Visit a wide range of forests and national parks including; Mount Togakushi and Chuba Sangaku National Park.



A fascinating exploration of the Japanese Alps, the stunning mountainous area bisecting the main island of Honshu, this fully guided hiking tour is packed full of opportunities to experience the traditions and natural beauty of the area. Hike mountain forest trails with secluded shrines steeped in legend, walk along the Azusa River valley in the shadow of the Yakedake volcano, through the 'post towns' dotted along the ancient trade route in the Kiso Valley and explore Koya-san on the slopes of Mount Koya, a World Heritage town where over a 100 temples line the streets.



Experience onsen hot springs, visit a wasabi farm, make soba noodles and wonder at Matsumoto castle, with its 16th century wooden keep. Contrasting with the majestic Alpine countryside are visits to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, famous respectively for their urban vibe, serene temples and delicious cuisine.



At a gentle pace we walk (day hikes of 2-3hrs), and we embrace public transport to experience more of the culture and ambiance, using local trains, bullet trains, local buses and even a cable car! Our accommodation showcases the contrasts of Japan: from 3* western style urban hotels in the cities to traditional ryokan and simple temple accommodation where you will sleep on a futon mattress in a private room with tatami floors, sliding doors and shared bathrooms. We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and recognise the value of using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure really accentuates your experience and the mixture of hotels you will be staying in is very representative of the contrasts found in Japan. We feel that using different types of hotels helps deliver to you the complexity of Japan. It is a crazy patchwork of ancient & modern, corporate & family businesses, nature and urban, all of which coexist peacefully side by side. To authentically represent Japan, we have included as many of these as we can!



Having said that, there are themes with the various types of accommodation, and they will all be chosen for cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel which in Japan can be very expensive) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us.

Please be aware that in areas where tourism is still developing, and in more rural or remote areas, we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of familiar culture and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflect the country we are visiting.

The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.

Tokyo (Day 2 & 3): Hotel Sunshine City Prince. Modern 3* hotel (tower block) with ensuite rooms, wi-fi, in a convenient location in Ikebukuro for sightseeing and within easy reach of the train stations for our onward travel.

Shibu Onsen (Day 4): Shibu Hotel . Charming Japanese ryokan in Shibu Onsen (4*) with hot spring Onsen baths (indoor and outdoor). Ensuite rooms.

Azumino (Day 5 & 6): Kominka Countryside House, Private rooms but with shared bathroom facilities. Western bedding.

Matsumoto (Day 7): Dormy Inn, Matsumoto. 3* modern hotel with all the expected facilities. Ensuite rooms and wifi. Indoor and outdoor Onsen.

Kiso Fukushima (Day 8): Kaido Roman Onyado Tsutaya. 3* idyllic inn, over 320 years old, surrounded by the history of the Kiso highway. Natural hot springs. Ensuite rooms with tv, air conditioning. Yukata (summer robe) available. Restaurant.

Kyoto (Day 9 - 11): Oriental Hotel Kyoto Rokujo. 4* stylish hotel in Kyoto, with a focus on serenity & hospitality. Ensuite rooms with a Japanese design. Restaurant, cafe & gift shop.

Koya (Day 12): Henjoson In. Traditional and historic ryokan with garden and terrace. Private rooms with shared facilities. Futon beds on a tatami mat floor

Osaka (Day 13): Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station. Modern 4* Japanese style hotel in a fantastic location for sightseeing in Osaka and Kansai. Ensuite rooms with tv and wifi. Garden, restaurant & cafe.