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Japan, Nakasendo Trail, Classic Journeys
Villages, Valleys & Tea‑Field Trails

Japan Cultural Walking Tour

8 DaysStarting at $10,995
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Overview

Japan is easy to picture as a blur of neon nights, bullet trains, and “must‑see” temples—but when you only skim its surface, you miss the quiet heart that locals cherish most. This journey turns down the volume and slows the pace so you can walk into Japan at eye level: along the centuries‑old Nakasendo Way in the Kiso Valley, through cedar forests where forest bathing was born, and between the terraced rows of Uji’s tea fields where farmers quietly tend choice leaves. Instead of racing from one famous site to the next, you follow a single graceful line from Tokyo’s backstreets to Kyoto and its countryside, discovering how city, village and valley all braid together when you travel mostly on foot.​ Along the way, doors open that stay closed to most visitors. You share homestyle dinners in real Tokyo apartments, soak in the stillness of Narai’s lamplit streets after the day‑trippers disappear, and sit knee‑to‑knee with artisans—from a tea master in Uji to geisha and maiko in a Kyoto teahouse—who pass their traditions directly into your hands. With a small group and exceptionally well‑connected local guides, this is Japan as Classic Journeys loves it best: cinematic countryside walks, meaningful encounters with the people who keep its culture alive, and unforgettable “only with Classic Journeys” moments you simply could not arrange on your own.​

Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.”
Travel + Leisure

Itinerary Highlights

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  • Walk quiet stretches of the Nakasendo Way through cedar forests and post towns, tracing Japan’s centuries‑old mountain trade route at eye level. 
  • TShare home‑cooked dishes, stories, and hands‑on cooking in a Tokyo apartment, trading questions with your hosts like longtime friends.
  • Wander Yanesen’s backstreets, shrines, and neighborhood shops, then stroll Ueno’s classic strolling gardens where city life suddenly feels far away. 
  • Cross Torii Pass in the Japanese Alps between Yabuhara and Narai, with views of sacred Mt. Ontake and lantern‑lit streets waiting below.​
  • Practice shinrin‑yoku in Akasawa’s towering cedar groves, pausing often to listen, breathe, and reconnect with nature on gentle forest paths.​  
  • Walk the Magome–Tsumago section of the Nakasendo Way, passing farmhouses, teahouses, and waterfalls as your guide brings feudal Japan to life.​
  • Climb through Fushimi Inari’s vermilion torii, explore hidden Kyoto temples and Gion’s narrow lanes, then taste the city on a progressive nighttime food walk.  
  • Stroll Uji’s tea streets and terraced fields with a tea master, then experience an intimate geisha‑hosted kaiseki evening in a historic Kyoto townhouse.
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Map

  • Starting Point:

    Tokyo – 10:00 am – Lobby of Tokyo Hotel

  • Ending Point:

    Osaka – 10:00 am – Kansai Airport
Itinerary Map

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Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-8 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved and cobblestone streets in Tokyo and Kyoto; as well as well-maintained countryside, nature preserve, tea farm, hot springs and riverside trails of compressed dirt and stone. The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain with some elevation gain and loss.
To See Mileage Daily, Download Full Itinerary

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won’t be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

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Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Hotels

We spend years cultivating personal relationships with our hoteliers to provide you thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region. Here is a sampling of our favorite hotels on this tour. 

Japan Nihonbashi Mitsui Garden Hotel

Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier

Calm, contemporary base in central Nihonbashi, balancing polished design with warm hospitality, easy rail access, and quiet rooms that feel like sleek city apartments after each day’s explorations.​ 

Japan Byaku Narai Hotel

Byaku Narai

Beautifully restored heritage inn in the heart of Narai‑juku, blending minimalist Japanese aesthetics, artisanal details, and thoughtful comforts for an immersive night in a preserved post‑town streetscape.

Japan The Royal Park Iconic Kyoto Hotel

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Kyoto

Stylish, centrally located Kyoto hideaway with lounge access, serene contemporary rooms, and easy walking distance to temples, boutiques, and dining, ideal for unwinding between city strolls and countryside walks.

What’s Included

  • Meals: All breakfasts, three lunches, and four dinners.
  • Hotels: Award-winning boutique properties, thoughtfully selected for their exceptional location, design, history, and regional character.
  • Tour Leader(s): Expert guides who are your well-connected local friends and provide you access to people and places you wouldn’t find on your own.
  • Supplemental Experts: Additional regional guides and specialists on select tours.
  • Transportation: All land transportation as listed in the daily itinerary, including fares for trains, ferries, and other modes of travel.
  • Privileged Access Events: One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places, and experiences arranged just for you, as noted in the daily itinerary.
  • Admissions & Entry Fees: Entry to tastings, historic sites, and other scheduled activities listed in the daily itinerary.
  • Baggage Transfers: Upon arrival, we whisk you and your bags directly to your room—no waiting, no tipping.
  • Gratuities: All gratuities at hotels, restaurants, and for baggage handling.
  • Dedicated Guest Services Coordinator: Your pre-trip concierge and tour expert, available to answer questions and ensure you’re fully ready to get the most out of your tour.
Not Included: Tour Leader gratuities, travel to and from your trip’s start and end points, and any meals or activities taken independently.

