Overview

There's so much to discover in the Land of the Rising Sun. So we've taken our favourite must-see highlights and major cultural touchstones like Kyoto and Hiroshima, combined them with visits to lesser known areas, and packed everything into a 13-day itinerary. Hike along the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route to visit spectacular shrines, visit the impressive site of Wakayama Castle, bike the famous Shimanami Kaido route, and kayak around the famed floating torii gate in the Bay of Miyajima. With a refreshing mix of approachable activities, beautiful landscapes, and delicious eats, this tour has something for every kind of traveller.

Map

Itinerary

Arrive at any time. We highly recommend booking pre-accommodation in Osaka to see more of this interesting city.

Take the train from Osaka to Chikatsuyu to begin the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage hike.

Enjoy a day hike along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, reach the Hongu Taisha Shrine with the largest torii gate in Japan. Afterwards, board a bus for coastal Katsuura.

Hike to one of Japan's best-known waterfalls and the Kumano Nachi Taisha, an ancient site along this pilgrimage trail, before heading to Wakayama for the night.

Visit the impressive site of Wakayama Castle before transferring by train to Kyoto.

Take in the vibrant colours of Fushimi Inari shrine and explore the historic side of Kyoto.

Explore more of Kyoto with free time before taking the train to Onomichi.

Enjoy a day of cycling across bridges and islands to the south of Honshu, exploring small villages along the way. Spend the night in a ryokan inn on Ikuchi Jima and savour a traditional kaiseki meal.

Cycle along the Shimanami Kaido towards Imabari City. Continue on to Matsuyama to rest for the night.

Transfer by ferry to Hiroshima. This afternoon visit the Peace Park and Museum to learn more about the city's tragic history. The large Peace Park in the centre of the city is an extremely moving place dotted with memorials of those killed by the atomic bomb and others who subsequently died. The burning flame in the park will only be extinguished when all nuclear weapons in the world have been destroyed. Take a tram ride through the city to reach Peace Park.

Travel to the island of Miyajima from Hiroshima. Hop into a kayak and paddle out to the iconic torii gate which floats in the bay.

Transfer to the bustling metropolis of Tokyo by train and explore with some free time in the afternoon.

Depart at any time. We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city.

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nts), traditional inn (3 nts)

What's Included

Hike the Kumano Kodo Trail (3 days). Wakayama Castle visit. Fushimi Inari Shrine visit. Shimanami Kaido Cycling Route (2 days). Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum visit. Miyajima Island visit with sea kayaking. Traditional ryokan stay with kaiseki meal. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Meals Included

3 breakfasts, 3 dinners

What to Take

Takuhaibin - Japan’s takuhaibin service is a convenient and reliable way to transfer luggage from one location to another throughout the country. Pick-up/drop-off/delivery dates and times can be easily scheduled (usually overnight) and costs are moderate. Service can be arranged at most hotels and airports. Using takuhaibin to send your luggage between hotels, or from hotel to airport, is a great way to travel light and avoid hauling a large bag on crowded trains or up and down stairs – just be sure to bring a daypack/small backpack with everything you’ll need overnight until you’re reunited with your luggage the following day. To avoid additional costs during the cycling portion of this tour we recommend you only bring 1 large piece of luggage and 1 day pack/small backpack with you on tour. See "Important Notes" for more information.

Safe Booking

Do I have to book in advance?

Yes, we encourage you to book this trek in advance.
For day activities, we recommend you to book 48 hours before the tour.
For multi-day packages, the earlier you book, the more significant is the chance that you can participate in the journey.

When do I have to pay?

We have a "book now, pay later" policy. Due to this process, we don't ask for any bank card details.
We created our booking system to be convenient and secure for you.
The provider will contact you and discuss the payment with you later.

What other fees do I have to pay?

There are no hidden fees on Trekhunt (like booking fee, cancellation fee, etc.).
We don't charge you any additional fees.
We offer this tour precisely with the same price and conditions as the provider.

Is booking secure?

We created our booking system to be convenient and safe for you.
We don't ask any of your bank card details!
We only ask you to provide us your name, email and mobile number.
We forward this information to the provider, who can send you the tour details.

Don't miss out. We recommend you to book this tour today.

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