Japan Walking & Hiking Tour
Japan Walking & Hiking Tour
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels
2025: Sep-Oct2026: May-Jun, Sep-Nov
The Alps to Imperial Kyoto
Vibrant markets and seventh-century shrines. Alpine hiking and tidy remote tea houses. A world of natural beauty combined with enduring culture—grace and tradition unlike anywhere else.
Highlights
- Experience sublime Kamikōchi National Park, one of the country’s most celebrated landscapes
- Dive deep into Japanese culture with our local guides as they introduce you to time-honored customs and ceremonies, including a private geiko performance
- In the stunning Alps, hike through old-growth woodland to sacred temples, historic mountain villages and delicate waterfalls
- Savor the delicate flavors of fresh edamame, mochi, soba noodles and sushi—and sip superb sake
- Stay in a classic ryokan with open-air hot tubs and tatami-matted floors

StartTokyo
EndKyoto
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary

Days 1-2
Hike amid the ever-changing landscapes of the Japanese Northern Alps • 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 • Walk 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 on the famed Utsueshijuhatsu Falls trail, where a variety 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 past stone monuments to a 14th-century Buddhist temple • Experience unique hospitality and atmosphere at a superb ryokan.



Nights 3-4
Highlights of this ryokan include exquisite timber architecture, traditional hospitality and natural hot spring baths.

Days 5-6
Explore 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 • Visit Buddhist temples and a beautiful Shinto shrine • Partake in an abbreviated traditional tea ceremony.




Nights 5-6
An intimate Japanese-style haven set along the serene Hozu River and surrounded by woodland. (spa)

Days 7-8
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.





Night 7
Fusuma panels, paper lanterns and lacquerware are among the artisanal elements at this refined property in the well-preserved Higashiyama District. (pool, 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).
A typical Japanese meal is comprised of several small plates with a range of vegetables, meat and seafood, with a focus on seafood and beef. It is not common in Japanese restaurants to make substitutions and in most cases restaurants do not offer additional choices beyond their set menus. You’ll find that Japanese cuisine is not well-suited to celiac or vegetarian diets.
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
Highlights of this ryokan include exquisite timber architecture, traditional hospitality and natural hot spring baths.
Nights 5-6
Premiere Hotel
An intimate Japanese-style haven set along the serene Hozu River and surrounded by woodland. (spa)
Night 7
Premiere Hotel
Fusuma panels, paper lanterns and lacquerware are among the artisanal elements at this refined property in the well-preserved Higashiyama District. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 11 customers
Japan was spectacular! Culture, food, hiking!
Our guides were amazing, knowledgeable and it was an added bonus to have Cazu our local Japanese guide. It was our 30 year anniversary trip and they went above and beyond to make it special for us. We learned about Japanese culture, the country, the people, food, worship and met an amazing group of like minded travelers in the process.




What a way to see Japan!
As usual, Backroads planned the perfect trip and executed it with flair!
Sensational way to experience Japan
We were thrilled to be able to experience Japan's stunning natural beauty on this wonderfully curated, highly organized experience. Our Backroads leaders (Jenna and Borja) were phenomenal — energetic, informed, attentive and we were lucky enough to have a Japanese guide (Kazu) join as well to provide context and a unique perspective. I feel so lucky to have participated.



Incredible trip
Fantastic trip. Able to appreciate beauty and culture of Japan. Guides Jenna and Borja (local Kazu) were outstanding. Food and lodging were also outstanding.
The Ultimate Trip Experience
The Backgrounds experience is as organized and fully-thought out as any enterprise operation I have experienced in my multiple decades in the business, sports, and legal worlds. They have transformed travel into an art form. It is, frankly, hard to imagine them improving on what they have developed, other than minor tweaks here and there. They have it together in every aspect.
Total excellence; start to finish.
Travel in Japan can be challenging due to language and logistics. Backroads provided a seamless experience where I enjoyed a hiking adventure rich in culture and natural history. It was awesome.
Guides and trip exceeded expectations
One of the best trips I have ever taken! The combination of hiking and other activities was just right. Japan is a wonderful country. Our guides were exceptional!
Japan, the trip of a life-time! Exceeded all expectations!!
Leaders were wonderful...knowledgeable, engaging, fun-loving! Perfect combo for this trip!! The food was outstanding, a cultural experience in and of itself. The people were kind, gentle and so accommodating. The country was beautiful, peaceful, spiritual...in a zen sort of way.
I didn't want the week to end
After you have taken more than one BR trip, inevitably, you get asked: Which one is your favorite? I had a favorite until Japan. Japan is like a geisha: mysterious, elegant and beautiful. You can't get enough. During our last farewell dinner, we all composed a haiku: Land of rising sun. First time visiting Japan. Hope to return soon.
First and Not Last Backroads Trip
Our first time in Japan. Adding 4 nights in Kyoto prior to meeting our Backroads group and 5 nights after in Tokyo was the perfect combination. Our Backroads adventure will never be forgotten. We now have such an appreciation for the country, the people, the history,the culture, and of course the food. Our Backroads adventure--walks, hikes, the towns we visited, and the accommodations were all first class. If you have never visited Japan, I would highly recommend it. Treat yourself and be sure to do this through Backroads. PS--We are planning our next Backroads trip!
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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