Hokkaidō is the second-largest of Japan’s islands, long regarded as a remote wilderness by other residents of the Japanese archipelago. Known in feudal times as Ezo, Hokkaidō was originally inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people. Today, it attracts nature lovers and is a pristine paradise of mountain ranges, lush forests, and indescribably beautiful crater lakes produced by volcanic activity.
Join this small-group guided tour on a wonderful journey from Kushiro on Hokkaidō’s eastern Pacific coast, through to the Shiretoko Peninsula stretching out into the Sea of Okhotsk. See untouched nature, visit UNESCO wetland nature reserves, experience spectacular landscapes formed by volcanoes, and enjoy flora and fauna unique to Hokkaidō. You have the chance to spot abundant wildlife as we walk the trails – watch out for foxes, deer, and numerous species of birds.
After each day’s walk, we relax in onsen hot springs, a delightful by-product of the region’s geothermal activity. Another highlight of the tour is Hokkaidō’s wonderful regional cuisine, some of the freshest in Japan, with local specialties found at every stage of our journey. Hokkaidō covers too large an area to explore on just one visit, but Oku Japan’s itinerary brings you to the very best locations on the island.
Our adventure begins in the fishing port of Kushiro, famous for some of the best seafood in Japan and home to a unique fishing culture that invented the robatayaki style of cooking on an open grill. From Kushiro, we visit Hokkaidō’s largest marshland area and continue to Lake Akan, the only place where the famous spherical Marimo algae can be spotted. At Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, home to the largest remaining Ainu community in Hokkaidō, we view a traditional dance performance.
After each day’s walk, we relax in onsen hot springs, a delightful by-product of the region’s geothermal activity. Another highlight of the tour is Hokkaidō’s wonderful regional cuisine, some of the freshest in Japan, with local specialties found at every stage of our journey. Hokkaidō covers too large an area to explore on just one visit, but Oku Japan’s itinerary brings you to the very best locations on the island.
Our journey also brings us to Lake Mashū, one of the clearest lakes in the world, and finally onwards to the onsen town of Utoro on the Sea of Okhotsk. If the weather is kind, we take a boat ride from the Shiretoko Peninsula with the chance to glimpse waterfalls visible only from the sea and Hokkaidō brown bears searching for fish with their cubs. Shiretoko is the very end of Japan – a remote area of truly untouched nature.
Due to the schedule of the airport limousine bus, Oku Japan is only able to arrange airport transportation for guests with flights departing Memanbetsu Airport in the afternoon or later. Guests with early flights will need to arrange their own transportation.
2025
August 16 to August 24, 2025
September 5 to September 13, 2025 – full
September 15 to September 23, 2025
2026
June 16 to June 24, 2026
July 20 to July 28, 2026
August 14 to August 22, 2026
September 7 to September 15, 2026
September 24 to October 2, 2026
Starting from US$4,960.00 per person based on double occupancy (subject to change without notice)
Take this journey as an invitation to discover the beauty of traditional Japan and the less touristy island of Shodoshima. Starting in Osaka and then heading to Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kurashiki,… you will appreciate the Japanese culture and spirituality. To balance sightseeing days with some good rest you will stay at a hot spring ryokan in Iya Valley. You will have 3 days and 2 nights to fully enjoy Shodoshima, the Japanese Olive Island. Finally, you will have 3 days to enjoy Kyoto, the ancient capital at your pace before returning home with great memories.
This tour can be fully customized.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$6,720
Superior: from US$9,890
Luxury: price upon request
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Begin your journey in Tokyo before heading north to explore Tohoku’s most beautiful destinations. Your first stop is Nikko, where vibrant shrines and temples, nestled within a stunning national park, offer a captivating blend of Japanese history and natural splendor.
Next, a train ride will transport you to Aizu-Wakamatsu, a historic castle town renowned for its sake and samurai heritage. The Aizu clan’s unwavering loyalty to the shogun, even after his removal during the 1868 Meiji Restoration, cemented their place in history. While in Aizu-Wakamatsu, we recommend visiting Ouchijuku, a picturesque post town; Tsuruga Castle; Aizu Bukeyashiki, a grand reconstructed samurai house; and the Suehiro Sake Brewery. On your final day in Aizu-Wakamatsu, embark on an off-the-beaten-path adventure to Urabandai with a knowledgeable charter taxi driver who can guide you to local culinary gems.
