Mountains of Central Japan Tour - Day by Day

Day 1 – Kyoto - Western Style Hotel
Meet in Kyoto.

Day 2 – Travel to Kanazawa - Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
We will stop for lunch in Omi Hachiman on Lake Biwa before moving on to Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture. Includes an afternoon and evening rest in a minshuku (Japanese family inn) near the Asanogawa river, as well as a soak in the nearby bath before dinner.

Day 3 – Kanazawa Sightseeing - Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Kanazawa, sometimes called 'little Kyoto', was lucky to escape allied bombing during World War II and thus retains many of its old buildings. During the feudal and Edo periods, Kanagawa became a center of wealth and power under the rule of retainer Toshiie Maeda, who was subservient to Nobunaga Oda, known as one of the three great unifiers of Japan. Afternoon sightseeing includes the Kenrokuen landscape garden (one of the most revered in Japan), 'Ninjadera' temple, a 21st century art museum and the old samurai quarters. In the evening, you we will be able to dine on fresh seafood and bathe in the local sento bathhouse.

Day 4 - Shirakawa-go and Mt. Hakusan - Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Leaving early from Kanazawa, we will drive to Haku-san (White Mountain), one of Japan's three holy peaks that has long been a site of religious training and pilgrimages. After a walk on one of the northern ridges, we will drive to Shirakawago village, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our lodging will be in minka, thatched houses with steeply sloped roofs. We will dine on fresh food and stay will in traditional lodging on tamami floor mats and futon mattresses.

Day 5 - Kamikochi - Mountain Lodge
After looking around Shirakawa-go, we will drive toward Kamikochi, passing through Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. We will start hiking into Kamikochi in the afternoon, where we will gradually ascend and may encounter Japanese macaque monkeys as well as other local plants and wildlife.

Day 6 - Kamikochi - Mountain Lodge
Today we will continue through Yarisawa Valley to a mountain hut at 3,060 meters (10,039 feet), near Yarigatake Peak. The hike will not take the whole day, and an additional 30 minute climb to see the sunset is optional and highly recommended.

Day 7 - Kamikochi - Mountain Lodge
Today we rise early to climb Yarigatake Peak, the fifth highest peak in Japan, from which we will have a good view and maybe even be able to spot Mt. Fuji (weather permitting). After this, we will head east along the Omote Ginza ridge and other peaks to a mountain hut at Otensho where we will spend the night.

Day 8 - Kamikochi - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Today we will continue walking along the ridge and then descend from the mountain. We will stay overnight at Jonenbo Ryokan at Hotaka hot springs.

Day 9 - Matsumoto and Drive to Kyoto - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
The first stop will be Matsumoto Castle early in the morning, which is a wonderful feudal era fortress. An English-speaking guide will explain the history and features of the castle. Afterwards, we will drive to Kyoto through the scenic Kiso Valley.

Day 10 - Kyoto and Train to Nara - Western Style Hotel
We will get a mere glimpse of the imperial city of Kyoto today as we visit Nijo Jinya, and old merchant house from the Edo Period (1600-1868) that has been wonderfully preserved. Next we will go to the Silver Pavilion (ginkakuji), which is situated in a pleasant garden setting. Then we will board a train and go to Nara.

Day 11 - Nara - Western Style Hotel
First we will see Todaiji Temple, famous throughout Japan for its Daibutusu-den hall, the largest free-standing wooden building in the world. Inside the building is a massive bronze Buddha statue that measures 16 meters (52 feet) tall. In the afternoon, we will visit a local sake brewery and look around the old town. There will be free time to do whatever you please, including shopping, exploring or simply taking it easy.

Day 12 - Nara to Yoshino - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Our journey by train will continue today to Asuka, where we will rent bicycles and take a guided tour. This will be followed by a lunch of buckwheat noodles at an aizome (indigo dyeing) craft center, run by an ex-NHK broadcaster. We will then continue to Yoshino and stay in a lovely ryokan with Japanese baths and a garden designed by famed tea master Sen no Rikyu.

Day 13 - Yoshino Walk and Mt. Koya - Buddhist Temple Lodging
In the morning we will hike to Mikumari Shrine, and then return to the village and visit Kinpusenji Temple (head temple for the Shugendo Buddhist sect). For lunch we will eat kuzu noodles, a local specialty, before leaving Mt. Koya, which can be reached by train and then cable car. The night will be spent at a Buddhist temple.

Day 14 - Mt. Koya and Osaka- Western Style Hotel
We will rise early and take part in a short morning meditation session at the temple. Then we will have a guided tour of a Mt. Koya cemetery, complete with details about the history of many of the famous people buried there. Next we will see the mausoleum of the founder of Shingon Buddhism, followed by lunch and then a train trip to Osaka. In Osaka we will have a farewell dinner and stay in a western style hotel.

Day 15 - Osaka- Farewell
After breakfast, please go to Kansai Airport for your return flight, or else continue on to other destinations that you may have planned. This will conclude the tour.

Tour schedules are subject to change. If any changes should be made it will be done in the best interest of the travelers. Japan Roads will at all times aim to offer you the most interesting tour possible.

If you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to Contact Us.

Tour itinerary is subject to change.