Regional and Rural Tours of Japan
The 2025/26 Regional Japan Tours will let you discover Japan’s hidden rituals, unspoiled spectacular scenery and delightful local people.
Japan is so much more than Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama and Hiroshima. There are so many hidden gems and unexplored destinations in Japan’s countryside. Regional and rural travel in Japan is expected to be even more popular in 2025 & 2026. Journey to the East has conducted extensive research and site visits, and is best placed to take you on a holiday in countryside Japan. Experience the wonderful surprises of being off the beaten path and beyond the commonplace tourist stops.
You will feel the warm hospitality of local people in remote and rural areas of Japan such as Kyushu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Hokuriku, the west coast of Honshu, or in Tohoku, the northern part of Honshu.
You may not find cappuccino at breakfast, a convenience store at every corner or western style hotels and western restaurants in town. However, you are likely to meet giggling school children on a way to school, friendly farmers happy to share fresh harvest with you or devout pilgrims at a sacred mountain; all the things that will create the best memories of touring Japan.
The range of themes from cherry blossoms to food and walking offer exceptional exposure to Japan’s amazingly pristine nature, rural villages and countryside scenery. They will reward you with lifelong memories.
For something special and unusual taking one of the regional and rural tours of Japan definitely the way to go.
Tour Type
Signature
Our Signature tours offer the most comprehensive cultural exposure.
Discovery
Our Discovery tours provide up-and-close encounters with traditional life and natural landscapes into the more remote regions of Japan.
Comfort
With a focus on comfort and ease, our Comfort tours deliver an authentic experience with a few extra creature comforts to make for a more relaxed and supported trip.
Seasons
More about japan
Regional Tours Features
The Remote and Regional Japan tours are tours that may also appear under different sections (Autumn, Food, Walking etc). These trips are listed as Regional Japan Tours because they operate predominantly in parts of Japan that are not typically visited by large numbers of tourists or offer some unusual experiences peculiar to remote parts of Japan.
Why travel with us
At Journey to the East we are committed to providing authentic and most memorable experiences in Japan – for both Small Group Tours and custom-built Private Tours. Whether it is your first visit or you have been several times to Japan, you will always find something new and have special experiences with Journey to the East. Our travel style is chosen to immerse you in the culture and landscape of the country and expose you to a rich variety of unique experiences.
We do this by taking you beyond the tourist hotspots to explore the lesser-known parts of Japan. Our tours are designed to strike the right balance between the classic highlights and local secrets, the urban and the rural, the historic and the contemporary, and in doing so, reveal the true heart of Japan.
With Journey to the East, you will have fun and be safe on your deeply rewarding journey through this endlessly fascinating country!
We are specialists that just handle tours within one country, Japan. Whether you are from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand or beyond we meet you at the airport upon arrival into Japan and ensure a smooth and stress-free time in a foreign land.
Accommodation styles
Ryokans
Ryokans is a Japanese style accommodation, mostly consists of Japanese style rooms with tatami matt floor and futon bedding, and private ensuite. Some ryokans have a western style room with beds. A Japanese style room always has a low table and flat cushions to sit on, but the room may or may not have chairs. Most ryokans have an additional large public bath for guests and includes kaiseki style dinner. Breakfast can be Japanese style (rice, miso soup, fish etc.) or western style buffet.
Western Style Hotels
Size and standard vary from 5-star large international chains to regional small business hotels. Generally, in Japan twin rooms (two single beds) are more common than double rooms (one double bed), and some hotels in regional cities only have twin rooms. Room sizes are generally smaller in cities. Also beds and pillows tend to be firmer than those in western countries.
Minshuku
A minshuku is a type of Japanese guesthouse, often family-run, that offers a more intimate and budget-friendly experience than a traditional ryokan. Accommodations often feature Japanese-style rooms, and bathrooms and toilets are often shared by guests. Staying in a minshuku offers a chance to connect with local families, learn about their way of life, and experience Japanese hospitality.
Shukubo (temple lodging)
The vast majority have Japanese style rooms and shared bathroom although there are limited number of temples with a western bedroom with ensuite. The stay at shukubo includes Buddhist vegetarian dinner and breakfast. Dinners are served early, around 5pm. They are run by monks, and facility and services are basic. Guests can attend morning service in the main hall.
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