Tohoku Private Walking & Hiking Tour

Day 1

Meet in Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo! Meet at the designated hotel in central Tokyo in the evening. We will enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby local restaurant.

Welcome Dinner

Shiba Park Hotel or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day 2

Sightseeing in Tokyo

We begin our journey through Japan by taking a walking tour of the world’s most populous metropolis, Tokyo. Our first stop will be the Yanaka District which is within walking distance from Ueno Park. The pleasing atmosphere gives off a feeling like you are visiting Old Tokyo as you pass by small temples, small businesses, and traditional homes. We then move on to Asakusa, where you will find Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. Next, board a sightseeing boat and enjoy views of the city’s skyline and bridges as you cruise down the Sumida River from Asakusa to our last stop, Hamarikyu Garden. The beautiful landscape garden features seawater ponds that change level with the tides.

Breakfast

Shiba Park Hotel or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day 3

Nikko

In the morning, we travel north of Tokyo to a town famous for its picturesque landscapes of mountains and forests. Nikko falls at the entrance of Nikko National Park and is a popular destination for travelers who wish to experience the natural beauty of Japan. Here you will find the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, is enshrined. We will take a walking tour of the shrine complex which is situated within the beautiful forest. We end the day by spending the night in a Ryokan, or traveler’s inn, and enjoy a delicious traditional Japanese dinner served by the welcoming Ryokan staff.

Walking distance: 5.6 km / 3.5 miles
Time required: 2 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Kozuchi No Yado Tsurukame Daikichi or similar class (Ryokan)

Day 4

Oze Marshland

In the morning, we say farewell to Nikko as we travel about two hours through a series of mountain roads to reach the Ozu Marshland where we begin our hike. The park stretches into four prefectures and is a popular destination for hikers. Depending on the season you may see unique plants and wild flowers such as white skunk cabbages in the spring, yellow alpine lilies in the summer, and fiery red and yellow foliage during the fall. In the evening, you will spend the night in a quaint mountain lodge nearby Ozu’s other famous landmark, the Ozu-numa Lake.

Walking distance: 9 miles / 14.5 km
Elevation gain: 300 m / 985 feet ascent; 200 m / 655 feet descent
Time required: 4 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Kuroyuri Hyutte or similar class (Mountain Lodge)

Day 5

Hiking in Oze

At first light, we continue hiking through the Oze Marshland before reaching Ozegahara. The path is marked by wooden walking planks along the way that help guide you safely through the wetlands and do not take away from the natural beauty of the area. At the end of the hiking trail, we hop on a bus that takes us to Okutadami Lake. The man-made lake was built to assist the nearby hydro-electric power plant, the largest in Japan. Here, you will take a sightseeing cruise across the lake before taking another quick bus ride to the Tochiomata hot spring area. In the evening, relax in the open-air onsen hot spring and enjoy another traditional Japanese dinner at the ryokan.

Walking distance: 16 km / 10 miles
Elevation gain: 250 m / 820 feet ascent; 150 m / 490 feet descent
Time required: 6 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Jizaikan or similar class (Onsen Ryokan)

Day 6

Dewa Sanzan

Today we continue our journey through the Tohoku region by bus and shinkansen (bullet train) to our next destination, Dewa Sanzan. Its name is in reference to the three sacred mountains of the area, each representing a stage of life. The easiest accessible is Haguro-san which represents “Birth” and is open all- year round. Representing “Death” is Gas-san, the highest of the three and home to an impressive mountaintop shrine. The final and most scared of the three mountains is Yudo-san which represents “Rebirth”. The preferred method of travel is from the trail leaving Gas-san and upon reaching its shrine, one must take a purifying rite to complete their journey. We will also visit Gyokusenji Temple. Originally built in 1251, we will participate in a Green Tea Ceremony while overlooking the temple's lovely garden. Tonight, we have a one-of-a-kind experience of spending the night at a Temple Lodging, known as Shukubo in Japanese. Enjoy Shojin Ryori, or Monk’s Food, where seasonal vegetarian ingredients are brought together to delight the senses.

