Japan: Kyoto, Nara & the Kumano Kodo

Japan: Kyoto, Nara & the Kumano Kodo

Guided Easy to Moderate
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Daily Mileage: 2-6 Miles Daily

Tour OnlyFlight + Tour Combo

8 Days

Starting From

$7,498

10 Days

Starting From

$8,598

per person, double occupancy

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Traditions don’t just run deep in Japan; on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail, they walk.

Tradition permeates Japanese life. You’ll find it in the precise choreography of a tea ceremony or the colorful, stylized theatricality of a geisha at your ryokan (traditional inn) in Kyoto. Step onto Japan’s ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail and you’ll sense it all around you. In centuries past, Japanese emperors walked this route from temple to temple, seeking transcendence through physical exertion. Now you’ll follow in their footsteps, climbing timeworn stone staircases through forests dense with ferns and moss, watched over by jizo, Japan’s guardian deity of travelers. Enlightenment still lies around every bend, as simple as sunlight filtering through massive cedars—or the hot-spring-fed onsen baths and exquisitely presented organic meals that greet you every evening of this Japan walking tour.

Highlights

  • Visit a Shugend-o temple and meet with a yamabushi priest to learn how endurance, meditation, and martial arts combine in this often-misunderstood religion.
  • Attend dinner in Kyoto’s Gion district hosted by a geisha and her apprentice, gaining an appreciation for the strict training underlying a geisha’s timeless grace.
  • Explore Kyoto’s famous Nishiki Market, a shopping street with over 100 tightly packed stalls, sampling popular and traditional Japanese street food as you go.
On all Guided Adventures you can count on...
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Expert local guides to introduce you to the best of your destination
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Off-the-beaten-path places you’d never find on your own
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Delicious multi-course meals—a majority are included
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A maximum of 18 fun-loving fellow travelers to share the journey
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Gracious accommodations that are a clean, comfortable home away from home
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Experts to handle all the details
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Flight + Tour Combos include plane tickets, airport shuttles, and pre- and post-tour accommodations

Itinerary

Sat, Sep 18 to Mon, Sep 27 - 2021

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Begin your adventure by departing from a convenient gateway city in the United States or Canada. Spend the first night aloft.

Upon arrival at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, a representative holding a Country Walkers sign meets you as you exit the baggage claim area. A complimentary taxi transfer is provided to your hotel in Kyoto, approximately one hour and 30 minutes away. The remainder of the day is at your leisure (no meals included).

If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please contact Allianz Global Assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service on your behalf. Our drivers are generally able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands, after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.

Please note: If you arrive early, and your hotel room is not available prior to the designated check-in time, you may store your luggage with the reception desk.

Accommodation: The Celestine Hotel Gion, Kyoto

Kyoto: Nijo Castle and the Gion District; 5 to 6 miles, easy

Awakening refreshed, you enjoy an included breakfast at your hotel. Your guide(s) will meet you at The Celestine Hotel Gion at 9:00 a.m. in the lobby. After a brief introduction to the group, your adventure begins. Please be dressed for walking.

You begin your exploration of this fascinating city with a tour of the 17th-century Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the former residence and seat of power of the Tokugawa shoguns. One of the best examples of Japanese feudal architecture, the castle is protected by several rings of defensive moats and walls. The central Ninomaru Palace boasts five separate buildings and is known especially for its “nightingale floor” alarm system that squeaks like a flock of birds when walked upon. Beautifully painted sliding doors by artists of the Kano school separate the many rooms lining the palace’s polished wood corridors.

After lunch in Gion, you continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine. This shrine is known for its rows and rows of vermilion torii (gates) that snake up the hillside to the upper levels. This evening, your formal welcome is a private dinner hosted in a local ryokan (traditional inn), where you are attended by a maiko (apprentice geisha), geiko (full-fledged geisha), and a shamisen (a three-stringed traditional musical instrument) player.

