Tour style Moderate walking - 6 days of walking and hiking from 2 to 5 hours per day on flat paths and mountain trails with some moderate climbs. Maximum 12 people in the group |
Places visited: Tokyo • Nikko • Oze Marshland • Dewa Sanzan • Tono Valley • Nyuto Hot Spring • Kakunodate Meet/Depart Tokyo/Tokyo |
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Slideshow (click on any picture)
HIGHLIGHTS
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
INTRODUCTION
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. We will 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.
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
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.
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ACCOMMODATION ON THIS TOUR
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Magariya minshuku
Saikan
TOUR COMMENTS
"Everything on this trip was fabulous. We were looked after really well. The info leading up to the trip was excellent, what to bring, itinerary, preparation etc. Booking a trip can be a bit of a lottery but everything Oxalis presented was very professional, efficient, and great value for $$. I am going to recommend Oxalis to all my friends."
Caroline D, Australia
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts & 10 evening meals are included.
Not Included are international Flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 2 evening meals in Tokyo.
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
There is a single room supplement of £150 per person, which will guarantee you a single room in the Tokyo hotel
GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12 Clients Minimum: 5 Clients
SIMILAR TRIPS
The following tours might also be of interest:
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
2010 Tour Itinerary |
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Day 1 Meet in Tokyo
Arrive at Narita International Airport, be met by your tour leader, and transfer to Tokyo. There will be a welcome dinner at a restaurant in the centre of the city.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
Day 2 Sightseeing in Tokyo
Our first full day in Japan will be spent on a walking tour of Tokyo, visiting the elegant Ginza shopping district and the grand Meiji shrine. In the evening your tour leader will be on hand to help you with ordering dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
Day 3 Nikko
We will board a train this morning for the journey out of Tokyo to Nikko, two hours to the north. The forests and mountains of Nikko have been sacred to the Japanese for 1,200 years, and it was here that in 1617 the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu had himself enshrined at Tosho-gu. These extravagantly ornate buildings are now on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites and we will take a guided walking tour of the main shrine buildings. Afterwards you will relax at the ryokan situated along a small river valley. You will enjoy a sumptuous dinner of Japanese food served by the gracious ryokan staff.
Accommodation: Traditional ryokan
Day 4 Oze Marshland
After breakfast our baggage will be collected and sent on by courier to our lodgings in the Dewa Sanzan area. For the next few days we will carry just a daypack with a change of clothes and other essential items. We will travel for two hours by a series of mountain roads to the start of our walk into Oze Marshland. After which a two-hour hike will bring us to the marshland high in the mountains of the Nikko National Park, this beautiful area is a haven for wild flowers and plants. We will stay at a friendly mountain lodge next to the Oze-numa lake.
Walking: 6 miles: 3 hours, 550 metres ascent, 160 metres descent
Accommodation: Mountain lodge
Day 5 Hiking in Oze
After an early breakfast, we hike through the Oze Marshland to the Oze-ga-hara area where boardwalks are laid out amongst the marshes. We will stop for a picnic lunch of onigiri (rice balls flavoured with Japanese pickles), and then continue to the northern edge of the marsh, where a bus will take us through a long valley to the Okutadani lake and a boat ride to the opposite side. Another short bus ride will bring us to Tochio-mata hot spring, where we will stay for the night in a lovely traditional ryokan, enjoying a dip or two in the open-air hot spring baths.
Walking: 10 miles: 6 hours, 250 metres ascent, 150 metres descent
Accommodation: Traditional hot spring ryokan
Day 6 Dewa Sanzan
After breakfast and perhaps another quick soak in the hot spring, we will take a bus to the nearby town of Koide, transferring to the shinkansen (Bullet train) for our journey north, following the picturesque Japan Sea coast for part of the way. Our destination is the Dewa Sanzan (literally ‘three peaks of Dewa’) area, which 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 which are 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
The summit of Haguro-san is reached by a staircase of 2,446 stone steps surrounded by a forest of giant cedars. At the top the pilgrims in their white coats head for the Dewa Sanzan shrine with its massive thatched roof. Connected to the shrine by a covered walkway is the lovely shukubo (pilgrims lodgings) where we stay tonight. Our baggage sent from Nikko will be waiting for us when we arrive. For dinner we will enjoy a meal of shojin-ryori, vegetarian Buddhist cuisine.
