• All accommodation as described

• Meals as described in the Meal Plan

• Self-guided information pack containing your map and route notes

• Japan guide book

• Shared airport transfers

• Trains/public transport as described

• Stored Value Transit Card pre-loaded with 3000 JPY for use on local trains

• Tea ceremony

• Kawabune boat ride or taxi transfer to Shingu according to boat availability

• Travel insurance

• Travel to Narita Airport

• Travel from Kansai Airport

• Visas (if applicable)

• Some meals as described in the Meal Plan

• Luggage transfers

• Local bus Nakatsugawa to Magome and buses on the Kumano Kodo

• Private city guides (Day 2 and / or Day 7)

• Gratuities for guides

• Personal equipment

• Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional

Each self-guided holiday comes with comprehensive route notes and a map or pocket guidebook of the area you are exploring. The route notes contain information about the places you will visit and the local transport you might need, along with the detailed route notes for your daily walks or cycle rides. We even include some tips for the best places to stop for lunch.

You can expect to receive your Self-Guided Pack containing your route notes, a map or guidebook, and all your relevant documents, no later than 3 weeks before your holiday start-date. We will send your documents using a signed-for courier so that you can track your package and know that it is safely on its way to you. For bookings of more than 4 people we will send an additional Self-Guided Pack. If you do not need this additional pack please inform our Sales Team. Your pack will be sent to the lead booker, so please remind them to pack it before setting off.

Should your self-guided trip be part of a longer adventure requiring you to leave home more than three weeks before your holiday start-date, please inform our Sales Team so that we can make alternative delivery arrangements.

Our Self-Guided Holidays are perfect for your next family holiday and are suitable for children of all ages.

Our partner hotels and accommodations are able to provide cots for young children, and some offer family rooms. We can also arrange hire of children’s bikes and tag along bikes for most of our self-guided cycling trips and with trips such as Lake Constance and the Danube offering routes on designated cycle paths you can rest assured in keeping your family safe.

As a parent we trust that you know your own child’s capabilities, so please read the itinerary details to ensure the distances covered each day are suitable for your family. If this is a first time walking holiday for your family, a centre based trip is a fantastic option as it allows you to easily opt out of a days walking if a day of building sand castles, swimming in the pool or visiting museums is calling instead.

Please discuss this further with our sales team who will be happy to assist in picking the best trip for your family.

The trip starts at Tokyo Narita Airport, or at your hotel in Tokyo - please advise our Sales Team about where you would like to begin your trip. All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a Land Only basis, allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method that best suits you.

The nearest airport is Tokyo Narita Airport. If you are beginning your trip at this airport, we will include a shared transfer for you from the airport to your accommodation in Tokyo. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and you can expect some great views over the city as you ride the elevated highways to your hotel.

The trip ends in Osaka upon checkout on the last morning of your itinerary. If you are then heading straight to Kansai Airport for your onward journey, we include a shared transfer from your Osaka hotel or a train journey from Osaka's Nanba Station, direct to Kansai Airport. The train option is a short journey of approximately 35-minutes on the Nankai Rapit bullet train with reserved seats for the best train time for your onward journey. If you are making your own onward journey instead, a transfer to Kansai Airport will not be included.

This trip is on a bed and breakfast basis throughout to give you flexibility when staying in the cities and larger towns. We have also included 6 evening meals when you stay in the traditional minshuku or ryokan.

The included evening meals will generally be kaiseki style - this is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal consisting of several small dishes freshly prepared using locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. Meals are generally served at low tables, and you will be required to sit on cushions on the floor. Knives and forks are rarely seen, so be prepared to use chopsticks. Outside of the cities, breakfasts will also be exclusively Japanese style.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

Japanese cuisine is fresh, fragrant, and flavoursome. It draws on umami flavours, that really come through thanks to the slow cooking processes used in Japanese cooking to prepare dishes including broths and soups where the flavours are richly intensified. You can look forward to many rice and noodle dishes such as the popular ramen (Chinese-style wheat noodles served in broth), udon (a thick wheat noodle), and soba dishes such as yakisoba (a thinner buckwheat noodle).

