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Japan

A walking Tour of discovery from Tokyo to Hiroshima

Our Spirit of Japan tour allows guests to experience an "insiders" view of the real Japan from the bustling cities of Tokyo and Osaka, the pristine countryside of the Nakasendo Way and the natural wonders of the Japanese Alps.

Along the way taste a variety of delicious culinary delights as we travel through regional Japan. Stay in both comfortable Japanese inns and western-style accommodation - all with private ensuite facilities. Travel with a maximum of 12 like-minded guests primarily from Australia, in a very personalised tour which will be accompanied by both Walkabout and local Japanese guides.

We begin our journey in the vibrant and exciting city of Tokyo - we certainly recommend having a couple of nights here before the tour commences. Our first stop is Yudanaka where we have the opportunity to visit the famous Snow Monkey Park where we can observe the wild monkeys going about their daily lives.

We move onto Matsumoto, an historical city nestled below the Japanese Alps. One of the highlights of our visit here is the opportunity to visit the amazing historical castle plus Japan’s premier Modern Art Museum exhibiting the works of Kusama Yayoi.

From here it’s onto the pristine Kamakochi Valley - a natural wonderland within the Japanese Alps. No visit to Japan is complete without experiencing the “onsen” hot spring baths. After a day of walking, there is nothing better than to soothe one’s body in the warm natural waters – such a soothing experience one can quickly get into the habit each evening!

One of the unique opportunities we have to experience real Japanese hospitality is when we participate in a home visit and cooking class at Biwa ko.

We shall also visit and stay overnight in a traditional Buddhist temple. We have the opportunity to join in the morning prayer ceremony which allows us a real insight into the spiritual side of the Japanese people. Apart from the bustling cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima, we shall also have free time to explore the cultural centres of Kyoto and Nara.

Myajima is often thought of as being Japan’s most beautiful island. It is famous for its beautiful shrines, in particular, Itsukuchima which appears to float on the sea at high tide. The island is also famous for its delicious oysters.

On our final day we travel to Hiroshima. The city’s peace memorial is a striking reminder of the ending of World War 2.

Our accommodation will include a mixture of both charming Japanese Inns and comfortable Western style hotels. All accommodation will include private ensuite facilities.

Experiencing the diverse food culture of Japan will be one of the highlights of this tour. Each region of Japan offers guests a unique culinary experience and our local guide will ensure that we are introduced to each particular delicacy in each region we travel through.

Featured Hotels

		Nara Hotel » Nara ★★★★ Century old Hotel features classic Japanese architecture. Located on Nara Park's hills, overlooks the ancient capital's historic sites.
		Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu » Nagano ★★★★ Matsumoto's oldest hotel (1887). Feature classic furnishings in the Mingei phylosophy. 5-min walk to Matsumoto's castle.
		Yudanaka Yoroduya Hotel » Nagano ★★★ Set on a wooded hillside, this relaxed hot spring hotel is conveniently located close to the famous snow monkey park.

Tour departure dates

2023
Tour	The Spirit of Japan [16 days]
Begins	17 May 2023 | Tokyo, Japan
Ends	01 June 2023 | Hiroshima, Japan
Price	AUD $10,925

Trip Notes Booking

2023
Tour	The Spirit of Japan [16 days]
Begins	26 October 2023 | Tokyo, Japan
Ends	10 November 2023 | Hiroshima, Japan
Price	AUD $10,925

Trip Notes Booking

My cousin and I had an absolutely wonderful time touring South India. We loved the adventure walks and really enjoyed the cooking classes - they were a highlight. Accommodation was first class and the Aleppy houseboat trip was fantastic. Such a brilliant way to see life in Kerala up close and personal. We were so lucky to enjoy the company of the other tour guests - such a great bunch of people and so much fun. The gentle and genuine warmth of the people we met all over Kerala was a sheer delight. Thank you for a wonderful trip! Victoria from Sydney, NSW, Australia [2019]

Really enjoyed the trip. Great places visited and excellent accommodation. Good introduction to India if someone hasn't been to India before. Great traveling companions. Good fun with cooking classes and great food everywhere. Very interesting history. Gillian from Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia [2017]

When I told my wife that our tour was going to be 2 men and 3 ladies, she became very suspicious! However, once I explained that we were to be the Guinea Pigs on WGA's first trip to India all was forgiven. We had an incredible time and were taken well care of by Gabriela, Christiana and Nastassja as we ate our way through "gods own country", Kerala, the land of coconuts. The area we visited was very different than I had imagined, the water ways were captivating and the tea country was spectacular. The "jungle" area was lush with rowing hills of cardamom, rubber trees and coconut palms. All this made for very fresh ingredient for the food we ate along the way. We spent possibly a little too long in the city of Cochin learning about its history and rich culture but at the same time the Raj Hotel as our best accommodation. We were also treated to a very special degustation meal in the old town. Munnar was our next stop and was highlighted by our cooking class at Nimi's Culinary Adventure and a great walk through tea plantations. We were also given a cooking demo at our hotel which was very interesting well explained. A very memorable experience awaited us at Thekkady when we embarked on a walk in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, no not tigers but two small herds of elephant in very close proximity along with a troop of Black face monkeys. Here we visited the spice farms and markets and could only dream of where we could buy such fresh produce when we returned home. As we neared the end of our tour we were treated to a night of a traditional houseboat on the backwaters of Alleppy. Our fish for the evening meal was caught the same day and prepared by the crew... what a treat but it was over too quickly and hopefully the next tour group will spend 2 nights unwinding to take in the view and the fascination of life on the backwater. While there many great experiences and places that we visited, I will always remember our shared lunches. Always a wonderful array of curries, rices and freshly baked breads. Very memorable experience and one I will never forget. Duncan, Sydney, NSW, Australia [2016]