The Japan Alps
- Duration : 18 days
- Locations : Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Matsumoto,Tsumago,Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Kaga Onsen, Kyoto
This Japan tour takes you to the heart of the Japanese mountains.
A tour in the Japanese Alps means discovering a less touristy, more unspoilt and traditional Japan.
Not forgetting the must-sees: Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Kyoto. Enjoy a guided tour of Matsumoto Castle or a visit to Kyoto's geisha quarter in this tour package.
18 day itinerary from Tokyo to Kyoto, crossing Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps :
- Departure city/airport : Tokyo (Narita : NRT or Haneda : HND)
- Tokyo (3 nights)
- Kawaguchiko - Mount Fuji (1 nights)
- Matsumoto and surroudings (3 nights)
- Tsumago (1 night)
- Takayama (2 nights)
- Kanazawa (3 nights)
- Kaga Onsen (1 night)
- Kyoto (3 nights)
- End Return airport : Osaka (Kansai international airport : KIX)
Please find below the itinerary details.
Tour length : 17 nights / 18 days (+ 1 day at the beginning if you leave from Europe)
Indeed, the tour departure and end dates presented on this page relate to your stay in Japan. On departure, you will have to leave Europe on the day before. The return flight is on the same day due to the time difference.
Example :
- Departure from Europe : January 1st
- Arrival Tokyo (date to be selected in the tour calendar while booking) : January 2nd
- Return flight from Kansai international airport : January 19th
Interested in this tour but limited to 2 weeks in Japan?
The "Path of the Samurai" and "Zen and Wellness" tours pass through most of the places on this tour in a shorter time frame.
Why this trip to Japan?
- Welcomed at the airport by our team, you will be taken to Tokyo by shuttle bus
- Head for Kawaguchiko, in the Five Lakes region below Mount Fuji
- In Matsumoto, Sylvain is waiting to take you on a samurai experience at the foot of the castle
- Several nights in traditional accommodation (ryokan, minshuku, house) in the Japanese Alps
- Continue towards the Sea of Japan, passing through a typical Japanese mountain village
- Finish in Kyoto, where a guided tour of the Gion district awaits you at nightfall
- Take advantage of your transport passes : Japan Rail Pass, Mount Fuji Pass, Shirakawago bus..
- On the final day, a shuttle bus will take you from your accommodation to the airport
- Recommendations available in your travel diary
- Enjoy unlimited internet access thanks to your pocket Wi-Fi
- If necessary, contact our Japanese bilingual English-speaking assistance 24/7
- Numerous guided days or other optional activities available
- Benefit from the expertise of Japan Experience, European leading travel agency in Japan.
Your trip in detail
Itinerary
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Day 1 : Wake up in Tokyo 東京
Arrival at Tokyo airport (Narita or Haneda).
Welcome to Japan! Yokoso 日本へようこそ!Welcomed out of customs by our airport assistant, who will give you all your travel documents and Pocket WiFi.
Unaccompanied transfer from the airport to Tokyo (see details).This transfer is done in a shared shuttle or bus, with other guests departing for the same hotel or a hotel close to yours. These transfers depart between 1.5 and 3 hours after your scheduled flight arrival and stops can be made before your hotel.
If you would like a private, non-stop transfer directly after the actual arrival of your flight, feel free to take the "Private Taxi from the Airport" option.
Check-in at Hotel OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino Resorts or same category hotel 3* (rooms available from 3:00pm).
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Day 2 : First steps in the capital
What is there to do in Tokyo on the first day?
We advise you to slowly start visiting Tokyo from its western districts:
- Harajuku: the avant-garde district
- Meiji Jingû, the imperial shrine
- Takeshita-Dori: the most famous street in Japan
- Omotesando: Tokyo's Champs-Élysées
- Shibuya and its unmistakable "crossroads"One of our many experienced English-speaking guides can also accompany you to visit the classic sights of Tokyo (optional, from 9:00 to 17:00).
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Day 3 : The big loop
For this second day of visiting Tokyo, we recommend the following "loop".