Seafood and shellfish are staples in Japanese cuisine, not just because in the hugely popular sushi and sashimi, but also grilled or fried in a light tempura batter. Japan has plenty of specialty dishes from the expensive Kobe beef, a type of Wagyu cattle reared in a way that produces melt-in-the-mouth meat, to the traditional warming bowls of ramen, with each region having its own take on the dish. However, a favourite of ours here at KE is the Takoyaki octopus balls of Osaka. This is a deliciously moreish street food of consisting of pieces of octopus and other ingredients such as tempura scraps, green onion, and pickled ginger bound together in a wheat-based flour batter to create balls that are then grilled or fried in a specially moulded pan a bit like a Dutch pancake grill. These delectable balls are then served topped with teriyaki sauce, tempura batter scraps, and mayonnaise. We highly recommend trying them, although we warn you it is a test of patience to wait for them to cool down before taking a bite! If you are not a fan of octopus, fear not, as you can also find Takoyaki made without the octopus, often switching it for pieces king oyster mushroom instead. Yum!

Other fantastic Japanese cuisine experiences include Teppanyaki, where diners sit at a hot iron grill and watch their dishes being cooked in front of them (usually with some theatrics). Another is Shabu-shabu, where diners sit around a large cooking pot filled with broth and are served a selection of tofu, raw meat (usually thinly sliced pork and beef) and vegetables that are then dipped in the boiling broth and dipping sauces before being eaten.

For food on the go, you can always be sure to find Bao buns and Onigiri in local convenience stores. Bao buns are parcels of steamed dough containing a tasty filling, often pork, and grabbing one is the Japanese version of grabbing a sandwich. Onigiri are rice parcels, usually triangular, with a tasty sour or salty filling such as pickled plum or salted salmon, and come wrapped in nori seaweed. Both make great snacks for while you are out exploring.

As in most of Asia, breakfast is really a version of lunch or the evening meal. At breakfast in Japan you generally won’t find a croissant or bowl of cereal - instead you’re likely to find a warm bowl of ramen or perhaps Omu-raisu, an omelette made with thin fried scrambled egg, filled with fried rice, and topped with ketchup.

If you are vegetarian, please be advised that, outside the cities, vegetarianism is not a concept that is widely understood. Whilst vegetarian options are available they are limited, and it is difficult to guarantee that ‘vegetarian’ dishes are 100% vegetarian as most Japanese dishes contain dashi, which typically contains fish. Strict vegetarian diets, vegan diets, and or gluten free diets will be difficult to accommodate in Japan.

The included evening meals will generally be kaiseki style - this is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal consisting of several small dishes freshly prepared using locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. Meals are generally served at low tables, and you will be required to sit on cushions on the floor. Knives and forks are rarely seen, so be prepared to use chopsticks.

On this trip, you will experience several different types of accommodation in keeping with the locations in which you are staying, to provide you with a true taste of Japan. Whilst in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you will stay in comfortable 3-star or 4-star hotels with all the facilities you would expect from a city hotel including en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, TV, and (in most) a small fridge too. Space is at a premium in Japanese cities, so hotels are multi-storey and rooms are generally compact and cosy.

Whilst on the trails you will have the opportunity to stay in smaller traditional accommodations, including Ryokan and Minshuku, for a classic Japanese experience. Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns and may take the form of a modern concrete or a traditional wooden structure. They generally have tatami rooms that have a tatami (straw matting) floor on which a traditional futon mattress is laid out directly by staff in the evening, in time for going to bed. There may also be cushions and/or chairs and a table all very low to the ground in such rooms, so be prepared to be able to get all the way up and down. The rooms are private and have en-suite facilities as well as access to communal hot spring style baths (segregated by gender). In the evenings, meals are enjoyed together with other guests and are lovingly prepared by your hosts.

Minshuku are also a type of family-run inn built in a traditional style with tatami matting and futons, however you may be required to lay out your futon yourself in the evening and they do not usually offer en-suite facilities. These are a slightly less formal style of accommodation, a home from home, with warm hospitality and excellent food. Staying at a Minshuku feels as if you are staying with friends, and provides a real off-the-beaten-track experience.

Private Tour Guides

We offer the option of adding 1 or 2 days of private guiding to help you get the most out of your sightseeing in the cities of Tokyo (Day 2) and / or Kyoto (Day 7). Please let us know your preferred sightseeing choices no later than 60 days prior to departure. Private guiding incurs an additional cost of £300 per guide per day.

