Walk in Japan
When I think of Japan, all that comes to mind are visions of metropolitan Tokyo: tall skyscrapers, business people walking briskly along busy streets: a picture that’s comparable to New York or Frankfurt.
However, thanks to Walk Japan Ltd., ‘off-the beaten track’ holiday tours of Japan are now available. Currently, there are three trekking tours that are being offered:
The Nakasendo Way: Starting from the ancient capital of Kyoto, this 11-night tour explores one of the old highways of Japan, the Nakasendo, or the ‘road through the central mountains’. The tour provides a fascinating insight into the world of feudal Japan, the samurai and, also, village life today.
The Shogun Trail: From the hustle and bustle of the great metropolis of Tokyo to the quaint fishing villages in the island of Kyushu, this 10-night panoramic tour follows the footsteps of William Adams, the model for the hero in James Clavell’s best selling novel, Shogun. One feature that makes this tour special is that it showcases Japan’s impeccable public transport system.
The Kunisaki Trek: This 6-night trek along trails taken by monks shows off Japan’s beautiful countryside steeped in Buddhist history, culminating in a climb to Mount Yufudake. See how Buddha statues are carved, soak in the hot springs, and partake in a meal of Shojin-ryori, lavish temple fare, and get pampered in an exclusive ryokan, a Japanese inn, on the final night.
The great thing about Walk Japan is that all the guides have an intimate knowledge of the country, not only of the tours per se, but also of its culture, history and politics. The New York Times, the Guardian and Sunday Times newspapers, and just recently, the Time Magazine, amongst other publications, have all featured Walk Japan tours.
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POSTED IN: Asian Adventure/Trekking
3 opinions for Walk in Japan
Lei
Jul 27, 2005 at 7:38 am
I lived in Nagoya, Japan from 1999-2004. I certainly do miss our walks!
Ina
Jul 28, 2005 at 10:04 am
We took our kids for their spring break to Tokyo Disney last March ‘05. We enjoyed every bit of our stay (1 week) and the kids yearn to go back in the near future. Tokyo is a beautiful city but we hope to visit the countryside on our next visit.
Ruth
Jul 28, 2005 at 3:27 pm
Lei, wow, you’ve certainly moved around, haven’t you! probably another gypsy in your past-life?
Ina, thanks for the note. I think that’s a good plan.The countryside will definitely offer a different perspective. How old are your kids? Do peep in here every now and then; maybe you can get more ideas for your next visit!
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