Walk Japan has added seven new tours in Japan this year that include guided and self-guided options for travelers.
Five new tours have been added to areas in central and northern Honshu, which is the main island of Japan, and two tours have been added to the southern island of Kyushu.
Oyakuen Garden in Japan's Fukishima prefecture. Photo Credit: Walk Japan
In the northern region of Honshu in the Tohoku region, travelers can opt to book a 9-day guided or a 10-day self-guided Michinoku Coastal Trail itinerary that explores sections of the 637-mile trail between Hachinohe and Kesennuma. Travelers can expect to take in views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sanriku coastline as well as visit coastal fishing and farming communities. Rates for the 9-day guided tour begin at $3,300, while rates for the 10-day self-guided tour begin at $2,000 per person.
Matsumoto and the Salt Road
In central Honshu, travelers can explore an ancient trade route from the historic castle town of Matsumoto on the 9-day Shio-no-Michi: The Salt Road itinerary, which takes participants through remote mountain villages before reaching the shores of the Sea of Japan. Guests can expect to see the rural countryside where rice paddies, beech forests and other nature scenes are set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The itinerary is offered from May to June and September to November with rates beginning at $3,000 per person.
There's another self-guided itinerary option, this time in central Honshu. The 6-day Self-Guided Tokaido Wayfarer is a walking gastronomic adventure through the central section of Tokaido, which connects Kyoto and Tokyo. On this route, guests will find rural landscapes, picturesque coastal stretches and the towns nestled in between. This itinerary is available year-round and rates begin at $1,200 per person.
Gastronomic itinerary in Gifu
Focusing on the Gifu prefecture in central Honshu, the 5-day Onsen Gastronomy: Gifu itinerary visits this remote area of mountain ranges, deep valleys, high plateaus, remote villages and a number of historically-preserved towns. Guests on this itinerary will discover the cultural roots of the region's rustic cuisine, while also experiencing the onsen hot springs and sake. This itinerary is available through November and starts at $2,500 per person.
In Kyushu, travelers can opt to follow the footsteps of monks with the 6-day Self-Guided Kunisaki Wayfarer itinerary, which takes them to the lesser-known but picturesque Kunisaki Peninsula. Guests can expect to visit elegant temples along rugged forest trails and quiet country lanes in the countryside. The tour begins in Usa Grand Shinto Shrine, one of Japan's most important, and ends on the island of Himeshima in the Seto Inland Sea. The Self-Guided Kunisaki Wayfarer itinerary season runs from January to June and September to December, with rates starting at $1,300 per person.
Travelers can also explore the hot spring culture of Kyushu with the 5-day Onsen Gastronomy: Oita & Kumamoto itinerary, which starts in Japan's hot spring capital of Beppu. Guests will discover Oita and the adjacent Kumamoto Prefectures in Northern Kyushu, which is renowned for its diverse rural landscapes and high quality locally-sourced food. This itinerary is offered year-round, and rates begin at $2,300 per person.