Accommodation: The Celestine Hotel Gion, Kyoto
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5 miles, easy

This morning begins with a guided walking tour of the Higashiyama area of Kyoto, whose narrow lanes are lined with wooden houses, traditional shops, and restaurants. You’ll stroll the tranquil, cherry tree-lined “Philosopher’s Path,” a favored place of the famous philosopher Nishida Kitaro. Afterward, make your way to Nanzen-ji Temple, a large complex in Kyoto’s forested Higashiyama hills. Originally an emperor’s retirement villa, it became a Zen temple in the 13th century and has a number of gardens and sub-temples throughout its extensive grounds. Here, you’ll also find a perfect example of a meditative Zen rock garden, with carefully raked stones and a mini landscape, overlooked by a covered viewing walkway for seated contemplation. Next you enter the bustling Nishiki Market in the center of Kyoto, a centuries-old covered shopping street with a wide range of Japanese foods offered from minuscule stalls and full-sized shops. It’s the perfect chance to try the variety of Japanese snacks—some sweet, some salty, some both!

Later, a visit to Murin-an, a modern Japanese garden masterpiece constructed between 1894-1896. Designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1951, you’ll have the chance to participate in a tea ceremony. You’ll learn about this ritual, one that is central to Japanese culture, with its precise steps, particular type of tea, and beautifully minimalist pottery from a local tea master. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon with time to enjoy its facilities before dinner on your own, choosing from one of the many restaurants in town.

Accommodation: The Celestine Hotel Gion, Kyoto
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

5 miles, easy

Your day begins with a transfer of about one hour by private coach to the historical city of Nara. Boasting eight sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, after Kyoto, Nara is the Kansai region’s second city of immeasurably valuable historic treasures. Although Nara served as Japan’s first imperial capital only briefly (from 710 to 784), this short period saw a flourishing of artistic expression and an influx of Buddhism from China—still visible today in its many temples and shrines. Its location and history also saved Nara’s structures from the many manmade and natural disasters that destroyed other parts of Japan. Todai-ji Temple, defined by superlatives—the world’s largest bronze statue and, until recently, the world’s largest wooden structure—is truly awe-inspiring in scale and artistry. Also within the Todai-ji compound is tranquil Nigatsu-do Hall, where an annual Buddhist rite has been performed since the year 752. Afterward, you stroll through Nara’s famous park, where mixed forest and open meadow extend broadly over a hill, sharing its trails with a thousand-plus tame deer. These creatures are considered messengers of the deity of the nearby Kasuga Taisha Shrine and are revered as national treasures. Return to your hotel with time to enjoy its elegant atmosphere and relax with tea or a cocktail in the inviting bar before gathering for dinner.

Accommodation: Nara Hotel, Nara
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4 miles, moderate, 820-ft. ascent and 165-ft. descent

You depart this morning for a three-hour transfer via private coach to the Kii Peninsula, the region stretching south of Nara. Your destination is the beginning of the Nakahechi Route—part of the network of ancient pilgrimage trails known as the Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail.

Along with the Camino de Santiago, these are the only two historical routes that are UNESCO World Heritage sites in their entirety. The Kumano Kodo grew from the 11th-century pilgrimages made by emperors from Kyoto. A landscape of verdant slopes, lush deep valleys, and rushing streams, Kumano—part of the mountainous Kii Peninsula—has been a sacred site associated with nature worship since prehistoric times. A tradition of pilgrimages grew out of the Shugendo religion that appeared here in the 7th century. Drawing from aspects of imported Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism along with native Shintoism, Shugendo practitioners believed that physical endurance was the path to enlightenment, and embarked on long hikes in remote mountains and other physical tests. Along the way, you’ll see jizo (small statues) that were erected over the many centuries to protect travelers along the earthen, and sometimes stone-cobbled, path. Nowadays, the walking routes are more accessible, and walking distances can be customized with transfers. Today, you follow the pilgrimage route from the small village of Chikatsuyu to Kobiro Touge, through forests of sugi (Japanese cedar). Your Japan hiking tour has you ascending on the trail to Nonaka and Tsugizakura-oji, one of the many small shrines along the route, before finishing at Kobiro Touge. In addition to the small shrines and torii gates, you’ll pass the sites of old cha-ya (teahouses), which served as rest stops for pilgrims right up until the early 20th century. After the walk, transfer to your intimate inn in Takahara, renowned for its unsurpassed views.