Walking distance: 2 miles / 3.2 km
Elevation gain: ascending the steps to Haguro-san (if we stay in lodgings at the base of the mountain, we will walk on these steps tomorrow instead)
Time required: 1.5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Saikan or similar class (Shukubo Temple Lodging)

Day 7

Mount Gas-san

Following breakfast, we will travel to the base of Gas- san, the highest of the mountains, which is usually closed most of the year due to snow. We will hike up to the summit while taking in the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. You can also find lovely small ponds formed by the melting snow and an abundance of alpine flowers. After a break for lunch, we will make our way back the way we came and venture forth to Haguro-san. We pass a towering five storied pagoda, traverse through massive cedar trees, and climb up along the renowned 2,446-step stone staircase in order to reach the Haguro-san’s main shrine, which features Japan’s thickest thatched roof. At the end of the day, we return to our Shukubo for dinner and relax from the day, with an option to visit the nearby hot spring.

Walking distance: 9.5 km / 6 miles
Elevation gain: 600 m / 2,000 feet ascent; 600 m / 2,000 feet descent
Time required: 4.5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Saikan or similar class (Shukubo Temple Lodging)

Day 8

Kakunodate and Nyuto Onsen

In the morning, we head over to the Kakunodate. The area was home to around 80 middle-class and wealthy Samurai families and has reputation of being one of the best places to see Samurai architecture. Stroll through the former Samurai district, with an opportunity to visit one of the elegant samurai houses. We then move to Nyuto Onsen, a hot spring town famous for some of the baths having milky white spring water. In the evening, we will spend another night in a ryokan, relaxing in the onsen hot spring and enjoying dinner around a sunken hearth, called irori.

Breakfast / Dinner

Tsurunoyu or similar class (Onsen Ryokan)

Day 9

Nyuto Onsen hot spring

Today, we hike our way up to Mount Nyuto to take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. If you look towards the south-west side, you will see Lake Tazawa, the deepest caldera lake in Japan, in the distance. If you are not feeling up for the hike, you may stay in Nyuto Onsen area to relax and soak in the onsen of your ryokan or visit one of the other seven onsen in the area. There are also shorter walking paths in the area, if you would still like to stroll at a more leisurely pace around the valley.

Walking distance: 9.5km / 6 miles
Elevation gain: 600 m / 2,000 feet ascent; 600 m / 2,000 feet descent
Time required: 5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Tsurunoyu or similar class (Onsen Ryokan)

Day 10

Tono Valley

We will take a break from hiking and spend time in the rural town of Tono to learn about the rich folklore that has been passed down for generations. One of the prevalent characters in Tono folktales is the Kappa, child-sized, turtle like creatures who live in small ponds and rivers. According to the folktale, the Kappa enjoy eating cucumbers and love to engage in sumo wrestling. You can find various statues of these beings scattered around the towns as testament to their admiration.

Breakfast / Dinner

Aeria Tono or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day 11

Return to Tokyo

Today we spend our last morning in the Tohoku region by riding bicycles around the Tono countryside. Along the road, you may visit one of the aforementioned folk villages as you pass by the many traditional thatched roofed farm houses. If the season is right, you may also be able to witness farmers hard at work harvesting Japan’s staple food, rice! In the afternoon, we say goodbye to Tono and make our way to Shin- Hanamaki to board out bullet train back to Tokyo.

Cycling distance: 25 km / 16 miles
Elevation gain: little ascent or descent
Time required: 2 hours

Breakfast

Shiba Park Hotel or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day 12

Tokyo

After breakfast, you are free for leisure to explore Tokyo on your own. You may use this time to do last minute shopping or visit other sightseeing spots and museums around the city. In the evening, you will end your last night with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant with your guide.

Breakfast / Farewell Dinner

Shiba Park Hotel or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day 13

Tour ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Your guide will be there to offer assistance and advice for your journey to the airport or onward travel in Japan.

Breakfast