Why Choose Classic Journeys

Travel + Leisure has awarded Classic Journeys the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times and says, “Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.” Here’s what that access means for you.
  • The Best Guides: Local Experts and Cultural Ambassadors. Classic Journeys guides in Japan are true insiders—Tokyo natives, Kiso Valley mountain guides, Kyoto food lovers, and Uji tea experts—who open doors that stay shut to most visitors. Their deep knowledge turns temples, trails, and tea fields into living stories rather than simple sightseeing stops.​
  • The Smallest Groups = The Most Authentic Experiences. With an average of just 10 guests per tour (never more than 18) and a remarkably intimate 8:1 guest‑to‑guide ratio, Classic Journeys’ small groups allow you to move like a family of friends—fitting into neighborhood restaurants, private homes, and narrow village paths with ease. The intimate scale keeps your days flexible, personal, and genuinely interactive with the people you meet along the way.​
  • Locals‑Only Paths to Cultural Riches. Guided by local experts, you walk quiet stretches of the Nakasendo Way, slip into Narai’s lamplit streets after day‑trippers leave, and step between the tea rows in Uji while farmers are still in the fields. Along the way, you visit shrines, markets, and workshops where daily life unfolds at its natural pace—not on a tour‑bus timetable.​
  • Inspiration, Not Intimidation. This journey delivers cinematic Japanese Alps scenery, forest bathing, and historic trails without demanding hardcore trekking experience or long, punishing days. Distances are thoughtfully chosen, logistics are handled for you, and there is always time to pause for a story, a snack, or a photo rather than racing to keep up.​
  • Our Boutique Hotels Are the Ideal Retreats. From a polished base in Nihonbashi to a restored inn in Narai and a classic ryokan in Kiso‑Fukushima, each stay balances character with comfort. In Kyoto, a stylish city‑center hotel gives you a quiet, contemporary refuge just steps from lanes, temples, and evening strolls.​
  • Eat Like (and With) the Locals. Classic Journeys’ Japan itineraries revolve around the tables locals love—neighborhood spots with no English menus, home‑hosted dinners, izakaya counters, tea tastings, and kaiseki evenings with geisha and maiko. You do more than taste Japanese cuisine; you learn how it’s prepared, where ingredients come from, and what each dish means to the people who serve it.
  • Regenerative Travel: Sustaining Local Communities. Your journey supports small, often family‑run businesses—guides, ryokan owners, farmers, artisans, and tea masters—who share their time and traditions with you. By traveling in small groups, walking village‑to‑village, and favoring local partners, Classic Journeys helps sustain the cultural and economic fabric of the communities you visit in Japan.​​

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FAQs

Why is Classic Journeys the best tour company for Japan tours?

For the most authentic and enchanting Japan experience, Classic Journeys is the top choice. You’ll join a small group, walk beside expert local guides, and gain rare access to traditions—from tea ceremonies to artisan studios and geisha districts—on a thoughtfully curated journey. Authentic boutique accommodations, cinematic walks, and culinary adventures immerse you in true Japanese hospitality as you explore on foot at eye level.

Which locations does the Classic Journeys Japan itinerary include?

Our Classic Journeys Japan tour weaves through Tokyo’s vibrant Asakusa, Kyoto’s iconic Fushimi Inari, the soaring bamboo groves of Arashiyama, and Golden Pavilion. You’ll walk temple lanes and savor views of Mt. Fuji from Hakone and every day brings special encounters—sushi chefs, tea masters, and geishas on this immersive trip of a lifetime.

When is the best time to visit Japan?

For peak cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto, visit in late March to early April. To see Kyoto temples and Mt. Fuji framed by fiery foliage, choose October or November. Both seasons offer ideal weather for walking and sightseeing, with mild days and vivid scenery, and with departures offered several months of the year, you can pick the time that works best for you.

How active is the Japan cultural walking tour?

On tour, you can expect easy to moderate daily walks (typically 2–8 miles) along temple grounds, old-town lanes, and friendly urban neighborhoods. Your expert local guides can adjust the pace for multigenerational families so everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy Japan on foot at eye level.

How many travelers are in each small group on your Japan tour?

Classic Journeys keeps groups small—usually fewer than 10 guests and never more than 18—giving you access, flexibility, and genuine connections on tour. This ensures personalized attention from your expert local guides as well as genuine camaraderie from your travel companions while exploring Japan.

What are the starting and ending points of this Japan tour?

You’ll begin in Tokyo and fly out of Kyoto on our Japan walking adventure. If you need any assistance, just reach out to your Guest Services Coordinator for travel tips and advice.