Tokyo to Kyoto and Nara guided tour

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Shoguns and Samurai
14 days Tokyo to Kyoto

Imperial Kyoto and Nara - Nakasendo Way post-towns - Snow monkeys of Yudanaka hot spring – traditional merchants houses of Takayama – Natural hot spring baths – Accommodation in traditional ryokan – Sacred Mount Koya - Ultra-modern Tokyo

Kyoto market Street festival Takayama merchants houses

Central Japan is a region of tall mountain ranges and fast-flowing rivers. It wasn’t until recently that roads reached the remoter villages, and today many remain remarkably well-preserved, and evocative of centuries past. Our journey takes us through Japanese history from modern Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan’s period of rule by the Shoguns, to end near Kyoto, Japan’s capital for 400 years and the repository of much of the countries cultural heritage. From Tokyo we head first to Yudanaka Onsen hot spring where the famous “snow monkeys” come to enjoy the natural hot spring baths just like humans. In feudal times people travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo would use the Nakasendo way – the road through the central mountains – one of a network of ancient highways. We will visit one of the best preserved sections in the Kiso Valley, where the lovely villages of Tsumago and Magome have been immaculately restored. We will stay in small, traditional village houses restored and now run by local families as minshuku ( inns). In the Hida region, we will visit 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, and furniture. We will also see the traditionally-thatched gassho-zukkuri houses. These large wooden houses have steep thatched roofs, designed to withstand heavy snow, and the term gassho-zukkuri refers to the shape of praying hands formed by the roofs. From the mountains we will move to the city of Kyoto, Japan’s capital for more than a thousand years. The city is home to more than 1600 Buddhist temples, hundreds of Shinto shrines, imperial palaces and formal gardens. There will be ample time to explore this historical city, and also enjoy some of the wonderful Kyoto cuisine, with its refined preparation and artistic presentation. Our next stop is Nara, Japan’s capital during the 8th century, when Buddhist glory reached its height in Japan. Todai-ji temple is the largest wooden structure in the world and home to the Great Buddha, 15 metres high and made of bronze. Our last night before heading back to Tokyo will be spent in a shukubo temple lodging situated on Mount Koya, the home of Shingon (Pure Word) Buddhism. There will be time to wander amongst the thousands of ancient tombs and memorials in the Okunoin cemetery, near the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the Buddhist monk who founded the first temple here in the 9th century. Along with the beautiful mountain landscapes and wonderful hot springs, we will enjoy freshly-made local cuisine at each stop, such as hida beef, miso bean paste, tofu, sweet dumplings and sansai-ryori made from delicately prepared mountain vegetables.

Day 1 Meet in Tokyo

Meet at Narita International Airport and transfer by train to Tokyo . Leisurely walk around central Tokyo . In the evening there will be a welcome dinner at a city restaurant.
Overnight at city centre hotel.

Day 2 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.

Day 3 Obuse & Yudanaka Onsen

Transfer to Obuse in Nagano Prefecture north-west of Tokyo. Visit the Hokusai-kan, woodblock print museum and Masuichi-Ichimura Saké Brewery.
By road to Yudanaka Onsen, a hot spring village famous for its ‘snow monkeys’. Overnight in traditional Japanese minshuku (travellers’ inn).
N.B. Please note that there is a 25-minute walk along a level path to the 'snow monkey' hot spring.

Day 4 Narai

Travel to the Kiso valley and the small town of Narai, an atmospheric example of a post-town on the ancient Nakasendo trail between Kyoto and Tokyo. Our accommodation will be an edo-period house converted into a minshuku (family-run travellers’ inn).

Day 5 Magome

Continue to Tsumago, another of the post-towns on the former Nakasendo trail. Visit the folk museum, with exhibits on the old Nakasendo trail and the village. Travel by local bus to Magome, in time to check in to our minshuku, a lovely family-run inn with an antique irori (sunken Japanese hearth) and a bath made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood.

Day 6 - 7 Takayama

Transfer to Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Explore the San-machi area with its rows of old merchant’s houses, some open as museums. Visit Hida-no-sato to see traditionally thatched gassho-zukkuri houses.
In the evening we will try the local Hida beef, and perhaps some locally-brewed saké.

Day 8 - 10 Kyoto

We will leave the mountains today, travelling by bus to Takayama, and then by train to Kyoto.
We will spend three days exploring Kyoto and its many temples, including a walk through Gion, the traditional geisha quarters. There will be one free day, so you can catch up on sending postcards, shop for souvenirs, take some time to do some more exploring.

Day 11 Nara

The ancient city of Nara , which preceded Kyoto as Japan ’s capital from 710 to 784, is one hour south of Kyoto by train. We will visit the old merchant district of Nara-machi with its narrow streets, shops, cafes and restaurants. Next we will visit Todai-ji temple, with its bronze statue of Buddha , said to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Return to Kyoto city centre hotel.

Day 12 Mount Koya

Transfer to Mount Koya, overnight at Buddhist temple.

Day 13Transfer to Tokyo

Return to Tokyo by shinkansen (bullet train).

Day 14 Tour ends

Your tour leader will help you transfer to Tokyo's Narita Airport for your flight home.

We will be happy to arrange accommodation before or after your trip.

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

TOKYO, KYOTO: Comfortable, modern, downtown hotels. OBUSE, NARAI, MAGOME, TAKAYAMA: Traditional Japanese inns (ryokan and minshuku) MOUNT KOYA: Buddhist temple
Please note that single rooms are normally only available in hotels – where a single room supplement may apply. Single travellers may be asked to share a room (same sex).

Facilities vary by location, and in the traditional minshuku and ryokan sometimes private en suite bathrooms are not available.

Breakfasts and 10 evening meals are included. Lunches and 3 evening meals in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara are not included for reasons of choice and convenience, but your tour leader 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 travellers 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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