Travel Japan

A JOURNEY THROUGH MANY AGES OF CHAOTIC CITIES TO TRANQUIL MOUNTAIN VILLAGES

日本 Japan – Cultural immersion for the adventurous backpacker

Explore the very best of cultural, historical and modern Japan on this deeply immersive backpacking tour. With a culture developed over the millennia, infused with complexity and contrast, this is an epic adventure of discovery into a world of temples and shrines, stunning cuisine and bustling cities and serene landscapes.

You can expect great adventures as your tour takes you from bustling futuristic and high-density cities to mountainous landscapes with live volcanoes and lush forestation. You’ll explore the intensely deep culture that permeates every aspect of Japanese life, from the kooky and cool to the customary & traditional.

Travelling in Japan is a life-changing experience saturated with new & unique learning encounters

Hagi

Hagi is arguably Japans most beautiful castle town with its old streets and traditional residences. Situated at the base of Mt Shizuki it is an imposing massive structure. Under the Mori clan in the seventeenth century Hagi became the capital of the region - power being transferred violently from Hiroshima. Today while it still exists as an extremely beautiful city its economic development has failed to keep pace with that of other cities in Japan.

Hiroshima

Some might say that Hiroshima was put on the map (or taken off it) following the American atomic bombing toward the end of World War II. Actually Hiroshima had since the 17th century been an important industrial hub and centre of military activities playing important roles during the Imperial Wars, Sino-Japanese War, Russia-Japanese War, and of course the World Wars. The raising of the city by the American atomic bomb has mean't a significant rebuild to create an architecturally interesting modern city.

Tottori

Situated on Sea of Japan, the sand dunes at Tottori are breath-taking. Try para-gliding, sand-boarding or ride a camel on the ever moving sand. There is a wonderful story of the white rabbit who was stuck on a small island just off Hakuto Beach. The story goes the rabbit convinced the sharks to line up and he hopped across their backs to return to the mainland. However, on realising the trick the last shark reacted and ripped off the fur of the white rabbit. The gods teased the rabbit and told him to bathe in the salt water which stung his open wounds. When the youngest of the gods took pity on him and told the rabbit to bath in fresh water and dry himself with cattails the rabbit prophesied that this god, Okuninushi, would become ruler of Inaba. Of course this came true and you will see references to the rabbit all over Tottori.

Arashiyama

The Arashiyama district is one the most under-rated regions in Japan. It is very much over-shadowed by local Kyoto. Arashiyama features a magnificent bamboo forest associated with peace (which can be hard to find during peak seasons), the traditional Togetsukyō Bridge, the Tenryūji temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a fun monkey park for those that had seen enough temples to last a lifetime.

Fushimi Inari

There are over 30,000 Inari shrines all over Japan of which Fushimi Inari Taisha is the most iconic. It attracts hundreds of thousands of Japanese and International tourists each year to pray for everything from prosperity and health to fertility. There are 5 deities enshrined in Fushimi Inari related to the production of rice and silk and the shrine protects the Inariyama mountain upon which it is located.

Osaka

Osaka is the industrial heart of Japan. From early in its history it has been described as that anti-capital - during one such period of rice shortages the merchants shunned orders to reduce their obvious consumption continuing to flaunt their wealth. The saying goes that even today the people of Osaka greet each other with Mokarimakka - meaning are you making money. Today Osaka is a really lively city with a variety of eastern Japanese cuisine. It is arguably the hottest city in Japan to eat, drink and of course party.

Koyasan

Koyasan is nestled high up on Mount Koya situated up a high-mountain valley. Originally established as a mountain retreat for a Buddhist monk called Kukai, the monastery is now a sizeable town with UNESCO World Heritage Site status. A visit to the burial site of Kukai is well worth it as thousands of lanterns light the site. There is an electric railway from Osaka to Koyasan and hiking in the My Koya area is awesome.

