Remote Japan - Off the beaten track

Kawagoe Akita Kanazawa

Remote Japan - Off the Beaten Path

Many tours to and around Japan involve the well known sights along the "Golden Route" between Tokyo and Kyoto, and may include extensions down to Hiroshima. The typical highlights include things like Mt Fuji, Kinkakuji (the golden pavilion), Kiyomizu-dera, Himeji Castle and the floating torii gate at Miyajima. These trips often cater for the mass market and bus tour groups that simply work through a set list in crowded locations.

While Japan Custom Tours also can cover these sights for you (in a less crowded way) as your travel guide, for a more authentic experience, we offer tours that take you off the beaten track in Japan. This allows you to immerse yourself in aspects of rural Japan, or to head to the non-touristy places, away from the crowds and to some of the less travelled parts of Japan. Our the feedback from our guests is that these experiences provide a more intimate and a more genuine window into the country, culture and scenic beauty.

As we customise trips for our guests, we do not have set schedules or routes, but retain flexibility to design something that suits your interests. To provide some inspiration we have included a couple of examples of the places we consider visiting (and there are certainly many more hidden gems or Japan worth exploring).

Note: We are offering a remote Japan tour spanning three weeks from 23rd October to 14th November 2024. For 2025 we do have "path less travelled" late November trip planned, so contact us us for more information. Please contact us directly by email for additional details.

If you are interested in joining one of our Remote Japan tours, you can use the contact us form or email us at admin@japancustomtours.co.nz. We will then work with you to personalise the schedule of your tour off the beaten path and work around your preferred travel dates. That might include adding in some of the more popular or famous "must see" sights as part of your custom tour, or heading to some locations where you can simply discover Japan you might not have known existed.

Sample Schedules - Remote Japan

The schedule for the Remote Japan tours depends on guest preferences, season and activities. So rather than having a set schedule, we can take you to explore a range of different places and link with interesting and some of the most scenic train journeys around the country. We include a couple of samples to give a flavour of the trips that we have organised.

Kansai Regional Tour

Day 1 Tokyo to Toba: Toba, Mikimoto and Pearl Island for the museum and see the Alma pearl divers. The aquarium is good and a small cruise around the bay and islands adjacent to the town. Our previous visits included accommodation at the Ryosou Uminochou Ryokan (a mix of Western/Japanese style) or the Toba International with views across the ocean.

Day 2 Toba: Visit the Ise Grand Shrine. This is a major complex of buildings and some 125 shrines. Included is the Ujibashi bridge which is rebuilt each 20 years. Access is by train from Toba and a short walk to Ise Jingu Geku. Ise Jinju Naiku is a longer walk or 10 minute bus/taxi (we get either a taxi or bus). At Ise Jinju Naiku is an interesting collection of shops and restaurants themed in an old style. While this is a major destination for many domestic tourists/pilgrims, few foreigners make the trip.

Day 3 Toba to Koyasan: A transfer day to Koyasan - arrival would be in the afternoon timed with the accommodation check-in (usually 3 p.m.) For a stay at Koyasan we have looked for ryokan with Japanese-style rooms including breakfast and dinner. Our preferred option includes a room size is about double most of the other options in the local area.

Day 4 Koyasan: A full day to explore Koyasan and area. Many people seem to just stay a single night so please advise your preference.

Day 5 Koyasan to Shirahama: A day to back-track from Koyasan to the seaside town of Shirahama as a location to explore the Kudamo Koda pilgrim trails on the Kii peninsula. Depending on how energetic you are, there are some good walking/hiking trails, temples and shrines.

Day 6 Shirahama - Kumano Kodo: A full day to explore the old pilgrimage trails and famous shrines like Hongu Taisha. Access to the Hongu Taisha area is by bus, approximately two hours.

Day 7 Shirahama to Kyoto: From the eastern part of Japan head back towards the centre of the island. To limit the travel on any one day we stop in Kyoto. Plus there is more than enough to entertain in the old capital.

Day 8 Kyoto: A full day in Kyoto to do some less common activities.

Day 9 Kyoto to Togura/Nagano: Head into the mountains via Matsomoto (the castle is an optional stop) for a stay at a traditional Japanese inn including onsen and local foods prepared on-site. There is a small castle (fort) on the hill behind the ryokan that gives great views across the valley and mountains around the area. There is a local cycling tour around Togura available opposite the ryokan. A highlight for many of our guests is for entertainment by the local geisha who provide dinner entertainment (music and dance). For more information about the inn we use in Togura, please see our page on Kamesei Ryokan.

