Autumn Private Tour of Japan Alps

Welcome to Japan! On arrival at one of Tokyo’s international airports, you will be met by a Journey to the East guide and escorted to your hotel by public transport. You may have visited Tokyo before, but Tokyo is huge and has many interesting little suburbs. If you like to spend a few days here at the beginning of your trip we are happy to organise it for you. Why not delve into a residential suburb and find your own treasures?

This Autumn Private Tour of Japan Alps model itinerary, leaves Tokyo aboard the shinkansen (bullet train) heading for Nagano. Nagano is in the center of Japan's main island, Honshu, and at the base of the Japan Alps. From here, you can access lots of activities including a visit to the magnificent Zenkoji temple, taste local specialties of soba noodle and apples. As this is one of the two main origins of ninja in Japan, we recommend a visit the ninja attractions Accommodation wise, you can stay at a modern western style hotel near Nagano Station, a family-run small B&B or a resort style hotel further afield.

Today we suggest you make a day trip to Togakushi area. Mt. Togakushi is one of Japan's sacred peaks; its forests and shrine are steeped in legend going back some 2,000 years. Quite inaccessible until modern times, and hundreds of years Mt. Togakushi was a haven of esoteric Buddhist practice. It was frequented by mountain ascetics. Today, Togakushi-jinja Shrine is famous as a power spot where visitors can absorb the earth's energy of old. Nearby Kagami Ike Pond is known as one of the best autumn scenery spots in Japan.

Today, you can take an overnight bag and venture further into the Japanese alp's pristine countryside. Stop at the small town of Obuse and visit the Hokusai Museum (Hokusai was one of the most accomplished ukiyoe style painters), some local sake breweries and craft shops, and perhaps enjoy a lunch here too. Then, continue travelling on a local train to tonight destination Shibu Onsen. Shibu Onsen is a quintessential Japanese onsen town where you can stroll in yukata and take a bath hopping between lovely local bath houses.

This morning before the day trippers arrive, walk to Jigokudani Yaen Park where snow monkeys are enjoying their hot spring bath. The 30 -minute walk among the tall cedar trees is very fresh and invigorating. Then, you cannot stop taking photos once you see those cute monkeys come into view. In the afternoon, transfer by train to tonight destination, Matsumoto.

Matsumoto was developed as a castle town from the 8th century. Matsumoto Castle is Japan’s oldest wooden castle and one of the nation’s five castles designated as a National Treasure. Still in impeccable original condition, you will have a chance to explore its wooden interior and climb to the top of its distinctive black-and-white turret. You can also stroll around the moat to view this magnificent castle from multiple angles. There are other areas you should explore in Matsumoto including its merchant district where streets are lined with nicely preserved black and white warehouses from the Edo period. The city is very modern and hosts many high-quality restaurants as well.

Local train and coach takes you to Kamikochi, literally translated as “where the gods descend”. True to its name, the Kamikochi alpine plateau is surrounded by mountain ranges exceeding 3,000 metres above sea-level. If you are a nature lover, Kamikochi could be the highlight of your Autumn Private Tour of Japan Alps. You can take a 4 km hike along boardwalks, which crisscross mossy ponds and streams, and then wind through virgin beech forests ablaze in stunning autumn colour. In the afternoon, you can simply relax and soak up the mountain atmosphere or take another hike into the mountains and walk under the autumn colours.

After spending as much time as you like in Kamikochi today, you will transfer to the pretty mountain hamlet of Hirayu Onsen, a traditional natural hot springs town. After an exhilarating day in the fresh air, you can enjoy the open-air bath looking up to the mountains bursting with colours. A fantastic way to relax.

Today you head further into the heart of the Japan Alps by a local bus to the Mt Hotaka region. Here you take the Shin Hotaka Ropeway, the longest ropeway in Japan. When you reach the observation deck at the mountain’s peak, the panoramic views will take your breath away. If you still have some energy left, you can also explore Mt Norikura. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to walk amongst the autumn foliage and view the snowy peaks of the mountains around you.

Today you take a local coach to head for Takayama, heart of the rugged Hida Region. A compact, atmospheric town surrounded by mountains, Takayama is known for its beautifully preserved streets of timber merchant houses dating from the late 17th century. While you are in Takayama, check out Takayama’s morning market (with a heritage going back some 200+ years!) for its farm-fresh produce and handmade crafts. Takayama Jinya was once the prefectural office for the Tokugawa shogunate in feudal times. Wander around the photogenic narrow streets of the merchant district with their old timber buildings. This old district is probably more like what you thought Japan used to look like.

Today you can visit the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawago. Surrounded by mountains, these rural villages feature the traditional thatched-roof farm houses unique to Japan’s alpine regions. With their steeply-slanted roofs built to withstand heavy snowfalls, they resemble “hands clasped together in prayer” (hence their name, gassho-zukuri). Another night in Takayama and enjoy wide ranging restaurant offerings here.

From Takayama, you can take an express train back to Tokyo, or travel further on into Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima etc. It is all up to you and we are happy to arrange it for you.

After breakfast at your hotel, this itinerary for Autumn Private Tour of Japan Alps concludes. However, the area around Tokyo or Kyoto/Osaka has so much more to see and do. So, if you want to extend your stay please let us know. Whether you need to go to your exiting airport on this day, or would like to continue travelling we are happy to help you with the whole package. We have great extension itineraries on our Private Tours page to give you some ideas. Please have a look!