Central Japan · Guided walking
Japan Walking Tour
On foot between the cities — forest trails at Nikko, a stretch of the old Nakasendo road, the mountains at Kamikochi, and the temple walks of Kyoto and Nara.
Private & tailor-made — price on enquiry, shaped around your group and dates. Land only, excludes flights.
The journey
A proper walking tour of central Japan, strung between the cities on foot — from forest trails to an old post road to the temple paths of Kyoto.
You walk the forest around Nikko, a stretch of the old Nakasendo post road between Yabuhara and Narai-juku, the mountains at Kamikochi, and the temple and hillside trails of Kyoto and Nara — with the ancient Yamanobe-no-michi and a gorge walk near Hiroshima along the way.
You move between regions by train and the occasional chartered vehicle, stay in a mix of comfortable hotels and one traditional Japanese inn, and travel light thanks to luggage forwarding. It's led throughout by an English-speaking tour leader, with walks of roughly three to twelve kilometres a day — enough to feel you've earned the onsen at the end of it.
Where you'll go
Trip highlights
What stays with you
The Senjogahara and Toshogu shrine walks around Nikko.
A night in a traditional Japanese inn at Yudanaka, and the snow-monkey park nearby.
A stretch of the old Nakasendo post road from Yabuhara to Narai-juku.
The mountain scenery of Kamikochi, and Matsumoto's black castle.
The temple walks of Kyoto — the Philosopher's Path, Higashiyama, the bamboo grove.
The ancient Yamanobe-no-michi near Nara, and Todaiji with its deer park.
Day by day
Your itinerary
Arrive in Tokyo
Arrive and settle in, with a welcome briefing and dinner together this evening.
Up to Nikko
Your main luggage is forwarded ahead to Yudanaka. Take the train to Nikko, visit a sake brewery, and walk to the Toshogu Shrine and the rows of Jizo statues.
Oku-Nikko on foot
A bus up to Oku-Nikko for the Senjogahara walk — around seven kilometres across marsh and woodland, with waterfalls along the way.
Yudanaka and a night at the inn
The train to Yudanaka and a walk through the old hot-spring town of Shibu Onsen (about three kilometres). Tonight is the traditional inn — futon bedding on tatami, and shared bathing facilities separated by gender.
Snow monkeys and Matsumoto
Your luggage is forwarded to Matsumoto. Visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park (a short walk in), where the macaques bathe in the hot springs, then take the train to Matsumoto and its striking black castle.
Into the mountains at Kamikochi
A chartered vehicle up to Kamikochi for a mountain walk of around six kilometres, beneath the peaks of the Northern Japan Alps, returning to your base for the night.
A stretch of the old post road
The train to Yabuhara and a walk along the Nakasendo — the old highway between Kyoto and Tokyo — from Yabuhara over the pass to the beautifully preserved post town of Narai-juku (about seven kilometres, with some 300 metres of ascent). A free evening follows.
On to Kyoto
Your luggage is forwarded to Kyoto. Take the train, then walk through the old town — Ninenzaka and the lantern-lit lanes of Gion.
A day in the thatched valley
A day trip by chartered vehicle to Miyama, a village of thatched farmhouses in the hills, with lunch cooked by a local family.
Nishiyama and the bamboo grove
The Nishiyama walking trail (about seven kilometres) and the famous bamboo grove, then a free afternoon in the city.
The temple walk
A walk through Higashiyama (about six kilometres) — the Silver Pavilion, Nanzenji Temple, the Philosopher's Path, the Heian Shrine garden, the Shirakawa canal and Nishiki Market — then a free afternoon.
Todaiji and the deer
Your luggage is forwarded on. Take the train to Nara for Todaiji, with its Great Buddha, and the deer park that surrounds it.
An ancient way
A walk along the Yamanobe-no-michi (about twelve kilometres), one of the oldest recorded roads in Japan, through orchards, small shrines and old villages, with lunch on the way.
Mitarai Gorge, then Osaka
By chartered vehicle for the Mitarai Gorge walk (about six kilometres, with some 200 metres of ascent), then on to Osaka for the neon of Dotonbori and a farewell dinner.
Homeward
After breakfast, the tour ends in Osaka. We can add time in Kyoto, Hiroshima or elsewhere if you'd like to carry on.
What's included
- English-speaking tour leader throughout
- Accommodation for 14 nights — comfortable 3-star hotels (twin-share) and one traditional-inn night
- Meals as shown day by day (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Transport within Japan by public transit and chartered vehicles where listed
- Luggage forwarding — one large piece of luggage per person
- Entrance and activity fees for everything named in the itinerary
- ATOL financial protection
Not included
- International flights to and from Japan
- Single supplement (available except on the traditional-inn night)
- Travel insurance (required — please arrange cover with medical and repatriation)
- Meals and drinks not shown in the itinerary
- Optional activities and anything of a personal nature
- Tips and gratuities
Good to know
Before you go
The walking
Walks run from around three to twelve kilometres a day, a couple with 200–300 metres of ascent. Nothing technical, but a good level of general fitness makes the trip far more enjoyable. Bring comfortable, worn-in walking shoes.
Travelling light
Your main bag is forwarded between stops, so you carry a daypack with essentials for up to two nights at a time. Hotels provide basic amenities and several have coin laundry.
The Japanese inn
One night is at a traditional inn — futon bedding on tatami mats, and shared bathing facilities separated by gender. It's a highlight for most people, and a genuine taste of old Japan.
When to travel
Late spring and autumn are the sweet spots — mild for walking, and the mountains at their best. We'll help you settle on dates.
Money
The currency is the yen. Cards work in the cities, but carry cash for rural stops, trailheads and smaller places.
Making it yours
This runs as a small group, but we can arrange it privately, adjust the walking, or add time in Tokyo, Hiroshima or the hot-spring country — just ask.
Make it yours
Ready to start planning?
This is a starting point, not a fixed package. Tell us who's travelling, your dates and roughly what you have in mind, and we'll tailor it — the pace, the comfort level and any extensions — and send you a detailed quote.
Travelling well
The STC way
We've spent years running trips in Japan, and it shows in the detail: local leaders, small groups, community lunches in villages like Miyama, and time to walk rather than rush. It's the same care behind our sister company, STC Expeditions — pointed here at a slower, more comfortable kind of travel.