Luxury Japan Walk (Imperial Kyoto to The Alps) 8D7N, Fully Guided

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 152 m (500 ft)
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 274 m (900 ft)

To begin our trip, meet your tour leaders at 9.30 am at the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto. Please, ensure you arrive dressed in your walking clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack containing your rain gear and anything else you may want for the day’s activities. (Your luggage will be transported to your room)

Following our meeting at the Four Seasons, we take a quick shuttle to the famous Fushimi Inari-Taisha. Inari is a legendary Kyoto hill home to the important Taisha (shrine), whose origin dates back to AD 711. This hill is a famed destination for visitors and locals; we go through a less-frequented gate and make our way toward the peak using a series of stone steps through a quiet forest. Going up the pathway, we pass through several torii (bird abodes). From the peak, soak in clear panoramas of the surrounding hills and Kyoto before descending the torii-lined steps.

We take a short shuttle to enjoy lunch at a Japanese-style home, where we are entertained by a maiko, an apprentice geisha (hostess). Relish kaiseki (set-menu) meal and taste luscious unique Japanese cuisine famous globally. Then, tour the Hakusasonso Garden & Museum, where the grounds are modified seasonally to resemble the imagery of famous Japanese painters.

For the afternoon, we go to the 15th-century Ginkaku-Ji (Temple of Silver Pavilion), a lovely oasis surrounded by gardens of neatly groomed pebbles and excellently trimmed trees and shrubs. You have the option of taking a stroll along the Tetsugaku-no-Michi (Philosopher’s Walk) or embark on a more challenging hike into the low-lying Higashiyama that borders the temple. A moderately steep ascent begins at the temple gates and leads to a magnificent viewpoint over Kyoto.

Getting to our hotel, settle into your room at the five-star luxury hotel of Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto. Located in the legendary Higashiyama district, this hotel oozes a calm atmosphere that signifies elegance. Spend some time unwinding in your room, relishing a spa treatment, or enjoy a lovely stroll at the ikeniwa (pond garden). Later, we convene for a welcome reception, then a dinner featuring delightful regional specialties.

Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 61 m (200 ft)

We begin today’s adventure by leaving the city behind and making our way south, where we discover an entirely different side to Japan in the rural countryside of the Nara Valley. Our first stop is the tea-growing village of Wazuka. For more than eight centuries, this community has honored the tradition of tea production, with over 300 families still dedicated to the craft. Their tea includes matcha and kabuse sencha. Our morning hike takes us along the rolling dirt and cleared paths that connect these flourishing plantations.

We stop by the café to deepen our understanding of the history and production of this warming beverage. Explore diverse flavors and colors to find what aligns with your taste, or try whisking a batch of matcha yourself. Following that, we enjoy a lunch inspired by the flavours cultivated by the local tea growers. After lunch, we take a shuttle to the summit of Nara’s Mt. Wakakusa for an aerial perspective of the valley.

Descend the hillside and take a stroll to the Noborioji Hotel, a pleasantly refined and homely boutique hotel, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Nestled at the foot of the temple of Kofuku-Ji and set in the heart of Nara, savour the tranquility of the surroundings. Dinner tonight is in the city with a flourishing culinary scene that features a seamless mixture of Japanese roots and new global influences.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 152 m (500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 13 km (8 miles), Elevation gain: 274 m (900 ft)

After breakfast, we take a quick shuttle to a Shinto shrine, where you can experience Japanese culture on another level through an ancient purification ritual. Our national guide will lead us through the ceremony and will help enlighten us about the oldest aspects of Japanese culture.

Once the ceremony ends, we follow the ancient road (many consider it Japan’s oldest) of Yamanobe-no-Michi. It was built in the 7th century and links the towns of Miwa and Nara. The road is a part of the Tokai Nature Trail, a path that passes through scenic villages and rustic landscapes decorated with temples, imperial burial mounds, and shrines. You may get to sample local figs, oranges, apples, and fresh edamame for sale at small farm stands, but it depends on the season. Or choose to enjoy a bountiful lunch featuring luscious delicacies of the Nara region and traditional Japanese favorites.

Although Japan is known for its burgeoning culture and superior technological advancements, it is still developing traits to explore the pastoral countryside, making it a good hiking experience. The hikes in Japan usually feature a blend of town and nature to help you experience the region like the locals prefer to, with tranquility and balance in mind. The colloquial term for this is shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing.” These pleasant walks give us an insight into the essence of Japanese hiking.

After the hike, we still have time to visit the World Heritage site, the Tōdai-Ji temple. It is one of the Seven Great Temples of Ancient Nara, a realm where Japanese Buddhism once flourished. This temple houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha Vairocana, known as the Great Buddha (or Daibutsu in Japanese); it is also home to countless deers exploring whimsically. You may prefer to spend the afternoon touring the town or even return to the hotel to have a relaxing time. It is your choice.

