Oku Japan, a leading Kyōto-based tour operator specializing in sustainable and culturally immersive walking & trekking experiences, is looking at the next few months with excitement as visitor arrivals continue to climb, including from Australia, which is showing a growth rate of 37% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019 (pre-pandemic), according to recent tourism statistics from the JNTO.
For anyone already planning a trip to Japan and looking for tour options, or anyone looking to experience summer abroad, Oku still has a few departures available on trips that will get visitors away from the crowds, and importantly, into areas that are known to be more temperate, with less humidity, than in other areas of the country during its summer season.
TŌHOKU
One such region is Tōhoku, located in the north of Japan’s largest island, Honshū. Well-known for its expansive landscapes, hot springs, mountains, lakes, festivals, rich traditions, and amazing seafood, Tōhoku does still get hot in the summer, however the humidity levels are lower and more so, the nights tend to cool right off. Oku Japan offers two trips in this region, one guided and one self-guided.
Mountain Spirits Tohoku
This 13-day guided hiking trip is available every summer between July and September. There is just one departure left in 2024 – August 16-28.
Starting in Tōkyō, the small group tour makes its way north – first to the forests and mountains of Nikkō, a sacred area for Japanese people for more than 1,200 years; then on to the Oze Marshland, located high in the mountains of Nikkō National Park. This is followed by stops at Lake Okutadami, Tochiomata Onsen area, and then further north to Dewa Sanzan (Three Peaks of Dewa), which refers to the three sacred peaks of Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono, with the group having the opportunity to hike both Haguro (the lowest of the three) and Gassan (the highest). The trip then continues to Kakunodate, a former feudal town with well-preserved samurai residences, and Nyūtō Onsen, a hot spring town that is also home to Mount Nyūtō. The final stop is in Tōno, a rural community that is famous for its rich folklore. Here the group will have a chance to explore the valley via bicycle before catching the bullet train back to Tōkyō.
Pricing starts from AU$7,155.00 per person.
Michinoku Coastal Trail
On this self-guided walking adventure, Oku Japan has curated some of the best portions of the northern section of the trail and put together an unforgettable multi-day experience that can be enjoyed as either a six- or seven-day trip, with flexible departures recommended between April and October.
Tōhoku’s Michinoku Coastal Trail winds through four prefectures, passing dramatic rocky cliffs and outcroppings, pristine pine and beech forests, and cozy seaside villages. The weather also tends to be cooler overall than the rest of the Japanese mainland.
Guests will travel along the wild Sanriku coast by day (nicknamed ‘the Alps of the Sea’) and spend nights at local guesthouses and hotels where they will experience the unique way of life of these communities. Oku Japan’s hyper-local fureai experiences are available here and guests will have the opportunity to meet and connect with locals while getting more insight into the way of life in this region. Starting in the town of Hachinohe, travellers will head south over sandy beaches, forested trails, and coastal paved roads. The northern trailhead of the Michinoku is Kabushima Shrine, which offers the first of many commanding views over the Pacific Ocean. From the soaring Kitayamazaki Cliffs to the white rocks and deep blue waters of Jōdogahama Beach, this tour offers a close-up look into this region’s rebirth and a memorable journey through Japan’s northeast.
Pricing on the seven-day version of the tour starts from AU$2,790.00 per person, and from AU$2,340.00 per person for the six-day trip.
HOKKAIDŌ
Wild Lands of Eastern Hokkaidō
On this nine-day, small-group guided tour, Oku’s guests take a deep dive into hot spring bathing, incredible regional cuisine, rewarding hiking, and chances to spot wildlife unique to the island. Departures are still available this summer: July 22-30, August 16-24, and August 30-September 7.
The second-largest, northernmost, and least developed of Japan’s four main islands, Hokkaidō is known for its volcanoes, natural hot springs (onsen), and ski areas. While the winter here is harsh with lots of snowfall and freezing temperatures (great skiing though!), the summer is quite temperate, with the island not getting nearly as hot and humid as other parts of the country. Known as ‘Ezo’ in feudal times, Hokkaidō was originally inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people. Today, it attracts nature lovers drawn to its mountain ranges, lush forests, and beautiful crater lakes, the by-product of ancient volcanic activity.
Oku Japan’s trip kicks off in Kushiro, on the eastern Pacific coast, followed by a trip to Kushiro Marshland, Japan’s largest wetland area and home to incredible biodiversity. It is then on to Lake Akan, a crater lake in a national park of the same name, which is home to the largest community of Ainu people on the island. Then it is on to picturesque Lake Onneto at the foot of Mount Meakandake, an active volcano, followed by a visit to Lake Akan Ainu Kotan Village and a walk to Mount Iō. The tour also visits Lake Mashū, known as one of the clearest lakes in the world, which is followed by a hike to the peak of Mount Nishibetsudake. There is a chance to explore one of the largest wildflower nature reserves in Japan (the Wakka Nature Centre) by foot or by bike, before travelling to Utoro Onsen, a hot spring town and gateway to the vast Shiretoko Wilderness.
Pricing starts from AU$5,875.00 per person.
NIKKŌ
Nikkō and Self-Guided Walking in Yumoto Onsen
This four-day, self-guided adventure is a wonderful combination of nature walks and historical immersion. Easily accessible from Tokyo, it is a great add-on to any city break, offering some respite from the summer heat in the city. Oku offers flexible departures, with travel recommended between April and November.
Located just three hours north of Tōkyō by train, Nikkō is a small city set in the mountains in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture. Most famous for Tōshogū, the country’s most lavishly decorated shrine, and for Nikkō National Park, which offers scenic landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.
On the Oku Japan trip, self-guided travelers will have the independence to explore the area at leisure, including the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Three Great Falls of Nikkō, and the forests and mountains of Oku-Nikkō with hikes that follow the Yu River towards the onsen village of Nikkō-Yumoto. Another hike offers exceptional scenery along the Oku-Nikkō plains, skirting both Mount Mitsudake and Mount Orogura where sightings of both monkeys and deer are common.
Pricing starts from AU$2,565.00 per person.
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