Experience genuine Japanese hospitality at a multi-course evening meal of locally sourced organic ingredients—dishes of grilled fish and meat, vegetables, pickles, rice, and miso soup served in a myriad of pottery and lacquerware. A soak in the hot-spring baths is the perfect way to relax after the walk and the day’s travels.

Accommodation: Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara, Takahara
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4 miles, easy to moderate, 395-ft. ascent and 1,180-ft. descent

Awakening to mountain serenity and a traditional breakfast, you transfer to Hosshinmon-oji. Here, you’ll pick up the Kumano Kodo trail to walk the final scenic section to Hongu Grand Shrine, first passing through several ridgetop villages. The symbol of Hongu Grand Shrine is the mythological three-legged raven, which represents the three shrines that pilgrims were required to reach for their pilgrimage to be considered complete: the Hongu, Nachi, and Hayatama. According to the legend, the three-legged bird was sent to guide Emperor Jimmu on his journey from Kumano to the Yamato Plain.

Today, you may have the opportunity to meet a yamabushi—a priest of the Shugendo faith who will share some of the tenets of the faith, including their special feats of endurance. Time permitting, we will also walk to the Oyunohara torii gate that marks the ceremonial approach to the shrine. After visiting the shrine, a short drive returns you to your inn in Takahara, where you may wish to enjoy a pre-dinner soak in the hot-spring baths while taking in the stunning surrounding vistas.

Accommodation: Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara, Takahara

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 miles, easy to moderate, 600-ft. descent

Following a satisfying breakfast, you’ll travel to the Kumano River, where you board a private boat to embark on a 90-minute gentle float trip in a traditional wooden flat-bottom boat. Running the length of the Kii Peninsula, pilgrims used this route in medieval times to get from the Hongu Grand Shrine to the Hayatama Grand Shrine (one of the three required pilgrim destinations) at Shingu on the coast. The river is considered sacred, and you are sure to gain a unique perspective of the Kumano Kodo’s spiritual landscape as you admire the gorgeous surrounding scenery.

After you leave the boat, another short drive brings you to Maruyama Senmaida; this is an impressive system of terraced rice fields developed by farmers over more than 200 years. Descend a narrow road among the small pools, learning about rice cultivation along the way. A fitting picnic beside the rice paddies includes onigiri (rice balls with fish, vegetables, or seaweed), local homemade pickles, and green tea. In the later afternoon, return to your ryokan with time to relax before dinner.

Accommodation: Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara, Takahara
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

2 to 3 miles, easy

Depart Takahara this morning and travel approximately three hours to Mount Koya. At an elevation of almost 3,000 feet, this group of eight peaks, high in the mountains of Wakayama between the Kumano Kodo and Osaka, is a popular day-trip destination for many Osakans. The sprawling Mount Koya temple complex, founded in the 9th century by the priest Kobo Daishi, is the center of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It has grown into a town with over 100 temples, a university, and a large historical cemetery full of fascinating sculptures and memorials. Stroll the grounds and visit Oku-no-in, the shrine to Kobo Daishi, and stroll through the surrounding cemetery that holds the tombs of many historical Japanese figures.

From Mount Koya, you continue the drive to Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city. Known today for its distinct local accent and foodie culture, it has long been associated with merchants and trading. Unlike nearby Kyoto, Osaka was targeted in World War II bombing, and its buildings are mainly modern and 20th-century vintage. Upon check-in, you have free time to explore or enjoy your hotel’s amenities, before meeting for a farewell dinner.

Accommodation: Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, Osaka
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After your final tour night in Osaka, you transfer to Kansai International Airport via limousine bus, using a pre-booked ticket provided by a Country Walkers representative. The bus stop is easily accessible from your hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Japan: Kyoto, Nara & the Kumano Kodo 4
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Mon, Sep 20 to Mon, Sep 27 - 2021

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Kyoto: Nijo Castle and the Gion District; 5 to 6 miles, easy

Your guide(s) will meet you at The Celestine Hotel Gion at 9:00 a.m. in the lobby. After a brief introduction to the group, your adventure begins. Please be dressed for walking.
Your Japan walking tour begins in Kyoto, now Japan’s seventh-largest city and the imperial capital for more than 1,000 years. Kyoto is considered the repository of Japan’s most important and stunning historical sites—gardens, temples, palaces, traditional neighborhoods—preserved over the centuries, surviving both natural disasters and war. Many of these sites are accessed via foot or subway (often the fastest and most efficient form of transportation within Kyoto)—offering an authentic immersion in Japanese daily life.

