Japan Walking & Hiking Tour

Couples, Friends & Solos
Couples, Friends & Solos
ALSO AVAILABLE FOR:
Women

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

30s & 40s Adults 30-49

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Teens & 20s Best for ages 16-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Kids & Teens Best for ages 7-17 (min. age 4)

8 days

7 nights

Activity Levels 1-3

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Premiere Hotels

Premiere Hotels - Experience the world’s best, from lavish luxury to chic retreats with prestigious alliances.

Deluxe Hotels - Find modern comforts in extraordinary settings, with great ambience and ample amenities.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

Japan Walking & Hiking Tour

Couples, Friends & Solos
Couples, Friends & Solos
ALSO AVAILABLE FOR:
Women

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

30s & 40s Adults 30-49

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Teens & 20s Best for ages 16-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Kids & Teens Best for ages 7-17 (min. age 4)

8 days

7 nights

Activity Levels 1-3

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Premiere Hotels

Premiere Hotels - Experience the world’s best, from lavish luxury to chic retreats with prestigious alliances.

Deluxe Hotels - Find modern comforts in extraordinary settings, with great ambience and ample amenities.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

2025: Sep-Oct2026: May-Jun, Sep-Nov

From $9,699 - $11,899 /person

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.

... Read more

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
  • Read More
Japan map

Japan

StartTokyo

EndKyoto

Airports & Travel details*

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

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Itinerary

a waterfall falling into a lake, next to a hiking path

Days 1-2

Description

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 Japans most celebrated • Savor delicious Japanese specialties • Walk along beautifully crafted wooden bridges that span rushing streams.

Accommodations
Miyama Ouan

(2 nights)

Nights 1-2

Miyama Ouan
Okuhida Onsenkyo
Premiere Hotel

A tranquil retreat nestled in the Hida Mountains featuring rejuvenating onsen (hot spring baths) and beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. (spa)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Pond full of koi fish in Japan

Days 3-4

Description

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.

Accommodations

Nights 3-4

Hidatei Hanaougi
Takayama
Premiere Hotel

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

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Detail of a painting of flowers done in a Japanese style

Days 5-6

Description

Explore 17th- and 18th-century merchants houses and shops in Takayamas old quarter • Peruse the citys 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.

Accommodations

Nights 5-6

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Ukyo-Ku
Premiere Hotel

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

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Japanese woman in a kimono performing

Days 7-8

Description

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.

Accommodations

Night 7

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto
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)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Want to learn more about this trip?

Request a Detailed Itinerary! Complete with descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more, it’s the perfect tool to help you choose. You can easily share it with friends too!

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What's Included

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Straight 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.

From $9,699 /person

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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.

See itinerary withCasual Hotels

Nights 1-2

Miyama Ouan
Okuhida Onsenkyo

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

Hidatei Hanaougi
Takayama

Premiere Hotel

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

Nights 5-6

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Ukyo-Ku

Premiere Hotel

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

Night 7

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto

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)

From $9,699 /person

View Dates

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Reviewed by 11 customers

Japan was spectacular! Culture, food, hiking!

Submitted June 2025

By Pam

From Scottsdale AZ

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.

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Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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What a way to see Japan!

Submitted June 2025

By Sandra

From Napa, CA

As usual, Backroads planned the perfect trip and executed it with flair!

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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Sensational way to experience Japan

Submitted May 2025

By Laura

From Wisconsin/Chicago

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.

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Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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Incredible trip

Submitted May 2025

By DS

From Virgini

Fantastic trip. Able to appreciate beauty and culture of Japan. Guides Jenna and Borja (local Kazu) were outstanding. Food and lodging were also outstanding.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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The Ultimate Trip Experience

Submitted May 2025

By Michael

From Mill Valley, CA

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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Total excellence; start to finish.

Submitted October 2024

By Perry

From Bend, Oregon

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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Guides and trip exceeded expectations

Submitted May 2024

By heidi

From Vancouver bc

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!

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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Japan, the trip of a life-time! Exceeded all expectations!!

Submitted November 2023

By sally

From Charleston, SC

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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I didn't want the week to end

Submitted July 2019

By Stephanie

From Kansas City, Kansas

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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First and Not Last Backroads Trip

Submitted October 2018

By Bob

From Los Angeles, CA

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!

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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From $9,699 /person

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Want to learn more about this trip?

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