Start from Tokyo Central Station, with its original architecture, then go to visit:
- Ginza, Tokyo's chic district
- Tsukiji, the small outdoor food market
- Hamarikyu, the Japanese garden between Tokyo's buildings
- Asakusa, a traditional district and place of pilgrimage, accessible by a cruise on the Sumida River
- Sensô-ji Buddhist temple, one of the oldest in the city
- Tokyo Sky Tree, reaching a height of 643m, and its panoramic view of Tokyo at sunsetEnjoy a cruise on the Sumida River between Hamarikyu and Asakusa.
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Day 4 : A breathtaking view of Fuji
We advise that you have your luggage sent to the hotel in Matsumoto (details in your travel diary, check with the hotel reception) and that you travel light for your night in Kawaguchiko. Reach Tokyo Station and and board a train to Kawaguchiko (3 hours journey, 1 change, all included, details in your travel diary.) The train will gradually leave the Japanese megalopolis behind and head deeper into the valleys of the Mount Fuji region. You will arrive in Kawaguchiko in the late morning.
Go to your hotel near the station and Lake Kawaguchi to drop off your small bag and explore the Five Lakes region:
- Pass through the Chureito pagoda, one of the best photo viewpoints on Mount Fuji.
- See Mount Fuji from the lakes and the many viewpoints in the area.
- Take the Kachi Kachi Ropeway to see the beautiful panoramic view of the lake on one side and Mount Fuji on the other.All transport is included in your Mount Fuji pass.
The pass also includes many discounts at local attractions, such as the famous Fuji-Q Highland theme park.
You can also rent a bicycle for half a day to visit Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji.
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Day 5 : Nature and mountain lakes
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy Kawaguchiko and its region before leaving in the middle of the afternoon for your next destination in the heart of the Japanese Alps: Matsumoto (3 hours 30 by train, 2 changes, all inclusive).
Arrive and check into a city centre hotel, between the station and the castle.
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Day 6 : The Samurai Castle
Breakfast at the hotel.
Matsumoto has preserved many traces of its prosperity from the feudal period. But the most striking feature of a visit to the town is its imposing castle, known to the Japanese as "the crow" because of its black colour. It is the oldest of its kind in Japan and its keep offers a stunning view in all seasons.
Matsumoto was also an industrial and commercial city, and has preserved its typical Meiji era workshops in the Nakamichi district.Included: Enjoy a private guided tour of Matsumoto city for half a day. Discover the feudal castle, the historical districts... and step into the shoes of a samurai for a morning with Sylvain, Japan Experience guide.
In English or French.
Please note that for some trips in peak season, this half-day guided tour in Matsumoto may be replaced by a half-day guided tour in Tokyo or Kyoto.2nd night in the hotel in Matsumoto.
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Day 7 : Mountain air
There are several choices for this day:
- Continue visiting Matsumoto, including its famous japanese prints Ukiyo-e museum.
- Discover a wasabi farm nearby (details in your travel diary).
- Go for a day in the region of Nagano, famous for having hosted the Winter Olympic Games, (1 hour by train, included in your package): in the morning, visit the famous Zenko-ji temple then the natural site of Jigokudani with its monkeys that play in the hot springs (optional).
- Kamikochi, in the summer season, will bring you a breath of fresh air in the middle of the Japanese mountains!Last night in your hotel in Matsumoto.
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Day 8 : Japanese Villages
In the morning, we advise that you have your luggage sent to the hotel in Takayama (details in your travel diary, check with the hotel reception) and that you travel light for your night in Tsumago.
Leave for Tsumago, one of the most beautiful villages in Japan, in the heart of the Kiso Valley.
The train (2 hours, included in your package) runs through this narrow, densely wooded valley. Halfway along the route, we recommend a stop in the small hidden village of Narai, with beautiful houses dating from the Edo period.Upon arrival in Tsumago, you will reach your minshuku accommodation (comfortable family inn, halfway between ryokan and guesthouse) on foot (45 minutes through the mountains) or by bus (10min, bus ticket available from the driver, about €2, details in your travel guide).