You begin your exploration of this fascinating city with a tour of the 17th-century Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the former residence and seat of power of the Tokugawa shoguns. One of the best examples of Japanese feudal architecture, the castle is protected by several rings of defensive moats and walls. The central Ninomaru Palace boasts five separate buildings and is known especially for its “nightingale floor” alarm system that squeaks like a flock of birds when walked upon. Beautifully painted sliding doors by artists of the Kano school separate the many rooms lining the palace’s polished wood corridors.

After lunch in Gion, you continue to Fushimi Inari Shrine. This shrine is known for its rows and rows of vermilion torii (gates) that snake up the hillside to the upper levels. This evening, your formal welcome is a private dinner hosted in a local ryokan (traditional inn), where you are attended by a maiko (apprentice geisha), geiko (full-fledged geisha), and a shamisen (a three-stringed traditional musical instrument) player.

Accommodation: The Celestine Hotel Gion, Kyoto
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5 miles, easy

This morning begins with a guided walking tour of the Higashiyama area of Kyoto, whose narrow lanes are lined with wooden houses, traditional shops, and restaurants. You’ll stroll the tranquil, cherry tree-lined “Philosopher’s Path,” a favored place of the famous philosopher Nishida Kitaro. Afterward, make your way to Nanzen-ji Temple, a large complex in Kyoto’s forested Higashiyama hills. Originally an emperor’s retirement villa, it became a Zen temple in the 13th century and has a number of gardens and sub-temples throughout its extensive grounds. Here, you’ll also find a perfect example of a meditative Zen rock garden, with carefully raked stones and a mini landscape, overlooked by a covered viewing walkway for seated contemplation. Next you enter the bustling Nishiki Market in the center of Kyoto, a centuries-old covered shopping street with a wide range of Japanese foods offered from minuscule stalls and full-sized shops. It’s the perfect chance to try the variety of Japanese snacks—some sweet, some salty, some both!

Later, a visit to Murin-an, a modern Japanese garden masterpiece constructed between 1894-1896. Designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1951, you’ll have the chance to participate in a tea ceremony. You’ll learn about this ritual, one that is central to Japanese culture, with its precise steps, particular type of tea, and beautifully minimalist pottery from a local tea master. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon with time to enjoy its facilities before dinner on your own, choosing from one of the many restaurants in town.

Accommodation: The Celestine Hotel Gion, Kyoto
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

5 miles, easy

Your day begins with a transfer of about one hour by private coach to the historical city of Nara. Boasting eight sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, after Kyoto, Nara is the Kansai region’s second city of immeasurably valuable historic treasures. Although Nara served as Japan’s first imperial capital only briefly (from 710 to 784), this short period saw a flourishing of artistic expression and an influx of Buddhism from China—still visible today in its many temples and shrines. Its location and history also saved Nara’s structures from the many manmade and natural disasters that destroyed other parts of Japan. Todai-ji Temple, defined by superlatives—the world’s largest bronze statue and, until recently, the world’s largest wooden structure—is truly awe-inspiring in scale and artistry. Also within the Todai-ji compound is tranquil Nigatsu-do Hall, where an annual Buddhist rite has been performed since the year 752. Afterward, you stroll through Nara’s famous park, where mixed forest and open meadow extend broadly over a hill, sharing its trails with a thousand-plus tame deer. These creatures are considered messengers of the deity of the nearby Kasuga Taisha Shrine and are revered as national treasures. Return to your hotel with time to enjoy its elegant atmosphere and relax with tea or a cocktail in the inviting bar before gathering for dinner.

