Japan Active outdoor Trips

We saw and learned so much on this tour, with its good mix of urban and rural, and focus on temples, shrines, and pilgrimage paths. Our tour leader (Jared) was excellent -- friendly, fun and extremely well organized. The stay at the ryokan and the Kumano Kudo sections were amazing. The majority of the accommodation was great, and I loved all our group lunches and dinners. The tour is full on, and I wonder if the itinerary could be tweaked a bit -- I sometimes felt a little rushed, such as the day of the hike on the Nakasendo Way, when we were hustling past the stunning scenery to catch the train. But these are small things and I would definitely book again with Explore!

A very well organised walking tour of Japan covering a lot of ground, the highlight being the 4 day Kumono Kodo pilgrimage trail. Our group was led by David Lam who was exceptionally well organised, friendly and responsive to group needs such that everything worked seamlessly.

Excellent tour leader and local guides on the trail, which really made the holiday. A very good mixture of walking and visiting towns to give a varied experience of Japan. Some hotel rooms are small and feel cramped, and three nights on a traditional futon on the floor using the Ibsen for showers was challenging. Although the walks are relatively short, the combination of humidity, climbs and irregular steps makes them harder than you would imagine from the distances. However everyone in our group was well prepared and enjoyed the pilgrimage. Overall, our highly organised tour leader, David Lam, and local guides on the pilgrimage, Jennifer and Tad, really made the trip.

The Highlights of Japan tour was fantastic. In a short time, the itinerary gave us an opportunity to see the fascinating modern city of Tokyo, the gardens and samurai district of Kanazawa, the shrines and temples of Miyajima and Kyoto, the forests of the Japanese alps and the food district of Osaka. The organisation was superb and our guide, Zilola Kozimova, was amazing - knowledgeable, friendly and so helpful. The hotels were very well-chosen, comfortable, convenient and in great locations.

A tremendous trip that combined urban and rural Japan so that one had an overall feel of the Japanese way! Toyko, Kyoto and Osaka were as buzzy as I expected. The time on the trails in the countryside was a very meditative experience. Overall a great experience.

The tour was fabulous and our tour leader, Zilola, was fantastic. The pace is full on and definitely delivers the highlights of Japan. Zilola added optional activities to get the most out of our short stays at each destination. In addition, she was always available to address any questions or concerns the group may have had. As we were visiting sites, she provided extensive background information which enhanced the experience. As others commented, be prepared for lots of walking! This is my third trip with Explore my favorite to date. I added on days in Kyoto and Tokyo and recommend this there is limited time at in both places. Highly recommend!