Highlights
Walk along ancient trade and pilgrimage routes including the Nakasendo and Yamanobe no Michi
Explore Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka on foot, from temple paths to neon-lit backstreets and discover quiet rural regions like Asuka and Dorogawa, rich in early Japanese history
Stay in family-run ryokans and countryside inns with warm hospitality and onsen baths
Savour regional cuisine crafted from seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques
Gain deeper insight from an expert bilingual guide who brings Japan’s history, geology and culture to life.
Itinerary
Set your sights on Japan’s lesser-known wonders with the "Backroads of Japan" tour—a 15-day trekking adventure crafted for experienced travelers and seniors with a love for both hiking and history. From Tokyo’s urban maze to the spiritual trails of Mt Fuji and the Kiso Valley, this journey blends ancient pilgrimage routes, family-run inns, and modern cities.
Hike through sacred mountains, explore Kyoto’s artistic treasures, and immerse yourself in the bohemian culture of Osaka. The itinerary balances rural tranquility with urban excitement, peppered with encounters with local traditions, cuisine, and crafts.
The USP of this trip package is its deep-dive into Japan’s hinterland, revealing a side of the country rarely seen by tourists. With accommodation, transport, meals, and expert guidance included, this walking tour offers both physical challenge and cultural enrichment—an unbeatable combination for those seeking authentic Japanese experiences.
day 1JoinTokyo
On arrival in Tokyo, make your own way to the group hotel. This evening there will be an important trip briefing at approximately 6.00pm. Please confirm the exact time and location with reception.
After the briefing, your leader will offer the option to head out to a local restaurant for dinner followed by an optional evening walk through areas such as Shinjuku and or Shibuya to experience Tokyo’s famous neon-lit streets. Transport for the evening is at your own cost.
First impressions of Tokyo’s outer suburbs offer little hint of the natural and cultural richness to come. Beneath the elevated highways and dense cityscape lies one of the most energetic and fascinating cities in the world. If you have time, there are many free attractions worth exploring, including the Imperial Palace East Garden, the Sumo Museum and the Ryogoku Fireworks Museum.
Overnight: Sunroute Asakusa or similar
day 2Explore Tokyo, to Fuji Five Lakes
day 3Hiking in the Kawaguchiko area approx. 4.5km (2.8mi) over 1.5 hours, or up to 12km (7.5mi) over 4 hours
day 4Travel to Kiso Valley
day 5Old Nakasendo Highway, train to Kyoto
day 6Kyoto temples and city walking
day 7Hike Mount Daimonji approx. 3km (1.9mi), 2 hours
day 8In Kyoto free exploration
day 9Hike approx. 16km (10mi), 5 hours & train to Asuka -
day 10Hike Japan's oldest path in Asuka approx. 6km (3.7mi), 3 hours
day 11Hike approx. 9km (5.6mi), 4 hours & bus to Dorogawa
day 12Hiking around Dorogawa
day 13Hike Mitarai Gorge approx. 7.5km (4.7mi), 3 hours, travel to Osaka
day 14In Osaka
day 15In Osaka, trip concludes
What's Included
Customer Reviews
Perhaps more testing than we were led to expect but a wonderful experience that we wouldn’t have missed. Full marks to Pepijn who was leader, mentor, guide and encouraging for us all. And for his tips and knowledge that allowed us to sample so much of Japan’s unbelievable food. But top marks also for the way he gave us context for all of the different elements of topography, history and culture. Walking parts of the Nakasendo Trail and later, the forests aroundDorogawa were especially memorable. We were also very well served during our visits t the major cities - Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. We really appreciated being with a wonderful group of people- fellow adventurers all who made our tour so memorable. Thank you World Expeditions.
It was well planned and executed. A little harder than I anticipated but enjoyable all the same. Pepijn was a wonderful guide. Very helpful and explained so much.
Excellent guide , capable, experienced and unflappabile. Accomodation well located and very good standard. Walks were away from the tourist path.
The Backroads of Japan was an outstanding adventure and a perfect introduction to Japan for the first-time visitor. Our leaders, Akemi, Pipijn, Sonny and Yukiay were wonderful hosts with amazing knowledge and touring skills. Even when the weather wasn't kind to us they still manage to conduct a perfect itinerary.
The beginning of the tour was fantastic and the team did an amazing job looking after us. However, there was a change of tour leader for the last few days, which affected the tour in a negative way. The group had different walking levels/speeds, but the replacement tour leader had his own speed and would hike off, not looking to see how the rest of the group was going. One of our team was unwell with a very bad cold/cough, and I was experiencing chest pains, but at no stage did the tour leader have anyone at the back of the group to keep an eye on how we were going. We ended up having to look after ourselves. Hiking 101 is always have someone at the front and someone at the back. If something had happened, the tour leader would have had no idea. I would have graded the overall tour better, had it not been for the lack of leadership/responsibility of the replacement tour leader.
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