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Back Roads of Japan

11 Days
From CAD 3,899 Was CAD 5,199

Best Rate
Guarantee

Trip Type
Small Group

Activity Level
Average

Rating

(20 reviews)

Experience Overview

Wander off the beaten path away from Japan's big cities and popular sites with this 11-day tour that takes you to destinations that are often overlooked. Visit the treasured castle of Matsumoto and learn about samurai culture, explore the quaint city of Hagi by bicycle, and settle in at a community homestay to truly immerse yourself in the local culture. Of course, there's time before and after to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, making this trip a well-rounded glimpse into Japan's past and present.

Highlights

Spot snow monkeys in Nagano
Explore a 16th-century samurai castle
Cycle through the rural town of Hagi
Experience a homestay in a traditional Japanese community.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 1531

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Budget

Transport: Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle, walking.

Guide Language: English

Travel Styles: Budget

Supplier Code: AJBR

Starts: Tokyo, Japan

Finishes: Kyoto, Japan

Duration: 11 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Average

Includes

Activities

Your G for Good Moment: Hagi Community Homestay, Hagi Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Hands-On Moment: Traditional Paper-making Lesson, Mihomisumi
Modern Tokyo walking tour
Zenkoji Temple visit (Nagano)
Jigokudani Monkey Park visit (Nagano)
Matsumoto Castle visit
Hagi Community Homestay welcome ceremony
Hagi cycling tour
Tottori sand dunes visit
Tottori fish market visit
Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine visit
Japan Rail (JR) pass (7 days)
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

Hotels (8 nts), Homestay (2 nts, multi-share).

3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Transport

Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle, walking.

Group Leader

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 3899 (CAD 354 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Tokyo

Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.

Day 2: Tokyo

Take a CEO-led walking tour of eclectic modern Tokyo from the hub of Shinjuku to Shibuya through to Harajuku.

Day 3: Tokyo/Nagano

Journey to Nagano, located in the Japanese Alps and host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Discover the world-famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and watch Japanese snow monkeys bathing in the natural hot springs.

Day 4: Nagano

Enjoy a day-trip to quaint Matsumoto and visit one of Japan's most treasured castles. Return to Nagano and explore historic Zenkoji Temple.

Day 5: Nagano/Otsu

Travel to Otsu in Shiga prefecture, located on the banks of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. Settle in and relax with a stroll around this picturesque lake before heading out to enjoy a delicious bowl of Ramen for dinner.

Day 6: Otsu/Hagi

Grab a quick breakfast before heading off, on a long travel day. In the late afternoon, arrive in the quaint city of Hagi, a former castle town that boasts feudal architecture. Take part in a welcome ceremony with the local residents, and meet your host family at a community homestay, a G Adventures for Good project. Get to know each other as you enjoy dinner together.

Day 7: Hagi

Explore rural Hagi on a guided morning cycle, spotting samurai architecture along the way. On return, experience authentic Japanese countryside life. Return to your homestay in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner with your host family.

Day 8: Hagi/Tottori

Bid farewell to your host family after enjoying breakfast together. Later, travel to Miho-misumi by train, taking in scenic views along the way. Learn the art of making "washi," a UNESCO-recognized traditional Japanese paper, then enjoy a Japanese lunch along the beautiful coastline before continuing to the seaside town of Tottori.

Day 9: Tottori/Kyoto

Spend the morning exploring Tottori's scenic sand dunes, some reaching 50m (164 ft) in height. After, visit the local fish market and opt for a fresh seafood lunch. In the late afternoon, travel to Kyoto for two nights in the traditional heart of Japan.

Day 10: Kyoto

Visit the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, famed for an impressive 10,000 red torii gates. This afternoon, enjoy free time in this picturesque city. Opt to experience zen gardens, teahouses, shrines, and local gift shops – and maybe even spot a real-life geisha.
Kyoto is home to over 2,000 temples, including some of the most magnificent in the country, dating back centuries. Use free time to continue exploring, the options are endless – the city also boasts museums, castles, and traditional gardens – or opt to visit neighbouring Nara or Osaka.

Day 11: Kyoto

Depart at any time.
We highly recommend booking post-nights to explore more of this beautiful city.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.

In Business Since 1990

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Reviews

Simon B. - Traveled, November 2023

Great trip at a decent price, but it's always wise to look at other offers and compare.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023

Jye W. - Traveled, November 2023

Mack! He was an absolute legend. He went above and beyond and all of the place we stayed were close to the transport. The hotels were great and the itinerary was accurate.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023

Chi-Hung Y. - Traveled, November 2023

Good unique experience, but can mostly organize yourself

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023

Lisa Z. - Traveled, November 2023

Easy to arrange, pressure taken away having a guide managing moving and exploring.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023

Lauren W. - Traveled, November 2023

The tour was fantastic, providing access to destinations and experiences of the Japanese culture outside the typical touristy areas.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023

Fiona S. - Traveled, November 2023

The home stay element is unique.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023

Robert L. - Traveled, November 2023

Very well organized trip with an exceptional guide.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2023

Karen D. - Traveled, November 2023

Having now had 2 trips with G Adventures for our family group, our fabulous and expert guides took the pressure off us and organized everything and were also extremely accommodating when we wanted a little flexibility.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2023

Jonathan L. - Traveled, October 2023

Very well organized.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2023

Beatrix N. - Traveled, October 2023

small group