Visit Magome, a postal town on the Nakasendo Trail known as the Road Through the Mountains.

Discovering Sacred Sites & Preserved Traditions of Japan Tour

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Japan

Places Visited

Tokyo, Nikko, Kiso Valley, Tsumago...

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Suggested Duration

14 Days

Travel between the centuries to find sacred practices and preserved traditions during your 14-day Japan cultural tour. Lounge in soothing hot springs and customary ryokans. Sample fresh sushi and seasonal cuisine. Traverse the enchanting pathways of the Nakasendo Trail. From pristine gardens to legends of the samurai, secluded towns to dramatic temples, you will experience Japan's unique majesty with specialist guides on a customizable tour.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Spend your nights in ryokans, traditional Japanese inns that feature tatami mats, hot spring onsens, and traditional yukata clothing
  • Dine on the freshest Japanese sushi and the freshest seasonal cuisine
  • Walk a part of the Nakasendo Trail, known as the “Road through the Mountains”
  • Ride the famous Shinkansen, the high-speed bullet train that can travel at speeds up to 200 mph
  • Visit Magome and Tsumago, two post towns that have been restored to their former Edo Period glory

Detailed Description

Your tour of Japan begins in Tokyo, Japan’s capital and the largest city in the world. With an expert guide or on your own, you discover the loveliest gardens, the most magnificent shrines, and all the excitement that makes Tokyo the most futuristic city in the world. While there, take advantage of the city’s wide variety of Japanese and international cuisine.

From Tokyo, you travel by train and bus to the Kiso Valley and the Japanese Alps, two places that were isolated for centuries by the area’s mountainous terrain. Walk the ancient Nakasendo Trail between Magome and Tsumago, two towns that have been restored to their former Edo Period glory.

As you venture further inland, you discover Takayama and Shirakawago, two of the most well-preserved cities in all of Japan. Spend nights in both these cities, getting to know the locals as you tour the morning market and witness ancient building techniques still practiced in the 21st century. Dine on local dishes such as Hida beef, some of the best steak in the world.

Kanazawa is a city of artisans, from the men and women who make some of the finest crafts, to the sushi chefs who practice for years to prepare fish that were swimming in the ocean just hours before. While there, tour homes once inhabited by samurai, and visit what may be the most unique museum in all of Japan.

Miyajima and Hiroshima are two cities that show very different sides of Japan. In Miyajima, meet friendly deer before gazing upon the ‘floating’ torii gate that marks the bay. Going inland, dine on delectable seafood and handmade pastries. In Hiroshima, learn about both the horrors of the atomic bombing and the efforts Hiroshima has made to not only rebuild, but ensure that the tragedy in 1945 is never again repeated.

From Hiroshima, it is only a short trip to Kotohira, a coastal city on the island of Shikoku. Put on your walking shoes and ascend the 1,300+ steps to the island’s most famous temple. It is definitely worth the effort, as the architecture is some of the most unique in not only Shikoku but all of Japan. In the evening, rest your feet and muscles in a traditional onsen bath before dining on a fine assortment of seafood and fresh vegetables.

Your tour ends in Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital and home to over 2,000 shrines and temples. With your guide or on your own, see the best of what this city has to offer. You may also like to take part in a Japanese cooking class where you learn to make a variety of Japanese dishes such as sushi and miso soup. While in Kyoto, there is the option to take a day trip to Nara, Japan’s first capital and home to Todai-ji, a magnificent Buddhist temple. It is an experience not to miss during your time in Japan. This 14-day tour is perfect for couples, small groups, and even families. It is ideal in spring or fall when Japan’s weather is best for outdoor touring.

Starting Price

$9,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.84 stars based on 677 reviews.

Japan Travel Review: Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Sushi, Ryokan,...

Our trip to Japan was well planned and well thought out. Zicasso's travel designer made us feel very well taken care of. We are grateful to the travel designer for his effort in putting together this wonderful trip for us. We loved interacting with our excellent guides. Their expertise truly enhanced our experiences. All our travel assistants were extremely helpful and very thoughtful.