Accommodation: Nara Hotel, Nara
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4 miles, moderate, 820-ft. ascent and 165-ft. descent

You depart this morning for a three-hour transfer via private coach to the Kii Peninsula, the region stretching south of Nara. Your destination is the beginning of the Nakahechi Route—part of the network of ancient pilgrimage trails known as the Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail.

Along with the Camino de Santiago, these are the only two historical routes that are UNESCO World Heritage sites in their entirety. The Kumano Kodo grew from the 11th-century pilgrimages made by emperors from Kyoto. A landscape of verdant slopes, lush deep valleys, and rushing streams, Kumano—part of the mountainous Kii Peninsula—has been a sacred site associated with nature worship since prehistoric times. A tradition of pilgrimages grew out of the Shugendo religion that appeared here in the 7th century. Drawing from aspects of imported Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism along with native Shintoism, Shugendo practitioners believed that physical endurance was the path to enlightenment, and embarked on long hikes in remote mountains and other physical tests. Along the way, you’ll see jizo (small statues) that were erected over the many centuries to protect travelers along the earthen, and sometimes stone-cobbled, path. Nowadays, the walking routes are more accessible, and walking distances can be customized with transfers. Today, you follow the pilgrimage route from the small village of Chikatsuyu to Kobiro Touge, through forests of sugi (Japanese cedar). Your Japan hiking tour has you ascending on the trail to Nonaka and Tsugizakura-oji, one of the many small shrines along the route, before finishing at Kobiro Touge. In addition to the small shrines and torii gates, you’ll pass the sites of old cha-ya (teahouses), which served as rest stops for pilgrims right up until the early 20th century. After the walk, transfer to your intimate inn in Takahara, renowned for its unsurpassed views.

Experience genuine Japanese hospitality at a multi-course evening meal of locally sourced organic ingredients—dishes of grilled fish and meat, vegetables, pickles, rice, and miso soup served in a myriad of pottery and lacquerware. A soak in the hot-spring baths is the perfect way to relax after the walk and the day’s travels.

Accommodation: Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara, Takahara
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4 miles, easy to moderate, 395-ft. ascent and 1,180-ft. descent

Awakening to mountain serenity and a traditional breakfast, you transfer to Hosshinmon-oji. Here, you’ll pick up the Kumano Kodo trail to walk the final scenic section to Hongu Grand Shrine, first passing through several ridgetop villages. The symbol of Hongu Grand Shrine is the mythological three-legged raven, which represents the three shrines that pilgrims were required to reach for their pilgrimage to be considered complete: the Hongu, Nachi, and Hayatama. According to the legend, the three-legged bird was sent to guide Emperor Jimmu on his journey from Kumano to the Yamato Plain.

Today, you may have the opportunity to meet a yamabushi—a priest of the Shugendo faith who will share some of the tenets of the faith, including their special feats of endurance. Time permitting, we will also walk to the Oyunohara torii gate that marks the ceremonial approach to the shrine. After visiting the shrine, a short drive returns you to your inn in Takahara, where you may wish to enjoy a pre-dinner soak in the hot-spring baths while taking in the stunning surrounding vistas.

Accommodation: Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara, Takahara

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 miles, easy to moderate, 600-ft. descent

Following a satisfying breakfast, you’ll travel to the Kumano River, where you board a private boat to embark on a 90-minute gentle float trip in a traditional wooden flat-bottom boat. Running the length of the Kii Peninsula, pilgrims used this route in medieval times to get from the Hongu Grand Shrine to the Hayatama Grand Shrine (one of the three required pilgrim destinations) at Shingu on the coast. The river is considered sacred, and you are sure to gain a unique perspective of the Kumano Kodo’s spiritual landscape as you admire the gorgeous surrounding scenery.

After you leave the boat, another short drive brings you to Maruyama Senmaida; this is an impressive system of terraced rice fields developed by farmers over more than 200 years. Descend a narrow road among the small pools, learning about rice cultivation along the way. A fitting picnic beside the rice paddies includes onigiri (rice balls with fish, vegetables, or seaweed), local homemade pickles, and green tea. In the later afternoon, return to your ryokan with time to relax before dinner.