Accommodation: Temple lodging
Day 7 Mount Gas-san
In the morning we will have an early breakfast, and take the bus to the start of our hike on Mount Gas-san.
The highest of the three sacred mountains, Gas-san (the name means ‘moon mountain’) is covered in deep snow for much of the year – up to 5 or 6 metres. The mountain is officially ‘opened’ each year with a ceremony at the Shinto shrine at the summit, which we will reach following a two and half hour climb. Along the way there are lovely small ponds formed by the melting snow and an abundance of alpine flowers.
At the summit, we will be purified by the wave of a priest’s shide (ceremonial wand) and finish our visit to the shrine with a drop of the sacred drink – saké.
After a picnic lunch, we will retrace our steps down the mountain and head by road to Gyokusenji temple. Said to have been founded in 1251 by the Zen monk Ryonen Homyo Zenji, the temple is now complemented by a garden completed in the 1650s and now designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. We will take a peaceful moment to enjoy the view of the garden while participating in the tea ceremony.
From Gyokusenji we will return to our lodgings for dinner. Following dinner there will be an optional visit to a nearby natural hot spring.
Walking: 6 miles: 4.5 hours, 600 metres ascent, 600 metres descent
Accommodation: Temple lodging
Day 8 Kakunodate and Nyuto hot spring
This morning we will leave the Dewa Sanzan area, heading north. Our first stop will be to Kakunodate, a former feudal town with well-preserved Samurai residences. We will walk through the former Samurai quarter, with an opportunity to visit one of the elegant samurai houses, before arriving at the merchant’s area. Lastly we will continue to Nyuto Hot Spring, and check in to our beautiful hot spring ryokan for the night. 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. In the evening we will dine around the irori (traditional sunken hearth).
Accommodation: Hot spring ryokan
Day 9 Nyuto hot spring
There will be a full day today in the Nyuto Onsen area. In the morning, after breakfast, we will head off along a path, climbing to Mount Nyuto, for spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Tazawako to the south. The length of the walk and route will be decided locally based on the weather conditions. Those wishing for a more relaxed day can stay and soak in the hot springs, or try some short walks along the valley floor.
Walking: 6 miles: 5 hours, 600 metres ascent, 600 metres descent
Accommodation: Hot spring ryokan
Day 10 Tono valley
Today we will travel road to Tono, 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. The local people have a strong pride in their culture and myths, and have worked hard to preserve them.
Our accommodation for the night will be in a restored traditional farmhouse called a magariya. This beautiful L-shaped building was saved by its owner and brought piece by piece to its present location. Run by the owner and his two grown children, the inn has been decorated with local crafts, antiques, and each room is different. In the evening he lights a fire in the irori sunken hearth, and on cool evenings we can sit and be warmed by the fire while the dinner is prepared.
Accommodation: Traditional 'magariya' farmhouse inn
Day 11 Tono Valley and return to Tokyo
In the morning, we will rent bicycles, and cycle slowly along the quiet country lanes of the wide Tono Valley. Depending on the time of year, we can see the rice being harvested. Cycling lets you see the beautiful countryside at your own pace; there will be plenty of time to stop and take photographs and you will also visit some of the locations associated with the Tono legends. After lunch we will take the local train to Shin-Hanamaki and catch the shinkansen (bullet train) back to Tokyo, arriving early evening.
Cycling: 16 miles, 2 hours, little ascent or descent
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
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.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
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.
| Download detailed itinerary |
See this tour in Google Earth |
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts & 10 evening meals are included.