Reviewed By Alok G.

Japan Vacation Review: Local Cuisine, Drumming and Samurai...

Yet another fantastic family trip, courtesy of a Zicasso partner! My family of six just returned from our 10-day trip to Japan, as coordinated with Zicasso's travel company, and we have nothing but wonderful stories and memories to report!

Our agent arranged every detail to perfection, from transportation to guides to activities. All four kids and both parents had a fantastic experience. The guides he selected were incredibly knowledgeable and personable, and the hotels and transportation were spot on. I have nothing to say but that it was a seamless, A+ experience.

Thank you to our agent and travel companyI!

Reviewed By Sara G.

Japan Vacation Review: Private Guides and Driver, 8 Nights...

Our travel expert was professional, accurate, timely, and patient. It was wonderful working with her. Zicasso really made creating a customized itinerary effortless.

Reviewed By Suzy A.

Japan Travel Review: Tokyo, Hakone, Mount Fuji, Mount Inari,...

Zicasso's travel designer had less than three months to bring an amazing trip to life. Our goal was to experience the history, art, culture, and people of Japan. Mission accomplished!

There were so many highlights shared by our exceptional guides and drivers, who felt like friends and family by the trip's end. Some experiences surprised us with their creativity, joy, and value (slapstick sumo skits in Tokyo, the samurai sword experience, sushi class, open-air and Venetian glass museums in Hakone, and especially the Himeji Castle master carpenter tutorial). Though in our late 70s, walking five to seven miles per day and climbing 766-oot sacred Mount Inari weren't an issue.

The veracity of this review is paramount... the only experience we would forgo was spelunking (crawling) in the cold, wet lava cave, as in our ignorance, we were out of our element. We found joints we did not know we had! We are focused on collecting memories, not things. This fabulous trip achieved that goal. Thank you!

Reviewed By William H.

Japan Vacation Review: Public Baths, Shrines, Ryokans, 10...

I was very pleased with our trip, the accommodations, and the personal touch. Zicasso's travel specialist was excellent and even when we had some hiccups during the trip, he was there to make an adjustment. I was very pleased. Some really nit-picky tips for future travelers from out of town.

The Shinkansen is a fun ride and everyone should do it. However, when you need multiple tickets at a time, remind the passenger that you put all the tickets into the ticket turnstile at one time, not individually.

We had to visit in July, but I think the best time to visit Japan would be in the three other seasons because of the heat and humidity (with the exception of Hokkaido).

There are still some places that need cash, like public baths etc. I would carry a little on you. Also, visiting the public baths was one of the truly authentic Japanese experiences we had. If a traveler is into the authentic experience, don't underestimate that experience.

You can get "shrined out." They are great and we appreciated every one. We even caught a monk actively praying at a fairly remote one, which was tremendous. I'm not sure if it's possible to know approximate times, but seeing this happen as a traveler was immensely gratifying. It was 6.30am on a Saturday. So if there is a way to figure out an approximate schedule, you will have elevated your travel game above all the rest. It would be a differentiator for you.

Letting travelers know about the bento boxes and grab-and-go foods is a plus. I was so impressed by them and that info should be shared with every traveler, especially the kiddos.

The Japanese do some things really well and a side list of them might be helpful for tours. For example, we stopped for some anime magazines, kitchen knives, street food, and a baseball game, baths, and hot springs. I'd lean into this and provide some lists for people to pick from, especially the kitchen knives.

Explain the concept of luggage forwarding and the approximate costs. It's a uniquely Japanese thing, and it's awesome and affordable, but needs some getting used to.

Google Translate and the app to read the signs (I forgot its name) is a must. Share the links early and often.

I have so many more ideas, but we will start there. I hope it helps.

Reviewed By Matthew F.

Japan Travel Review: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Miyajima, 17-Day Trip...

Zicasso's travel agent was absolutely fantastic! She created a trip of a lifetime! Furthermore, when our plans changed or we needed something, she was there and helped with ease. We would work with her again, and Zicasso, in a heartbeat.

Reviewed By Erica M.

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