Tsumago is a listed village with traditional architecture. Preserved from modernity, it has preserved its character as a stopover town along the Kyoto - Tokyo road from the Edo period (1603 - 1868): the Nakasendo. A visit to the Honjin (with its delightful moss garden), Wakihonjin and Shiryôkan complexes is particularly interesting and relaxing.
In the evening, dinner at your hostel.
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Day 9 : Trekking on the Nakasendo trail
Breakfast at your hostel.
Hike along the Nakasendo River to Magome (8km, with major elevation changes: from 420m (Tsumago), to the Magome-Toge pass (800m) and back down to Magome (600m). Allow 3 to 5 hours.). A bus also allows you to reach the pass or go directly to Magome (in 30min, €5, purchase from the driver) to avoid the climb or the whole hike. There is also a luggage transport service with the tourist office (details in your travel diary).
After arriving in the small village of Magome at noon and taking a stroll in this picturesque village, you will reach Nakatsugawa station (bus, 25min, €4.50 to be paid to the driver) then Takayama (4 hours, 1 change, all included with your JR Pass).Arrive in Takayama in the evening at your comfortable hotel near the station. You will be able to relax after a busy day with your head full of memories.
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Day 10 : The charm of the Japanese mountains
Enjoy the charms of Takayama, a medium-sized city and the "capital" of the Japanese Alps, at your own pace. The centuries-old mansions, temples and museums will seduce you.
We recommend that you visit:
- The traditional Kusakabe and Yoshijima houses
- The Yatai Kaikan, where old religious festival floats (matsuri) are on display
- The picturesque Shôwa-Kan, museum of the 1940s to 1970s
- The old Sannomachi shopping district
- The Fuji Folk Art Museum2nd night in your hotel in Takayama
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Day 11 : Head for the Sea of Japan!
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by train and Shinkansen to Kanazawa in the morning (2 hours, 1 change, all included in your package).
From noon onwards, you can settle into your traditional Japan Experience house! A Travel Angel will welcome you, show you some unique details and help you to have an unforgettable stay in Kanazawa. You will be able to "live the Japanese way" for a few days, with a space much bigger than a hotel room and a kitchen to prepare good Japanese food!
In the afternoon, explore Kanazawa, a city between tradition and modernity on the coast of Japan:
Discover Kanazawa, between the sea in the north and the Japanese Alps:
- Kenroku-en, Kanazawa's beautiful Japanese garden
- The Museum of Contemporary Art and its outdoor gallery
- Omicho, the fish market of the Sea of Japan
- The Nomura house, residence of the Samurai and its picturesque old quarter -
Day 12 : Rural & Mountain
Starting from Kanazawa, we propose a day trip to a typical village in the Japanese Alps, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Shirakawago!
Leave for Shirakawago by bus (1 hour 15, tickets included in your package).
Visit a minka (traditional Japanese house) or the Myôzenji, a Zen temple in the village.
In the middle of the afternoon, return to Kanazawa on the same bus. As an option, you can decide to stay in Shirakawago for one night in a traditional lodging in the village. And don't worry about your luggage: it will remain at the house in Kanazawa that is allocated to you for the 3 nights. You need only the minimum for this unforgettable night!
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Day 13 : The pearl of Japan
For this day several options are available to you:
- Continue visiting Kanazawa (optional, English-speaking guide for one day)
- Discover the Noto Peninsula's Japanese countryside with one of our guides (optional)
- Other activities, such as a meal with one of our English-speaking travel angels in KanazawaFinal night in your traditional Kanazawa house.
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Day 14 : Japanese wellness
Take a leisurely trip to Kaga Onsen (25 minutes by train, included), a spa town in the middle of the Japanese countryside. Kaga Onsen awaits you with its high quality natural waters, discovered 1300 years ago, traditional Japanese craftsmanship and authentic nature walks. It is the ideal place to relax, just dive into one of the baths. In addition, you can enjoy local specialities during dinner at your Mori no Sumika Resort & Spa ryokan or same category hotel 3*.
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Day 15 : The old capital
Breakfast at the hotel.
