Following a very busy cherry blossom season that saw hotels and guides in short supply, and demand already growing for the fall, Kyoto-based tour operator, Oku Japan, offers way to escape the crowds with its wide array of guided and self-guided walking trips.
“There were a lot of people who wanted to come in the spring but because of surging demand and capacity issues, many of those dates have shifted to June,” said Hiroshi Kawaguchi, General Manager for Oku Japan. “Capacity for the autumn months is also getting tighter, earlier than ever before. As such, we are putting measures in place to help alleviate that pressure, ensuring we have guides available for our guided departures, and shifting our focus to even more off-the-beaten-track destinations.”
While Oku offers walking trips that explore all areas of Japan, year-round, to avoid the crowds as much as possible, the tour operator recommends focusing on both the off-peak times or, more ideally, the transitional period between summer and autumn when the heat has subsided a bit but before the fall peak hits.
The following are Oku Japan’s top trip recommendations with departures in that sweet spot (and beyond):
Nara Ancient Capitals
- Five-day self-guided tour
- Departures recommended between January and December
- Trip level: Active
- Priced from AU$1,690.00 per person (double occupancy)
On this self-guided walking trip, highlights include walking along the historic Yamanobe-no-michi and Yagyu Kaido trails, hiking a forested trail to the Tanzan Shrine, and seeing the beautiful, terraced rice fields of Asuka-mura. Accommodations include stays in a friendly family homestay for a truly immersive experience, or a traditional Minshuku guesthouse for two nights in Asuka-mura and two nights in a centrally located hotel. Guests also have the option to upgrade to a wonderful Machiya townhouse in Nara, which are beautiful wooden structures that have seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to younger craftsmen and designers recognizing the cultural significance of such historic buildings.
Nikko and Yumoto Onsen
- Four-day self-guided tour
- Departures recommended between April and November
- Trip level: Intermediate
- Priced from AU$1,825.00 per person (double occupancy)
Take a scenic train ride out of Tokyo to Nikko and the picturesque mountains of Tochigi Prefecture. It was here that in 1617, the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu – an iconic leader who is credited with unifying the country – had himself enshrined, and these extravagantly ornate buildings are now UNESCO World Heritage sites. In addition to a rich history and culture, Nikko is also well-known for its beautiful nature, which guests have a chance to explore further as they travel deeper into Nikko’s varied landscape to Oku (“inner”) Nikko and enjoy exhilarating hikes through the marshlands towards Nikko Yumoto Onsen, a hot spring village with comfortable inns, where they’ll spend another two days exploring the region.
Wild Lands of Eastern Hokkaido
- Nine-day guided tour
- Departures available between June and October
- Trip level: Intermediate
- Priced from AU$5,875.00 per person (double occupancy)
This tour takes guests on a wonderful journey from Kushiro on Hokkaido’s eastern Pacific coast, where they will enjoy some of the best seafood in the country, followed by a visit to Hokkaido’s largest marshland area, and then on to Lake Akan, where guests will visit Ainu Kotan village, home to the largest remaining Ainu community on the island. The trip also visits Mount Meakandake, an active volcano in Akan Mashu National Park, which offers some of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in Hokkaido; Lake Mashu, one of the clearest lakes in the world; and finally, the Onsen town of Utoro on the Sea of Okhotsk. The tour end with a visit to Lake Rausu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest lake on the Shiretoko Peninsula.
Japan Hiking Highlights
- 11-day guided tour
- Departures available between late March and November
- Trip level: Active
- Priced from AU$8,845.00 per person (double occupancy)
Combining must-see cities Kyoto and Tokyo, this 11-day guided walking and cultural tour highlights the country’s best loved trails – the Kumano Kodo and the Nakasendo. Combining more relaxed hiking with cultural immersion, it offers a deeper discovery of the unique culture that surrounds each trail, with routes suitable for fit and active travellers.
To learn more about Oku Japan’s complete line-up of year-round offerings of self-guided and guided tours, please visit http://www.okujapan.com/.