Day 10 Togura/Nagano: Several options are available. Explore the local town, the city of Nagano and Zenko-ji temple in Nagano, founded in the 7th century, Togakushi Shrine in the forest to the north-west of Nagano, with its impressive tree-lined approach and Ninja Museum, or Jigokudani Monkey Park.

Day 11 Nagano to Tokyo: A short trip back to Tokyo for time sightseeing in the city or additional day trips to nearby areas.

Tohoku Regional Tour

Day 1 Tokyo to Sendai: Taking an early train head to Sendai and Matsushima Bay, one of the three "views of Japan" and the cruise around the bay with its many beautiful pine-tree covered islands. After viewing the pine covered islands, walk to Zuigan-ji past the caves carved into the approach to the temple. The caves were used for memorial services and as a cinerarium to house the ashes of the deceased. The caves were constructed some 700 years ago and remained in use until a few hundred years ago.

Day 2 Sendai to Aomori: Taking the Hayabusa shinkansen at speeds up to 320 km/h travel to Aomori. There will be time during the afternoon to see Wa Rasse, a museum celebrating the summer Nebuta festival, or the floating car ferry museum in the port area.

Day 3 Aomori: There is a day trip to Mount Osorezan (one of the most sacred sites in Japan) or visit the extreme end of the island at Cape Oma. Another option is to visit the nearby town of Hirosaki, famous for its castle and park (with 2600 cherry trees - blossom time is late April or early May).

Day 4 Aomori to Akita: From Aomori to Akita is one of the most scenic train trips in Japan around the north west coastline.

Day 5 Akita: A relaxation day allowing short trips to Lake Tazawa, a visit to the Senshu-koen park, or go to Kakunodate to explore the old Samurai district and houses.

Day 6 Akita to Niigata: Continue our journey along the western coast to Niigata.

Day 7 Niigata: Visit Sado Island by jetfoil. The remoteness of the island made it ideal for exiles and retains a distinct "out of the way" atmosphere. Niigata also has an old style market - Hon-cho.

Day 8 to Togura/Nagano: Head into the mountains for a stay at a traditional Japanese inn including onsen and local foods prepared on-site. Explore the local town and enjoy the hot spring baths. Included is a private geisha entertainment.

Day 9 Togura/Nagano: Several options are available. Explore the local town, the city of Nagano and Zenko-ji temple in Nagano, founded in the 7th century, Togakushi Shrine in the forest to the north-west of Nagano, with its impressive tree-lined approach and Ninja Museum, or Jigokudani Monkey Park.

Day 10 Nagano to Tokyo: A short trip back to Tokyo for time sightseeing in the city or additional day trips to nearby areas.

Price Inclusions/exclusions

Pricing is takes into account the accommodation rates that we expect to be in place at the time of bookings. The tour price reflects the fact that rates are lower when booked in advance, and more expensive when booked shortly before the tour commences.

For groups of four or more, the price for a fourteen day tour (accommodation for thirteen nights) is from JPY695,000 per person share twin/double. For a two person tour the price is JPY795,000 per person.

For solo travellers (one person, without a shared room), the cost of accommodation is unable to be shared, but we have a policy to limit the extra cost and have priced our tour for a single person at JPY795,000.

Our standard pricing includes:

Our tour service, including a dedicated guide for the duration of your tour. That includes a meet&greet at the airport and transfers to the hotel in Tokyo.
Accommodation, averaging 4* - 5* properties and usually including breakfast. We aim to book superior rooms to give additional space and comfort during your trip.
Transport; the train travel, subways, and transfers during the tour. Taxis are also covered during the day for our some of our scheduled sightseeing, as are the occasional bus connection. Transport outside of the daily schedule is not included. Examples are travel in the evening to a restaurant or choosing to return to the hotel by taxi where we have scheduled a different option.
Entrance fees for temples, shrines, castles, parks, gardens, and museums. These are listed in your agreed tour schedule.
Breakfast is included for the majority of hotels at we use. Evening meals at ryokan (Japanese inn) accommodation may be included depending on the specific tour arrangements. In general, we do not include lunch and dinner meals because Japan has a huge range of foods and we prefer not to restrict options, especially when food is a significant part of enjoying Japan.

Exclusions are generally items such as theatre performances, sporting or other special events, theme parks, lunch and evening meals, snacks/drinks and other incidental costs such as hotel room service/laundry.

Flights to/from Japan are also not included in the price or transport arrangements.

Bookings and Inquiries

If you are interested in joining a remote Japan, off the beaten path tour, please contact us or email us directly at admin@japancustomtours.co.nz.