Accommodation: Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara, Takahara
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

2 to 3 miles, easy

Depart Takahara this morning and travel approximately three hours to Mount Koya. At an elevation of almost 3,000 feet, this group of eight peaks, high in the mountains of Wakayama between the Kumano Kodo and Osaka, is a popular day-trip destination for many Osakans. The sprawling Mount Koya temple complex, founded in the 9th century by the priest Kobo Daishi, is the center of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It has grown into a town with over 100 temples, a university, and a large historical cemetery full of fascinating sculptures and memorials. Stroll the grounds and visit Oku-no-in, the shrine to Kobo Daishi, and stroll through the surrounding cemetery that holds the tombs of many historical Japanese figures.

From Mount Koya, you continue the drive to Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city. Known today for its distinct local accent and foodie culture, it has long been associated with merchants and trading. Unlike nearby Kyoto, Osaka was targeted in World War II bombing, and its buildings are mainly modern and 20th-century vintage. Upon check-in, you have free time to explore or enjoy your hotel’s amenities, before meeting for a farewell dinner.

Accommodation: Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, Osaka
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

End your Japan hiking tour with a well-earned, leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Bid farewell to your guide and depart for nearby Kansai airport or Osaka train station for your onward travel.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Japan: Kyoto, Nara & the Kumano Kodo 4
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Accommodations

The Celestine Kyoto Gion

Japanese tradition blends with modern style at the Celestine Kyoto Gion, where rooms with simple, nature-inspired décor are paired with modern amenities like in-room WiFi and A/C. Enjoy green tea in your room, served from an elegant tea set, or head to the hotel’s exclusive guest-only lounge to relax with a drink or a snack. The on-site restaurant, Yasaka Endo, serves up savory meals made from kyo-yasai – vegetable varieties unique to Kyoto. Take a bath in your room to soak away fatigue, or visit the hotel’s traditional Japanese bath house, overlooking a serene garden. This accommodation is available on limited departures.

Accommodation 1 of 4 |
The-Celestine-Kyoto-Gion_exterior.jpg, JP-JAPAN
The-Celestine-Kyoto-Gion_bedroom.jpg, JP-JAPAN
Celestine Kyoto Gion
Celestine Kyoto Gion

Nara Hotel

This grand historical hotel, built in 1909 during Japan’s Meiji era, has retained its Old World elegance and sophistication in the original main building. A true fusion of European and Japanese décor, guest rooms combine both stylings in their design along with modern comforts like WiFi and air conditioning. Surrounded by manicured grounds and gardens contiguous with Nara’s park-like setting, the hotel offers on-site dining that includes a signature French restaurant, a traditional Japanese restaurant, a lovely tea lounge, and a classic wood-paneled bar.

| Accommodation 2 of 4 |
Nara Hotel exterior entrance
Nara Hotel bedroom
Nara Hotel dining area

Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara

Overlooking the Hatenashi Mountain Range, the Organic Hotel Kiri-no-sato-Takahara is situated directly on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage walking route at about 900 feet and thus has some of the best views in the Kumano region. Simple and comfortable guestrooms have mountain views and are either Japanese-style with tatami-mat floors, futons, and low furniture or Western-style with twin beds. Traditional meals of local organic cuisine are served with multiple courses in the dining room overlooking mountains and terraced hillsides. A traditional onsite onsen bath is fed with hot-spring water.

| Accommodation 3 of 4 |
a table with 4 chairs legless chairs on tatami mats
wooden table outside overlooking a forested valley
Hotel Kiri No Sato Takahara dining area

Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel

Every room at the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel is spacious and elegantly designed, with modern amenities including WiFi and air conditioning, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the city. Occupying the top floors of the 60-floor Abeno Harukas cultural complex, the adjacent public spaces also enjoy endless panoramas, such as the 57th-floor restaurant with its 360-degree views and its mix of Japanese and international cuisine, and the open-air outdoor plaza atrium on the 58th floor.

| Accommodation 4 of 4
Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel exterior, a skyscraper
Osaka-Marriott-Miyako-Hotel-bedroom.jpg, JP-JAPAN
Osaka-Marriott-Miyako-Hotel-dining, JP-JAPAN
Osaka-Marriott-Miyako-Hotel-bar.jpg, JP-JAPAN