In 2 hours, reach Kyoto and check into the RAKURO 京都 by THE SHARE HOTELSHotel or same category hotel 3*.
You have 3 days to visit Kyoto. Start in the afternoon in the historic Gion district near your accommodation.
We advise you to start your visit to Kyoto slowly by visiting the city centre and the Gion district:
- Kiyomizu-Dera, the great water temple
- The historical streets of Sannen-zaka & Ninnen-zaka
- Kodai-ji, the maple and bamboo temple of KyotoFinish off seeing the sunset in Gion.
Meet your guide at 19:00 to start your late stroll around Gion, Kyoto's historic district.
More details on the exact time and location in your travel diary.At the end of this 1 hour 30 walk, your guide will be able to advise you on the best places to eat out!
Please note that it is strictly forbidden to take photographs in the historic district of Gion. -
Day 16 : Gold and Silver Treasures
We recommend the following itinerary for this second day's visit to Kyoto:
- Ryoan-ji Zen Garden
- The Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
- The bewitching path of philosophy
- The Nanzen-ji templeOne of our many experienced English-speaking guides can accompany you on a tour of these symbolic sites (optional, from 9:00 to 17:00).
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Day 17 : Now for some activity...
This is your last full day to visit Kyoto, so make the most of our many optional activities:
- Want to enjoy nature? Check out our cycling activities along the Kamogawa River or hiking in the Takao Gorge!
- Prefer Japanese arts? tea ceremonies, meditation activities or private visits to secret gardens will seduce you.
- Looking for Japanese countryside? Let yourself be tempted by a trip to Ohara, or try our flagship activity: on the Tea Road!If you wish to visit at your own pace, continue exploring Kyoto's 2000 unique temples, shrines and gardens!
You can also reach Nara in 50 minutes by train (not included in your package, around 16 € for the round trip, otherwise, get the optional Kansai Thru Pass).
For your last night, don't forget to enjoy the sunset at Fushimi Inari, the huge 10,000 torii shrine in Kyoto.
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Day 18 : Sayonara, and see you next time
Direct transfer to Kansai International Airport (included but not accompanied).
Return flight to Europe, North America, Australia.
Do not hesitate to extend your trip by one or more days to Kansai or elsewhere... We will be able to advise you!


















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Accommodation
- 3 nights in a 3* hotel in the heart of Tokyo, close to the metro.
- 1 night in a 3* hotel in Kawaguchiko
- 3 nights in a 3* hotel in Matsumoto, between the station and the castle
- 1 night in a minshuku in Tsumago, traditional half-board
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel inTakayama
- 3 nights in a traditional Kanazawa house
- 1 night in a ryokan in Kaga Onsen, traditional half-board
- 3 nights in a 3* hotel in the heart of Kyoto, close to the metro.
The basic rate includes a twin room for two people.
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Transport
- Transfer airport -> Tokyo
- Transfer airport Kyoto -> KIX
- Prepaid public transport card
- 2-day Mount Fuji pass
- Kanazawa <-> Shirakawago autobus
- Japan Rail Pass for 14 days
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Experiences and meals
- Welcomed at the airport
- Discounts in many tourist sites as Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji
- Half board in Tsumago and Kaga Onsen
- Breakfasts except in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa
- Matsumoto Discovery, half day, with samurai experience
- Welcome to Kanazawa house by a travel angel
- Night Walk in Gion
Included in your self-guided tour
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Additional services
- Unlimited Wi-Fi access with pocket-WiFi
- Complete e-travel diary sent 20 days before your departure
- 24/7 telephone assistance in English; in addition to the guide's assistance during the day
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Not included in the price of your trip
- Flights Europe <> Japan
- Optional insurance polices
- Personal expenses (including meals and some breakfasts)
- Public transport when your transport cards have run out (see details)
- Anything not included in the "included in your tour" section
When you buy, Japan Experience offers you 2 types of protection:
Japan Experience Flex :
Cancellation insurance before departure under conditions.
Japan Experience Protect :
Pre-departure cancellation insurance under conditions and on-site assistance under conditions. COVID protection included.
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