Should you choose to add a private guide for either or both of these days, one of our knowledgeable, friendly, professional guides will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and lead you on a full-day tour of Tokyo or Kyoto. You can opt to travel by bus and subway, or by taxi. Your guide will return you to your hotel around 5pm or, if you prefer, will leave you in an alternative location of your choosing.

We are proud of our guides and we engage them directly with our local partner, not via agencies or other third parties.

Includes:

- The guide’s fee.

- The guide's own transport by public transport (the guide will pay for their own).

- Entry for the guide to some cultural heritage sites (your guide will advise if there is a fee to be paid for their entry).

Does not include:

- Your own transportation between locations.

- Public transport for you (you should pay for this using your Stored Value Transit Card).

- Taxi transport for you or your guide if you prefer to travel by taxi (needs to be paid by you on the spot).

- Admissions to the sites you visit for you, and for your guide where this is not free for the guide.

- Cost of refreshments for you or your guide, such as a coffee break and lunch.

- Tips for the guide as an expression of thanks for time well spent together, although this is not expected or compulsory (a suggested tip amount is JPY 1000 per person per day).

Private Guide Options Day 2 Tokyo:

We have devised three fantastic itineraries for you to choose from, including some of the most famous sights and some lesser-known spots.

Option 1. Yanaka – Echoes of Old Tokyo

Yanaka is one of the coolest areas of Tokyo, where you can experience the traditional and modern side of the city all at once. The area avoided major damage during natural disasters and world wars, so it still oozes charms from times gone by.

- Start from Kiyosumi garden in the quiet residential area where the famous Edo period business merchant, Kinokuniya Bunzaemon, used to live.

- Stroll through the peaceful streets of Nezu and Yanaka to feel the traditional Edo atmosphere.

- Enjoy snacks from a legendary ice-cream shop or sweet stall on the way to Nezu shrine (one of Japan’s oldest shrines).

- Try a lunch of delicious fresh soba noodles at one of the area’s famous noodle joints.

Option 2. Harajuku – A Meeting of Old and New

Harajuku, the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station, is famous for extreme teenage culture and fashion, however there’s more to this area than may first meet the eye. In a neaby green oasis you’ll find one of Tokyo's major shrines, and the spacious Yoyogi Park. Beautiful ukiyo-e paintings are exhibited in the small Ota Memorial Museum of Art, and the Nezu Museum has an impressive collection of Asian art and a traditional Japanese garden.

- Savour the finest pieces of Japanese art with a visit to the Nezu or Ota museums.

- Stroll along the modern Omotesando avenue with its dual role as gateway to the Meiji Jingu shrine (memorial to the 122nd Japanese Emperor) and modern shopping mecca.

- See exciting modern Japanese architecture and spot the latest fashion trends among the shops and customers of Harajuku.

- Do some crowd-watching at the world-famous intersection in Shibuya to finish the day.

Option 3. Edo Castle and Asakusa – From Shogun to Emperor

(Note: this option not available on Mondays or Fridays).

Edo Castle was home to the powerful Tokugawa shogunate for 260 years, so was the centre of Japan’s politics and much intrigue too. Where the castle once stood you’ll now find the stately Imperial Palace along with its serene gardens and interesting museums.

Asakusa was Tokyo’s leading entertainment district and in the Edo period was home to kabuki theatres and a large red light district. Today it is an area of striking contrasts as large parts of the area were destroyed in air raids in 1945. However the main attraction today is Sensoji, a popular Buddhist temple built in the 7th century. There are fabulous contrasting views towards the modern, monumental 634m-tall Tokyo Sky Tree, Japan’s tallest building, on the other side of the Sumida River.

- Explore the site of the former Edo Castle, now the Imperial East Gardens, and imagine its colourful history of fire, love, revenge, and conspiracy.

- Take a break in the Ginza area, Tokyo’s traditional shopping mecca.

- Experience striking contrasts between old and new in Asakusa at Sensoji temple and its arcades of traditional shops.

Private Guide Options Day 7 Kyoto:

We have devised three fantastic itineraries for you to choose from, including some of the most famous sights and some lesser-known spots.

