Is this a private or group tour?

All of our Japan tours are private, tailor-made itineraries - customised entirely for you. This trip combines city stays in Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto with a 4-day walk along the Kumano Kodo, plus flights, accommodation, rail travel and transfers.

The walking section is arranged independently, with carefully planned accommodation and luggage transfers where appropriate.

How difficult is the Kumano Kodo walk?

The Kumano Kodo is a rewarding walk, but it is not a casual stroll. You should be comfortable walking for several hours a day, including some steep ascents, descents and uneven forest paths.

You do not need to be an expert hiker, but a reasonable level of fitness is important. We can of course adjust the route and walking days to suit your pace.

What are the departure dates?

As this is a private trip, there are no fixed departure dates - we work around your preferred travel dates and find the best flights to match.

For the Kumano Kodo, spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable seasons for walking, while summer can be hot and humid. We’re happy to advise on the best timing.

Which hotels do you use?

We use a mix of well-located city hotels and smaller local accommodation during the walking section. On the Kumano Kodo, accommodation is often in traditional inns or family-run guesthouses, which are simple, welcoming and part of the experience.

• City hotels in Japan are usually clean, efficient and very well located
• Rooms can be compact, especially in Tokyo
• On the Kumano Kodo, accommodation is limited and should be booked well in advance
• Some walking accommodation may have shared facilities rather than private bathrooms

Active Japan

This active Japan holiday is ideal for those who would like to combine classic sightseeing with walking, mountain scenery and time in rural Japan.

Begin in Tokyo, with two full days to explore the city before travelling to Hakone by Romance Car train. Here, a Hakone Free Pass allows you to discover the area around Mount Fuji by rail, cable-car, ropeway and boat.

Travel on to Takayama in the Japanese Alps, a pleasant town known for its old streets, morning markets and mountain setting, with time to explore on foot and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Continue to Kanazawa, often called “Little Kyoto”, before travelling on to the Kiso Valley to walk part of the historic Nakasendo Trail, one of Japan’s most scenic old walking routes.

From here, continue to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, with time to explore its temples, gardens and traditional districts.

The journey then continues to the Kii Peninsula for one of the highlights of the trip — a four-day self-guided walk along the Kumano Kodo, passing through forested mountains and small villages with stays in traditional Japanese inns along the way.

Finish in Osaka, a lively and convenient place to end your Japan journey.

All of our Japan holidays are tailor-made and can be adjusted to suit your interests, pace and budget.

View itinerary in detail

To get a feel for the trip, choose one of the options below to view a sample day-by-day itinerary. This will open in a new window.

All of our Japan holidays are completely tailor-made, so this is simply a starting point.

We can of course adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit your plans.