Not Included are international Flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 2 evening meals in Tokyo.
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
2010 Dates & Prices |
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DATES & PRICES 2010
| Tour dates | Availability | Price | |
| 19 - 31 July 2010 | Spaces | £2390 / $3,850 / €2,750 | BOOK |
| 26 September - 08 October 2010 | Spaces | £2390 / $3,850 / €2,750 | BOOK |
To book, please select 'Book' from the link above. |
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Tour starts and ends in Tokyo. The first day of the tour is the arrival day, and you will depart one day earlier from most international destinations.
| Download detailed itinerary |
See this tour in Google Earth |
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts & 10 evening meals are included.
Not Included are international Flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 2 evening meals in Tokyo.
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
There is a single room supplement of £150 per person, which will guarantee you a single room in the Tokyo hotel
GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12 Clients Minimum: 5 Clients
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (GMT)
Accommodation on this tour |
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| Download detailed itinerary |
See this tour in Google Earth |
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
Tour Reviews |
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"I think personally the highlight was the Oze region, just breathtakingly beautiful. Although I also greatly enjoyed the Dewa Sanzan, as well as some of the brief stops at temples such as Gyokusenji. I was very impressed with the depth of your knowledge, and your ability to answer almost every random question I threw out, and particularly with your willingness to ask around for answers to questions that you didn't have an immediate sure answer for yourself. ...I felt that this was perhaps the most memorable trip
we've ever taken together. The mix of hiking through breathtaking
scenery and visiting historical and cultural destinations was very well
planned, and your level of expertise at every level made the entire
trip feel natural and uncomplicated. Your guidance made possible an
experience of the Japanese culture and landscape that we could never
have achieved on our own."
John P, USA
"Everything on this trip was fabulous. We were looked after really well. The info leading up to the trip was excellent, what to bring, itinerary, preparation etc. Booking a trip can be a bit of a lottery but everything Oxalis presented was very professional, efficient, and great valie for $$. I am going to recommend Oxalis to all my friends."
Caroline D, Australia
"It was really much more than what I expected."
Carlos M, Spain
"Thank you for showing a few of your favourite places in Japan... The trip met our expectations in every way - and Matt was more than alert to the groups needs. Well done and good luck to Oxalis."
Antony and Ommar W, UK
"We just recently returned from our Mountain Spirits adventure in Japan. I was very apprehensive when booking this vacation; it is the first trip we booked knowing little about the tour company. We found Oxalis searching the Web and took a huge leap of faith that the trip would meet our expectations. Short of the testimonials you posted we knew nothing about Oxalis. I am so happy to report that the trip exceeded our expectations on every front. The accommodations were wonderful, the food was outstanding, the pace of the trip was perfect and you couldn't have provided a more delightful guide. Satomi always made us feel that our needs were an absolute priority, not to mention that she was a wealth of information on many topics. On the final evening of the tour our entire group met for dinner, I think the comments above represent the general attitude of everyone."
Bob and Norma W, USA
"We had a truly wonderful trip; Satomi is such a good guide, and the whole trip was really well planned."
Caroline B, UK
"Scott and I really enjoyed our trip to Japan. Satomi was a fantastic well-organized guide, full of information and tons of humor. Our small group was in synch. and we enjoyed meeting everyone.
The Shiba Park Hotel was in an excellent location for walking to dozens of affordable restaurants and for getting to Narita airport. The staff was really great and luckily all spoke English well. I would definitely stay there again since we were able to walk and catch the subway all over the city very easily.
I liked having lunch on our own so we could purchase what we want at the train stations. The vegetarian meals were overly abundant and I was stuffed at meals... I also liked having the option in Nyuto to do our own thing for 1 day... Anyway, you did a great job putting the trip together. The best part of it was that all the logistics worked flawlessly in Japan. The train transfers were easy and like clockwork."
Leila F, USA
| Download detailed itinerary |
See this tour in Google Earth |
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