Linger Longer with a Tour Extension

Japan: Kyoto, Nara & the Kumano Kodo
Post-Tour
Flight + Tour Combo Only
2021

2021 Post-Tour Extension - Tokyo

  • Two nights at the Park Hotel Tokyo†
  • Train transfer from Osaka to Tokyo
  • Transfer to hotel in Tokyo
  • Two breakfasts

2 Nights From $1048
per person, double occupancy

Single Supplement: From $398

Download Itinerary >

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, your pre-booked taxi will take you from the hotel to Shin-Osaka station. You travel using a pre-booked Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket provided to you by a Country Walkers representative. You are met upon arrival at Tokyo station. Please look for a representative holding a Country Walkers sign. You are then transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (No other meals or services included.)

Country Walkers provides you with City Information that includes recommendations on what to see and do in Tokyo during your stay.

After you enjoy an included breakfast at your hotel you may experience Tokyo at your leisure. Your hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of the Shiodome district, an area with many of the city’s highlights. Use your time to prowl the Nakamise street market by Senso-ji Temple, relax in a teahouse in Hamarikyo Gardens, or witness the flamboyant street fashion of Shibuya. (Lunch and dinner are on your own.)

Your Tokyo extension concludes following breakfast at your hotel. Your onward travel to your departure airport is not included, but the hotel concierge can assist with booking an appropriately timed limousine bus transfer.

What's Included

Flight + Tour Combo
Tour Only
Exceptional boutique accommodations Check Check
All on-tour meals except 1 dinner Check Check
Local guides with you throughout tour Check Check
Local wine and/or beer with dinner Check Check
Entrance fees and special events as noted in the itinerary Check Check
Travel assistance available 24/7 provided by Allianz Check Check
Roundtrip airfare Check
One extra night in Kyoto Check
Airport car service for arrival & departure Check
Pre- and post-tour breakfasts Check
Business-class upgrades available Check
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Dates & Prices

Flight + Tour Combo

10 days. Includes round-trip international airfare, airport car service, additional hotel nights with included breakfast, and your tour.

Single Supplement: From $1,648

Departing From Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

Tour Only

8 days. Includes your tour only.

Single Supplement: From $1,348

Sat, Sep 18 - Mon, Sep 27, 2021

$8,598

Reserve Online

Mon, Sep 20 - Mon, Sep 27, 2021

$7,498

Reserve Online

Mon, Oct 4 - Wed, Oct 13, 2021

$8,598

Reserve Online

Wed, Oct 6 - Wed, Oct 13, 2021

$7,498

Reserve Online
Reviews

Guest Reviews

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Expert Local Guides

Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.

Kana-JP-JAPAN

Kana Hattori

Kana Hattori was born in Nagoya, raised in Kobe, and studied in Kyoto and the United States. A student of the traditional Tea Ceremony and the philosophy of Zen, living in the moment has always been a core tenet of her life. Kana loves to sing, regularly giving concerts, and is passionate about traditional Japanese culture. She looks forward to sharing her extensive knowledge with our guests through her guiding.

Kozue-JP-JAPAN

Kozue Hisaoka

Born on the island of Kyushu, Japan, Kozue Hisaoka lived in the United States as an exchange student in high school and now resides in Tokyo. Kozue managed to plan and execute an impressive around-the-world trip with her family, fulfilling her passion for travel and exploring the cultures (and cuisine, especially!) outside her native Asia. When not introducing the nature and culture of Japan to visitors through her guiding, she enjoys cooking, cycling, gardening, and flower arranging.

Kaoru-JP-JAPAN

Kaoru Teshima

Kaoru Teshima was born in Kyoto, moved to Osaka, and, after 10 years living in London acting as a tourist, student, amateur flautist, and Japanese language tutor, she returned to Japan and currently lives in Nara. She has been guiding on a volunteer and professional basis for many years and considers the revered Tea Ceremony a valued hobby. In addition, she continues to teach Japanese and enjoys Latin dance.

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