Tonight, we will leave you to enjoy dinner at your leisure. Enjoy exquisite dining at the hotel boasting French delights or venture into town and indulge in delectable Japanese cuisine.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 152 m (500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)

Today, we embark on a multi-leg trip by train to the Japanese Alps. A sequence of trains leaves us in awe of the Japanese efficiency as we explore the growing foothills that lead to the lovely Takayama. The scenic trip takes us into the Gifu Prefecture, characterized by 10,000-foot peaks, mountain streams, and thick forests.

Upon arrival, we set out on an unforgettable hike taking us through Takayama’s well-kept old quarter of 17th and 18th-century merchants’ houses and into the foothills above the town. Climb a hill where small tracks lead us to peaceful gardens, temples, and shrines. Securing a site that provides an overlooking view where we can see the ruins, it is easy to see why the Takayama castle once stood here.

This afternoon, we settle into our home for the next two nights, Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, an exquisite retreat with expansive vistas of the Northern Alps. Unwind in the indoor and outdoor hot spring baths with spectacular nature views or simply relax with a drink in its exquisite lounge spaces. Tonight, we savour a sushi dinner in town.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 213 m (700 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (1300 ft)

The tour leaders will be going to the street markets in Takayama, and you can tag along if you are interested in seeing where the locals shop. Check out the stores for unique souvenirs, including handicrafts and dry goods.

We take a quick shuttle ride to Hida to hike on the famous Utsueshijuhatsu Falls trail. This path follows a winding course through the lush forest and past several of the 48 cascading falls that give the park its name. Every single waterfall has its peculiarity; short or tall, thin or wide, quiet or turbulent, enjoy their individuality one after the other. After the hike, we take a ride to Hida’s scenic town centre for a lunch of local fare.

On our itinerary for this afternoon is a fantastic private tour and sake tasting at Watanabe Sake Brewery, a small local producer of top-tier rice wine. The Brewery, started by the Watanabe family in 1870, is now registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. To date, they still use the tested, age-long traditional brewing techniques of their founders.

On getting back to the hotel, you have the rest of the day to relax; you could do that by taking a soak in the hotel’s onsen or thermal waters. Onsen has grown to become an essential experience for Japanese travelers. Utilizing the naturally heated spring water on this volcanic isle, these former public baths have transformed, developing into a culture of traditional accommodation and restorative relaxation. It is believed that the waters contain healing powers derived from the mineral content, and many Japanese travel for kilometers to experience its potency.

At night, we set out to a small gem in the lively Takayama culinary scene. Trusting the chef’s choice for the menu, relax and enjoy the artistic approach to Japanese cuisine.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 11 km (7 miles),Elevation gain: 122 m (400 ft)

We shuttle to the high reaches of the Northern Japanese Alps, where we traverse the awe-inspiring terrain of Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, a region set aside as a protected area in 1934. Today's hike takes us into a breathtaking section of this park called Kamikōchi, nestled in a narrow valley through which the thumping Azusa River flows into Lake Taishō. This terrain with a background of thick birch and larch forests and soaring snow-covered peaks, including the active volcano Mount Yake, is widely celebrated in Japan.

The farther you get from the park entrance, the thinner the crowds become, till you are hiking in a calmingly remote alpine scenery inhabited by various birds and mammals, including antelope, deer, monkeys, and even bears. The route we follow takes us to dense forests that slowly reveal mountain ponds. Exquisitely crafted wooden suspension bridges connect rushing streams, linking the trails that stretch across the relatively level valley floor.

After the hike, we settle into our new home, Hotel Shirakabaso, a serene riverside retreat with sweeping alpine views. Nestled among the calm forest of Chubu Sangaku National Park, savour the tranquility at the open terrace or whisk away in your spacious ensuite room with alpine views.

Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)

We depart the hotel on foot today for another thrilling hike in Kamikōchi. As we cross the stunning Kappa Bridge, we go through a path alongside the crystalline Azusa River, soaking in panoramas of the snow-capped alps along the way. Getting to Tokussawa, we take a break and enjoy a lunch of local specialties, then we continue hiking to Yoko Bridge. Be on the lookout for mountain climbers starting the challenging climb up Mount Hotokadake. You choose to visit the tranquil Myojin Pond, whose emerald waters are steeped in legend.

Hike back to the hotel and enjoy a relaxing time in your room or on the open-air terrace. At night, we celebrate our electrifying adventure with a delectable kaiseki-style meal in the hotel’s upscale restaurant.

After eating breakfast, we go on one last hike to Tashiro Pond, whose still waters are surrounded by flourishing marshland. Soak in vistas of the Kasumizawa and Hotakadake mountains above before heading back to the hotel. We shuttle to Nagano’s train station, where we bid farewell.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.