Japan Easygoing Walking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-2
Premiere Hotels
Japan Easygoing Walking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-2
Premiere Hotels
2025: Sep-Oct 2026: May-Jun, Sep-Nov
Dolce Tempo Journey from the Alps to Imperial Kyoto
Quiet forest paths and hot spring baths. Ancient shrines and bustling markets. Vibrant torii gates and elevated Japanese cuisine. On this trip to Japan, there’s time to slow down and soak it all in.
Highlights
- Forest bathe in the ever-changing landscapes of the Japanese Northern Alps, where hidden waterfalls and mountain villages delight
- Stay in a classic ryokan with open-air hot tubs and tatami-matted floors, unwinding the way locals do
- Experience Japanese culture with walks to sacred temples and an introduction to time-honored customs, including a private geiko performance
- Sip superb sake at a favorite brewery and taste the delicate flavors of fresh edamame, mochi, soba noodles and sushi
- Discover idyllic Kamikōchi National Park, one of the country’s most beloved landscapes
Start Tokyo
End Kyoto
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Explore the alpine scenery of Kamikōchi, a spectacular slice of Chūbu-Sangaku National Park • Take in the gorgeous setting of traditional mountain villages • With a backdrop of dense birch and larch forests and soaring snow-blanketed peaks, this area is among Japan’s most celebrated • Savor delicious Japanese specialties • Stroll along beautifully crafted wooden bridges that span rushing streams.
Nights 1-2
A tranquil retreat nestled in the Hida Mountains featuring rejuvenating onsen (hot spring baths) and beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. (spa)
Days 3-4
Walk the famed Utsueshijuhatsu Falls trail, where a variety of cascading falls await • Enjoy a relaxing soak in an open-air hot tub (or onsen) • Forest bathe among old growth Japanese cedar trees • Meandering trails lead through the serene countryside to a rural village • Experience unique hospitality and atmosphere at a superb ryokan.
Nights 3-4
Experience timeless Japanese hospitality, traditional rooms and natural hot spring baths at this serene ryokan in the historic heart of Takayama.
Days 5-8
Discover 17th- and 18th-century merchants’ houses and shops in Takayama’s old quarter • Peruse the city’s bustling street market stalls for a one-of-a-kind souvenir • Take a scenic journey to Kyoto aboard a bullet train • Follow a wooded path along the crystal clear Kiyotaki River • Learn the art of Japanese cooking with a hands-on class • Visit Buddhist temples and a beautiful Shinto shrine • Partake in an abbreviated traditional tea ceremony • Behold views of Kyoto from a summit above the city • Be entertained by a geiko (geisha in Kyoto) during a Japanese lunch • Walk through quiet forests and pass by bright orange torii, the iconic gates found at the entrance to sacred Shinto sites.
Nights 5-7
Nestled in the well-preserved Higashiyama District, this distinctive property features an interior crafted from fragrant tamo wood, local contemporary art and manicured Japanese gardens. (spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Even at five-star, Western-style hotels in Japan, the local preference for ordered, austere aesthetics is prioritized. This means simple rooms with fewer amenities than one might find at a typical Backroads Premiere hotel and an emphasis on tranquility and refined onsen (Japanese-style spas).
Japan’s fierce pride in its cuisine offers many culinary riches. This same pride, however, also creates an inflexibility that can be challenging for Western guests. Menus are planned well in advance and Japanese restaurants are not accustomed or able to make substitutions or additions, even if requested several days in advance.
Japanese menus include a significant amount of seafood and beef in most meals. Crucially, soy sauce and bonito (made from smoked skipjack tuna) are used as base ingredients throughout Japanese cuisine. Because of this, Japanese cuisine is not conducive to celiac or kosher diets, and adhering to strict vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets while in Japan requires careful planning so alternate dishes can be prepared. It is critical to ensure that the dietary information you provide to Backroads in advance of your trip is accurate and representative of what you want to eat in Japan, since changes or ‘cheats’ will generally not be possible once on trip.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Premiere Hotel
A tranquil retreat nestled in the Hida Mountains featuring rejuvenating onsen (hot spring baths) and beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. (spa)
Nights 3-4
Premiere Hotel
Experience timeless Japanese hospitality, traditional rooms and natural hot spring baths at this serene ryokan in the historic heart of Takayama.
Nights 5-7
Premiere Hotel
Nestled in the well-preserved Higashiyama District, this distinctive property features an interior crafted from fragrant tamo wood, local contemporary art and manicured Japanese gardens. (spa)
Gallery
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Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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