Northern Japan · Guided small group
Northern Japan
Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, away from the usual circuit — Sapporo, a port town, a castle town and the samurai country of Aizu, finishing in Tokyo.
Private & tailor-made — price on enquiry, shaped around your group and dates. Land only, excludes flights.
The journey
This is northern Japan away from the usual circuit — Hokkaido and Tohoku, where the pace is slower and the crowds thinner.
You start in Sapporo, cross to the port town of Hakodate, head to the castle town of Hirosaki, and spend time in Aizu-Wakamatsu with its samurai history and hot springs, before finishing in Tokyo.
It's led by an English-speaking tour leader throughout, moves between towns by train, and uses a luggage-forwarding system so you travel light between stops — you carry a small daypack for up to two nights while your main bag goes on ahead. It's a relaxed, cultural way to see a part of Japan most visitors miss.
Where you'll go
Trip highlights
What stays with you
A sushi-making class and lunch, and a walk round Sapporo's shrine, park and market.
The train to Hakodate, an Ainu museum en route, and the view from Mount Hakodate.
Hirosaki Castle and its garden in the far north of Honshu.
Samurai Aizu-Wakamatsu — Tsuruga Castle, a sake tasting and a lunch with a geisha.
A soak at the Higashiyama hot springs, and an evening walk through Shinjuku in Tokyo.
Day by day
Your itinerary
Arrive in Sapporo
Arrive and settle in, with a welcome briefing from your leader and dinner together this evening.
Sapporo on foot
A city walk taking in the Hokkaido Shrine, Odori Park, the Clock Tower and the Nijo Market, then a hands-on sushi-making experience and lunch. The evening is free.
Across to Hakodate
Your main luggage is forwarded ahead to Aizu-Wakamatsu, so you travel with just a daypack. Take the train to Hakodate — about four hours — with a stop at an Ainu museum along the way, then up Mount Hakodate for the view over the bay.
The morning market and Hirosaki
The morning market first, then the train to Hirosaki — about three hours — and Hirosaki Castle with its garden, one of the north's loveliest.
South to Aizu
A morning temple walk to Choshoji and Saishoin, then the train south to Aizu-Wakamatsu — about five hours — where your main luggage rejoins you.
Samurai country
A full day in Aizu — Tsuruga Castle, a sake tasting, a lunch with a geisha, the Higashiyama hot springs and a samurai house. A rich day in one of Japan's most history-steeped towns.
On to Tokyo
The train to Tokyo — about three hours — then an evening walk through the lights of Shinjuku and a farewell dinner together.
Homeward
After breakfast, the tour ends in Tokyo. We can add nights here — or elsewhere in Japan — if you'd like to carry on exploring.
What's included
- English-speaking tour leader throughout
- Accommodation for 7 nights — comfortable 3-star hotels, twin-share
- Meals as shown day by day (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- All transport within Japan by public transit, as per the itinerary
- 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 on request)
- 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
Travelling light
Your main bag is forwarded ahead between some stops, so you carry a daypack with essentials for up to two nights at a time. Hotels provide basic amenities — toiletries, hairdryers and sleepwear — and several have coin laundry.
Getting around
The tour runs on Japan's excellent public rail network, with your leader handling the logistics. Some days involve a few hours on the train, but it's comfortable and scenic.
Who it suits
A relaxed, cultural pace that suits couples, independent travellers and families with older children. We're happy to advise on suitability for your group.
When to travel
Spring (cherry blossom) and autumn (the colours) are the classic windows for the north; we'll help you pick dates. The far north can be cold outside summer, so pack layers.
Money
The currency is the yen. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some cash for smaller towns, markets and rural stops.
Making it yours
Prefer to travel privately, or add time in Tokyo, Kyoto or the mountains? We can build this into a longer, fully private trip — 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, and time built in for the quieter corners rather than a dash between headline sights. It's the same care behind our sister company, STC Expeditions — pointed here at a slower, more comfortable kind of travel.