Kyoto

Kyoto is a large sprawling urban city. It sat as the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years and is even today considered by many to be the most beautiful city in Japan. This is however if you make the effort to get out of the main city area and into the parks and temples that surrounds it. With over 2,000 temples and shrines around the city it is a never ending feast for the eyes that you will never be able to take in with just one visit.

Kanazawa

The samurai, the merchants, the geisha, and the feudal lords have all left their mark on the incredibly well-preserved town of Kanazawa boasting over 400 years of history. If we can give one recommendation for your visit to Kanazawa it is eat! Everywhere you will find magnificent Japanese cuisine particularly with the fresh seafood given the towns location right on the Sea of Japan. Visit the Japanese garden of Kenrokuen and its accompanying temple - one of the most important zen temples in Japan or the ´ninja temple´ filled with secret corridors and rooms.

Takayama

Takayama has wonderfully preserved traditional streets from the peaceful Edo period in Japan. Visit the old town of San-no-machi, to see the old wooden buildings and atmospheric markets, and Hida Folk Village, which is a complete recreation of the traditional mountain villages of the region. If you are lucky enough to visit during the Takayama Festival prepare for an wondrous experience as the entire city embraces the celebration and gets involved.

Matsumoto

Matsumoto is the second largest city in the Shiga Kogen National Park area, and is instantly recognised for Matsumoto Castle - one of Japan's most spectacular and very beautiful original castles. Six stories high the castle was built over 400 years ago and recounts an enchanting history of samurai and ninjas. In spring the famous photos of the flowering cherry blossom trees in the beautiful gardens are Insta-worthy.

Tsumago

Tsumago is like a living museum complete with authentic inns, traditional houses and temples from Edo period - a period of more than two and half centuries of peace. Tsumago along with Magome were trading posts along the traditional Nakasendo highway between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Nagano

Nagano is one of Japans most famous cities. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Shiga Kogen National Park it was the location of the 1998 Winter Olympics. It is also famous for being the home of the Ninja School, Togakure. Nagano was born from a temple city around the 7th century temple Zenkoji, which is one of Japan's most famous temples. The temple contains the Hidden Buddha - a statute displayed only every six years, and sorry next one is not until 2027.

Shiga Kogen National Park

The Shiga Kogen National Park is an incredibly beautiful area perhaps most well-known for its Snow Monkeys who keep themselves warm in the natural hot springs during the bitter winter. In summer the park offer numerous hikes from a one-day to awesome multi-day adventures; and in winter a number of ski resorts are open on the mountain tops in the region - the most well known is Nagano.

Mount Fuji

Mt Fuji has to be one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Everyone recognises that distinctive almost perfectly symmetrical shape rising above the surrounding lakes. Of course the obvious thing is to climb Japan's highest mountain which during the summer months can involve a very long line of climbers. You need to be prepared as although temperatures can be 40 plus degrees at the base it can be below zero and snowing at the top. Outside the summer months high altitude snow and ice climbing experience is required.

Hakone

Hakone is a popular day trip from Tokyo known for its geothermal natural hot springs and proximity to Mount Fuji. Hakone has been a cultural cross roads for many centuries because of its location on the trading route between Kyoto and Tokyo. As well as a soak in a hot pool (onsen) with views to Mt Fuji visit a geisha experience or get a traditional tattoo if you dare.

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the wildest cities on the planet. Bright lights, traffic, 13 million people, noise and smells - it is a sensory overload. It is such a city of juxtaposition of high-tech (visit the robot restaurant) and tradition (see the temple markets at Asakusa). It is easier to think of Tokyo not as one city but as 4 or 5 individual towns that have simply merged and that need to be explored on their own. From the electronic hip Shibuya to the gardens and temples of Chiyoda there is not enough time to immerse yourself in the crazy world of Tokyo - we love it!!

U. Adventures in Japan

14 day Cultural Japan

Tokyo to Hiroshima – explore timeless temples, exotic shrines & vibrant cities

£2,250

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