Japan Walking Trips

The trip was a memorable experience led by a fantastic guide . We covered a huge area and at times the walking uphill was quite challenging however the views were well worth the effort. Our guide was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and patient and local guides were also great. Our group was mixed ages and nationalities but we all gelled together with a common interest in the country. Already planning to do another trip

This group tour was a fantastic way for first-time visitors like us to discover Japan, and it's history, culture and landscape. The mix of city, and rural and mountain pilgrimage route, travelling by train, bus and on foot, even boat, was a great blend for the more active traveller. Our guide was excellent - knowledgeable, helpful and patient. I'm already looking through the Explore brochure for our next trip!

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.

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.