate – relax in the milky-white waters of the remote Nyuto hot spring – travel on the bullet train

Nikko deity Oze Pilgrims on Gassan

Our journey will take us north from Tokyo into a landscape rich in spirituality and tradition.
Though off the established tourist circuit, the sights of northern Japan can rival anywhere in the country in their beauty and atmospheric grandeur. By travelling on Japan’s modern rail system as well as our own vehicle, we will be able to visit both the better-known, magnificent destinations, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toshogu shrine at Nikko and Dewa Sanzan, as well as the region’s more out of the way natural hot springs and beautiful national parks. We will take exhilirating walks through beautiful scenery in the Oze Wetlands, Mount Gas-san, and the Tono Valley.
The Japanese poet Matsuo Basho traveled through this region in the 17th century, a journey subsequently published as The Narrow Road to the Deep North. We will visit several of the places which inspired his famous haiku poems.
Our small group will stay at traditional ryokan and minshuku country inns in the countryside – always with a flawless service and beautifully-prepared regional cuisine of fresh local ingredients.
Onsen, natural hot spring baths, are one of the highlights of our journey. At Tochio near Oze our hot spring ryokan has open-air baths next to a rushing river, while at Nyuto near Lake Tazawako, the 300-year old Tsuru-no-yu ryokan has eight baths, some with the famous milky-white spring water. The tour starts and ends in Tokyo, with time for sightseeing and shopping.

Walking Level: easy/moderate

There will be easy to moderate level walking and hiking on 6 days out of the 13 days of this trip. Walks will range from 2 to 5 hours per day on flat paths and mountain trails with some moderate ascents.

Note: For those not wishing to walk, we will be happy to make alternative arrangements. Please contact us for details.

Day 1 Meet in Tokyo

Meet at Narita International Airport and transfer by train to Tokyo.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Tokyo

Our first full day in Japan will be spent on a walking tour of Tokyo. Overnight in city centre hotel.

Day 3 Nikko

Travel by train to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nikko and the Tosho-gu shrines where the Tokugawa shoguns are enshrined. Overnight ryokan.

Day 4 - 5 Oze Marshland

Spectacular walking in the remote Oze Marshlands of Nikko National Park, surrounded by mountain peaks. Overnight lakeside lodge.

Day 6 - 7 Dewa Sanzan

We'll spend two days exploring the three sacred peaks of Dewa, staying in a shukubo (temple lodging) and joining the pilgrims at the mountain-top shrine. We'll also visit a Zen temple and garden to experience the tea-ceremony.

Day 8 Kakunodate and Nyuto hot spring

Transfer to Kakunodate, a former feudal town with well-preserved Samurai residences. Continue to Nyuto Hot Spring, and check in to our beautiful hot spring ryokan for the night. Bathe in the milky white spring water. In the evening we will dine around the irori (traditional sunken hearth).

Day 9 Nyuto hot spring

There will be a full day today in the Nyuto Onsen area, with optional walking in the surrounding mountains, or a day of soaking in the hot spring baths!

Day 10 Tono valley

By road the Tono valey, famous in Japan for its rich folklore. Overnight family-run minshuku (inn), a delightful, restored farmhouse run by a local family.

Day 11 Return to Tokyo

Gentle cycling in the rural Tono valley with its rich local folklore and well-preserved magariya, L-shaped farmhouses, and return to Tokyo by shikansen (bullet train).

Day 12 Tokyo

There will be a free day today in Tokyo, for shopping, visiting a museum, or simply wandering through the city. In the evening there will be a farewell dinner.

Day 13 Tour ends

On our final day we say farewell. Your guide will help you transfer to Tokyo’s Narita airport for your flight home, or you may like to stay a few days longer.

We will be happy to book pre or post-tour accommodation for you throughout Japan.

When we receive your booking we send you a dossier, which contains a suggested gear and clothing list. If you do have queries at this initial stage do ring us and we will be pleased to offer advice.

TOKYO: Comfortable, modern, downtown hotels. NIKKO, TOCHIO, HAGURO, TONO, NYUTO HOT SPRING: Traditional Japanese inns (ryokan and minshuku) OZE: Mountain lodge
Please note that single rooms are normally only available in hotels – where a single room supplement may apply.

Facilities vary by location, and some of the minshuku and ryokan do not have en suite bathrooms.

All breakfasts and 10 evening meals are included. In Tokyo, for reasons of choice and convenience, 2 evening meals are not included but your guide will be available to help with recommendations and ordering.

Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but we cannot make absolute guarantees! Changes to the itinerary will normally be to introduce an improvement. Weather conditions, road and transport conditions, and the health of walkers can all contribute to changes. The guide will ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy-going nature is an asset!

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