Hakone Wildlife, Landscapes and Nature Tours 2024/2025

“I got into one of the first groups after Japan unlocked for tourism, and enjoyed an October excursion through the Land of the Rising Sun. From urban to country, mountains to sea, this tour provides a smorgasbord of Japan's landscape and culture. Excellent price for what is delivered here, pretty much all of the iconic areas will get visited. The included activities were fantastic, but there was still plenty of time for personal exploring. Food from Koya, the time in Hiroshima, and the floating gate in Miyajima, really make the 14 day tour something special. Take the recommendation to pack light seriously! You'll be a much happier camper if don't have multiple bags to juggle every time you switch cities.”

“This was our first group tour - a lovely bunch of people. Hayley, our tour guide, has been a gem! She is very knowledgeable about Japan and kept us entertained. She made sure we had enough suggestions of activities to enjoy in our spare time. She was quick on her feet when we encountered issues far beyond anyone's control on the bullet train and kept her cool when plans needed to change. Hayley is very respectful of the Japanese culture and manners Things to bear in mind when considering this tour: Definitely forward your luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto - but that means bring a small carry on so you can have 3 days worth of clothing to take to Hakone and Takayama. For traveling after that - a backpack is the way to go. Leave enough space in your luggage for all the gifts you will be buying. Rooms are often shared - with the majority of bathrooms being shared. If a couple - bear in mind that the pods are separated by gendered dorms. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes - there is a lot of walking and climbing stairs Some of the experiences that have made an impact on me during this trip have included staying in a temple and having a meditation session with a monk while it was snowing outside. A Kendo class with a 4th generation Sumarai descendant. Learning how to make our own sushi and embracing the Japanese way of life”

“The trip was great overall... we came, saw, and learned about new cultures and experience new food and local favorites with tons of activities. A very fast pace with lots of walking up, and down stairs carrying luggage using public transportation, and mountain climbing to see temples and monkeys. Bring your most comfortable shoes and pack lightly as possible--at times, I felt a bit rushed through to complete the day's activities and catch the trains.”