After breakfast, your journey continues to the picturesque Matsushima, renowned for having one of Japan’s most breathtaking views. Next, you will venture to the enigmatic Yamadera Temple, where the day’s highlight awaits: the Godaido Hall, accessible after ascending approximately 1000 steps. Following a restful night, you’ll travel to Ginzan Onsen to unwind in its therapeutic hot spring baths. From Ginzan Onsen, a combination of bus and train will transport you to Kakunodate, a charming and traditional samurai town. Your final destination will be Nyuto Onsen, celebrated as one of Japan’s most exquisite hot spring resorts.
This tour can be fully customized.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$5,810
Superior: from US$9,100
Luxury: price upon request
Request a Quote
Begin your journey in Tokyo, Japan’s vibrant capital, before venturing north to Yudanaka, a renowned hot spring town. Here, during the winter months, you can witness the charming sight of snow monkeys bathing in natural hot springs—a spectacle that has captured global attention. After this unique experience, return to Tokyo, which will serve as your base for exploring the region with day trips to the historic towns of Nikko and Kamakura.
This tour can be fully customized.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$4,990
Superior: from US$6,950
Luxury: price upon request
Request a Quote
Our Rural Discovery Independent Tour will introduce you to rural Japan and its people while staying with a Japanese family. Of course, you will see some amazing sights but the point is to sit down and talk with Japanese people, learn how Japanese live, and experience something beyond traditional sightseeing. Our rural home-stay tour will give you stories that you will remember long after your photos have faded.
*Learn to cook traditional Japanese dishes
*Explore the village by bicycle or on foot, visit Izumo Daijingu Shrine and the Anao Temple which usually do not welcome tourists
*Experience a traditional tea ceremony, try Japanese ikebana (flower arrangement), write Japanese calligraphy, and try to play the Koto (traditional Japanese stringed instrument) with our local cultural experts and artisans
*Ride riverboats through the Honzu River Gorge, an ancient trade route to Kyoto
*Tour a local sake brewery, a tofu maker, a pottery studio, a antique shop
*Relax at the Hiyoshi Hot Springs, treat yourself to a Shiatsu massage
*Bonsai workshop
*Visit the world’s best whetstone excavation site
*Journey through rice paddies and farmlands to the historic mountain village of Miyama
This tour can be fully customized.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$5,500
Superior: from US$6,800
Luxury: price upon request
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After exploring famous sites in the bustling city of Tokyo, the route extends north, where the countryside is mountainous and picturesque. You will stay in one of Japan’s most scenic regions, relax in the quiet atmosphere of secluded hot springs, and experience the vibrancy of one community’s cultural revival.
Our North Central Exploration Tour is a 13-day private tour that will give you a chance to see Tokyo and visit beautiful mountainous destinations on the main island of Honshu. Since this is a private tour you will not have to worry about visiting places you have no interest in or sightseeing at a pace that is not right for you.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$6,570
Superior: from US$9,390
Luxury: price upon request
This small-group tour takes you to the fourth-largest of Japan’s islands, Shikoku is home to the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail. Fascinating aspects of this deeply spiritual route include how little is known of its origins, and its mysterious connection with Kobo Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism. Pilgrims have walked the trails for 1200 years and even today we will see pilgrims in their distinctive attire and white cloaks throughout the island. The full pilgrimage route encircles Shikoku and connects 88 Buddhist temples, covering more than a thousand kilometers. Pilgrims, known in Japanese as Ohenro, traditionally did the journey from temple to temple on foot over many weeks.