Option 1. The Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama is a scenic area nestled at the foot of the mountains on the western outskirts of Tokyo and has deep historical connections with Zen Buddhism. Here you’ll find Tenryuji, one of Japan’s oldest temples. Dating from 1339, it is designated as number one amongst Kyoto’s five major Zen temples. Tenryuji has a very beautiful garden and Sogen Pond, and is famous for its use of ‘shakkei’ (borrowed scenery). The gardens here were laid out by Muso Soseki, an eminent Zen master. Arashiyama is also famous for its captivating natural bamboo grove.

- Visit Tenryuji, the Temple of the Heavenly Dragon.

- Marvel at the Sogen Pond and ‘borrowed scenery’ as you walk through Tenryuji’s famous gardens.

- Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove as you stroll through this majestic emerald green tunnel.

- Glimpse into the world of Japanese poetry with a visit to the lovely old residence of famous Haiku poet Mukai Kyorai.

- Ride on Kyoto’s only tram, the hundred-year-old Randen.

- Enjoy the paintings, gardens, and buildings of the exquisite lesser-known Zen Buddhist temple of Myoshinji, founded in the 14th century.

- Explore central Kyoto and the exciting Nishiki food market.

Option 2. Philosophical Eastern Kyoto

The Philosopher’s Path is named after Dr. Kitaro Nishida, the most significant and influential Japanese philosopher of the 20th century. It weaves its way along the strip of temples that sit at the base of the Higashiyama Mountains. Visit Nanzenji, Eikando, and Ginkakuji temples, all of which have a fascinating history and beautiful gardens.

- At the start of your walk lose yourself as you explore the expansive grounds and sub-temples of Nanzenji, the headquarters of the Rinzai school of Zen.

- Be intrigued by the unusual Buddha statue and the Hojo pond with its quaint shrine at Eikando temple.

- Meander along paths through symbolic raked white sand sculptures, around a beautiful pond, through pine trees and mosses, at Ginkakuji temple until you reach the Silver Pavilion, one of Kyoto’s most notable monuments.

- If you wish, you can visit Hakusasonso, former home of the painter Hashimoto Kansetsu. His wife planted all the cherry trees along the Philosopher’s Path for future visitors like you.

Option 3. A Taste of Southern Kyoto

Southern Kyoto is famous as the home of 10,000 torii (shrine gates), and plenty of stunning temples.

- Stroll through streets with white walled old houses.

- Wander through seemingly endless arcades of spectacular vermillion torii.

- Take a sip of sake at the Fushimi Sake Brewery which was founded here, where the purest water flowed down from the mountains.

- Ride the local train to Tofukuji to admire its unique Zen rock garden.

- Walk to the stunning shrine complex of Fushimi Inari to see its myriad vermillion torii gates.

- Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, the traditional form of hospitality that treasures the unique opportunity and serendipity of every meeting.

For this holiday, we recommend a bag/case with wheels to allow you to easily transport it. You will also require a daypack for on the trails. Whilst walking on the Nakasendo Trail you will not have access to your main luggage and will need to carry any items you require for days 4-6 in your daypack. You will also be required to carry any items you may need whilst on the Kumano Kodo Trail days 9-11. Space is limited in traditional accommodations such as the minshuku and ryokan, so packing light in your day pack whilst your luggage is forwarded to the larger towns and cities is much more practical. The minshuku and ryokan provide meals, toiletries and a yukata (cotton robe) and shoes are not worn inside Japanese homes (or theses styles of home-from home-accommodations), so you really can pack light.

LUGGAGE FORWARDING SERVICE

You will notice when travelling in Japan that nobody seems to be carrying large luggage. Nobody other than foreign tourists that is! This is because Japan has an extremely extensive, efficient, and reliable delivery service available known as takuhaibin orTakkyubin . The Japanese never travel with their luggage unless they are driving to their destination, and there is no need for you to do so either!

The service can be arranged at your accommodation and must be paid for locally (costs approx. 2,000 – 2,500 yen). This service is required on Day 4 to forward your luggage to Kyoto and on Day 9 to forward your main luggage to Yunomine Onsen, and Day 11 to Osaka. Full information regarding the takuhaibin will be provided with you travel documents.