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4-Day Exploration of Classic Towns in Japan

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Overview

Dive into a culturally-immersive four-day trip through Japan's classic towns.

Spending each night in traditional Japanese inns and ryokans, by day you'll be hiking through classic towns, exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visiting teahouses and learning all about the Japanese culture.

There will be many highlights of this four-day trip, including exploring the Matsumoto Castle, one of the five castles designated as a National Treasure; wandering through Hida Furukawa, a small town famous for the townscape of carp swimming in the gutter; dining on Hida beef; setting out on a 7.7-kilometre hike to reach Tsumago-juku in the footsteps of those who lived in ancient Japan by walking the old Nakasendo highway.
Hiking & Trekking
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts

Itinerary

Day 1

Tokyo to Matsumoto & City Tour

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Tokyo to Matsumoto & City Tour

You'll meet your guide and driver in the lobby of your hotel and your four-day journey begins. After checking out your hotel, you'll load all your luggage onto the private van and head straight to Matsumoto. After exploring the 16th-century Matsumoto Castle, one of the five castles designated as a National Treasure, you'll have ‘Soba’ noodles for lunch in one of the best noodle restaurants in town.
Then, you'll drive to reach Takayama, where the traditional townscape of the feudal era remains.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ryokan Tanabe4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Matsumoto CastleOptional Activity: AU$ 9 per person

    Takayama

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    Restaurants

    Motoki Kaichi ShopOptional Activity: AU$ 20 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Tokyo to Matsumoto

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Matsumoto

    Takayama

Day 2

Takayama, Gokayama & Shirakawago Tour

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Takayama, Gokayama & Shirakawago Tour

This morning, you'll have some free time to explore the town before you leave for Hida Furukawa, a small town famous for the townscape of carp swimming in the gutter. After exploring the town, you'll head to Ainokura Village in Gokayama, one of two UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, for lunch and to explore. Finally, after a brief stop in Suganuma Village, you'll arrive in Shirakawago, where you'll stay for the evening after an orientation tour.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Nodaniya House3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Jinyamae MarketOptional Activity: AU$ 14 per person

    Hida FurukawaOptional Activity: AU$ 8 per person

    Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village: AU$ 14 per person

    Suganuma Village

    Shirakawa-go

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Takayama to Hida-Furukawa Station

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Takayama

    Hida

    Nanto

    Ono District

    Shirakawa

Day 3

Shirakawago & Magome-Juku

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Shirakawago & Magome-Juku

After spending the morning in Shirakawago, you'll head to your lunch venue. Hida is known for the high-quality ‘Hida beef’, equivalent to the world-famous Kobe beef. You'll then continue to Magome-juku, one of the 69 ancient post towns along the ancient highway called ‘Nakasendo’ built by the Shogun in the mid-17th century connecting Tokyo with Kyoto. Magome-juku is about half a mile long built along the hillside, lined by traditional houses that will throw you back into an ancient time!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Tajimaya2 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Shirakawa-go

    Magome Juku

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Shirakawa-go to Magome-juku

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Shirakawa

    Ono District

    Nakatsugawa

Day 4

Nakasendo Trail from Magome-Juku to Tsumago-Juku via old Nakasendo highway

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Nakasendo Trail from Magome-Juku to Tsumago-Juku via old Nakasendo highway

Today, you'll set out for a 7.7-kilometre hike to reach Tsumago-juku. Walking on this particular part of the old Nakasendo highway should give you an idea of how tough it must have been for people to travel between those two large cities with a distance of about 550 kilometres! You'll be able to make a brief stop on the old Nakasendo highway at an ancient teahouse along the way. The hike should take three hours. Upon arrival, you'll explore Tsumago-juku and eat lunch before going back to Tokyo.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Nakasendo Trail from Magome to Tsumago

    Tsumago Juku

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Tsumago-juku to Tokyo

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Nakatsugawa

    Nagiso

Included in Price

  • 3 nights accommodation
  • 7 activities
  • 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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