Our tour selects the best of the walking trails through lovely landscapes. We visit all four of Shikoku’s prefectures – Tokushima in the east, Kagawa in the north, Ehime in the west, and Kochi in the south. Each region has its own distinctive character, food, and scenery. In addition to the pilgrimage trail, our journey includes the remote Iya Valley, deep in the heart of Shikoku. We begin our journey with a stay on Mount Koya, the hilltop temple complex on Honshu established by Kobo Daishi, and an important location for Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage devotees. Public transport in the rural areas of Shikoku is limited and we will travel mainly by private chartered vehicle, but we will still enjoy walking along the ancient route from temple to temple through countryside and forest. We will stay in traditional country inns enjoying regional cuisine prepared from local ingredients from the island, soaking in natural hot springs, and enjoying the exceptional hospitality of our hosts.
2025
October 12 to October 24, 2025
2026
May 31 to June 12, 2026
October 11 to October 23, 2026
Starting from US$5,690.00 based on double occupancy (subject to change without notice)
This small-group tour shows you the Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail, which is a pilgrimage route to Kumano, part of the mountainous Kii Peninsula that stretches south from the Kansai cities of Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. The well-maintained trail threads its way through deep valleys, mountains, and small villages to offer a wonderfully varied hike over four days.
Stay at comfortable family-run inns with excellent food, soak in natural hot springs, and visit the shrines along the way. The pilgrimage routes to the three great Kumano Shrines – Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha – were popularized during and after the Heian Period (794-1185), when the Imperial family and nobility began to seek salvation in sangaku shinko (a belief in the supernatural power of mountains), rather than through common religious practices. Emperor Gotoba (1180-1239) made no fewer than thirty pilgrimages to Kumano, recording his thoughts and feelings in the Kumano poems.
Our journey begins in the modern city of Kyoto, and we travel south by train along the coast and spend four days hiking the Nakahechi, one of the Kumano Kodo trails, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is a day mid-way to relax, with a gentle ride along the Kumano River to the Hayatama Taisha Shrine. We cross the Kii Peninsula on foot to its eastern coast, and the fishing town of Katsuura, with two nights at a hot-spring hotel and a further optional day of hiking. We finish by traveling on to Kyoto by train. On small-group guided tours, your guide takes care of luggage arrangements for you.
2025
September 5 to September 13, 2025
October 15 to October 23, 2025
November 9 to November 17, 2025
2026
April 6 to April 14, 2026
May 7 to May 15, 2026
September 23 to October 1, 2026
October 14 to October 22, 2026
November 4 to November 12, 2026
Price per person:
Starting from US$3,970.00 based on double occupancy (subject to change without notice)
This tour is a benediction for white sand, snorkeling, tropical mood lovers. Your journey starts in Naha, the historical capital of Okinawa.
You will take a day trip to Kerama Islands. Its crystal clear water will allow you to see dozens of meters below the surface.
Diving and snorkeling are both available for all levels. The next day, your private local guide will show you around the island of Okinawa (Shurijo Castle, Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum, Yachimun Street, Shurikinjocho Stone-Path Road,…).
Miyakojima will be the next island you visit for 2 days. Every year it leads the rankings of Japan’s best beaches. Then you will head to Ishigaki and Taketomi islands. You will land on a phantom island, enjoy snorkeling, and a unique paddle-board night tour in the mangrove. Last but not least, Iriomote the most preserve island in Okinawa will offer you activities such as hiking in the jungle, exploring mangroves, snorkeling,…
This tour can be fully customized.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$6,400
Superior: from US$8,110
Luxury: price upon request
Request a Quote
Hokkaido is the most northern and second-largest of Japan’s four main islands. Your tour will start in Sapporo and will take you around this mostly unspoiled land. Your first stop after Sapporo will be at Furano, where in summer rolling lavender fields form a picturesque scenery. Next, you will head to Abashiri on the northern coast of the island and stay at a hot spring ryokan inn where you will appreciate a delicious dinner.
In the winter, this area is known for the ice flows, which you can cruise through. You will then head inland to Lake Akan Onsen and Lake Kussharo, located in Akan National Park, to enjoy nature. You then head south to a quaint town called Kurshiro on the eastern coast. This town is famous for wildlife, especially in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. You will finally head back to Sapporo.
This tour can be fully customized.
The itinerary below is an example of a Classical custom tour.
Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers:
Classical: from US$6,100
Superior: from US$7,890
Luxury: price upon request
Request a Quote