Original
Multi-active
Japan: Hike, Bike & Kayak
12 days • 4.8
5
Excellent
55 reviews
12 days
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Osaka, Japan
Trip Code
CJXH
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Public Bus, Metro, Bullet Train, Train, Taxi, Walking, Bike, Kayak
Accommodation
Hotel/Ryokan (11 nights)
From £3,815(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Hike between the preserved post towns of the Nakasendo Way and reconnect with the Edo history on this ancient trail connecting Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto.
Discover one of Japan's best cycling routes – the Shimanami Kaido, which links Honshu with Shikoku across the scenic Inland Sea – and enjoy a cycling and kayaking experience through lush seaside landscapes.
Temple-hop through the historic city of Kyoto with a guided bike ride past some of the major religious sites in the city – on two wheels is the perfect way to explore this ancient capital.
Hike a section of the Kumano Kodo – one of only two UNESCO World Heritage-listed pilgrimage trails in the world. Along the ancient route, you’ll see the spectacular Nachi Falls and Nachi Taisha Shrine.
Relax your muscles in Toba’s hot spring onsens and maybe even one of Kyoto’s sentos (traditional bath houses) - a must-do experience while in Japan!
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Tuuur Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
Is this trip right for you?
The active nature of this trip means that the fitter you are, the more you’ll be able to enjoy. It’s expected that travellers joining this trip will have had some experience hiking and cycling before and are able to swim. On some hikes, you’ll need to be able to carry your overnight pack on the trail because we will forward your luggage to the next destination. Hiking distances vary from 3 to 15km per day with no more elevation change than 60 to 900 m. The cycling distances are around 30 km each.
The hikes on the Kumano Kodo and Nakasendo Way include sections rather than the whole trail, which gives you an experience of the trails without needing to commit to multiple days of strenuous trekking.
When we aren't hiking or cycling on this trip, we primarily use public transport, which is efficient and convenient in Japan. Please pack light and compact as you will be expected to transport your luggage between train stations and to hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs in crowded areas.
In some destinations, you may be staying in a ryokan, which is a Japanese-style inn. It's a great taste of tradition; however, not everyone finds futon mattresses on the tatami floor, tiny bathrooms and proximity to other guests as comfortable as more Western-style hotels. Read more about ryokans here: https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/traditional-japanese-ryokan/ https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/traditional-japanese-ryokan/ (https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/traditional-japanese-ryokan/)
Double rooms in Japanese hotels can be smaller than you may be used to (e.g. 20 sqm). Every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests. However, during busy periods, there may be occasions when we are unable to offer a double room, so a twin room will be provided.
Itinerary
Hike sacred trails, bike through historic districts and kayak on the Inland Sea
Embark on a cultural (and physical) workout with this 12-day active adventure across Japan. You’ll soak up some ancient history, see religious sites and explore the best of Japan’s nature on foot, boat and bike. Beginning in Tokyo, hike through post towns dotted along the Nakasendo Way, cycle and kayak on the Seto Inland Sea along the Shimanami Kaido and stop by historic Kyoto for an optional soak in a traditional bathhouse. Then, tackle the mother of all pilgrimages on a section of the historic Kumano Kodo. With the opportunity to explore diverse neighbourhoods, eat as much ramen as you can stomach and experience local hospitality along the way, this active adventure makes for a great taste of diverse Japan.
Inclusions
Meals
4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Public Bus, Metro, Bullet Train, Train, Taxi, Walking, Bike, Kayak
Accommodation
Hotel/Ryokan (11 nights)
Included activities
Nakasendo Trail - Magome to Tsumago hiking
Toson Memorial Museum
Onomichi - Shimanami Kaido cycling
Ikuchijima Island- Sea Kayaking
Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto - Gion District walk
Kyoto - Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
Kyoto - Mt. Daimonji-yama hike
Kyoto - Kyoto Cycling
Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Kyoto - Daitokuji Temple
Shingu - Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine
Kumano Kudo - Hiking
Kumano Kodo - Kumano Nachi Taisha
Toba - Mikimoto Pearl Island Museum
Osaka - Dotombori District walking tour
Optional activities
Tokyo - Tokyo After 5 Urban Adventure - JPY17000
Tokyo - Kanpai Tokyo: Shinjuku Drinks and Neon Nights Urban Adventure - JPY18000
Tokyo - A Tour Through Tokyo's Kitchen (with World's Largest Fish Market) Urban Adventure - JPY11500
Tokyo - Made In Japan Shopping Tour: Cultural Curiosities Urban Adventure - JPY8850
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
2. We are currently unable to offer a single supplement, airport transfers or additional accommodation in Japan due to limited availability.
3. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Luggage size restrictions apply. Please review the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
4. Bike helmets and life jackets are provided. If you require any additional gear like hiking/trekking poles or bicycle gloves please bring your own.
Reviews (57)
5 stars
48
4 stars
8
3 stars
1
Neal
May 28, 2025
Hisa is an excellent guide. I was not in good enough shape to do the day nine hike. For the day four bike ride I would have been a lot more comfortable if I had an option to add a seat pad on the bike.
Zoe
May 23, 2025
If you are looking for a fantastic trip with a mixture of stunning hikes, beautiful flat cycling, and relaxing hot springs whilst still having the buzz of Kyoto and Osaka look no further! This trip was fantastic and made me realise I can do so much more than I think I can. The group and Shinya, our guide, were amazing. Just book it!
Julia
May 22, 2025
This is a fabulous trip. Our guide was informative, fun and patient and enthusiastic. The activities were well organised, challenging and fun. The accommodation was excellent. Definitely worth doing!
Nathan
May 08, 2025
What an amazing trip.. it was everything and more than I expected. From the mouth-watering food, rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, blooming (yes blooming) cherry blossom, temples, shrines, bullet trains, slow trains, onsens and even the basic ryokan after a long day hiking was an experience not be be missed. Oh and did I mention the amazing food, both raw and cooked.. everything was tried, tasted and nearly everything was enjoyed ! I would recommend at least 3 or 4 days in Tokyo before starting this trip. I had 4 self guided days, which even allowing for jet-lag gave me enough time for a Mt Fuji visit and some city highlights. One my first day I did see the Emperor driving into the Imperial Palace, which I am told is an infrequent sighting, I took it as a good omen for the trip ahead.. which it certainly was. Our tour group was small, just six people, and our guide, Ko. Ko, a retired school teacher was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging and passionate to enlighten us with everything that is Japan. The itinerary of the tour was quite tight at times to get local transport sorted, however Ko had everything under control and due to the size of our group we were able to explore some few off-itinerary places.. this did cause Ko a few headaches but he took it all in his stride and always said “ はい、はい “ (hai, hai .. yes, yes) and as if by magic we appeared where we’d wanted to be. The hiking was tough at times, the biking relaxing, the kayaking could have been swapped for more biking, the travel between locations was inevitably time consuming however the views made it worthwhile. More time in the villages would have been nice but we would have missed connecting transport.. something had to be sacrificed. The tour doesn’t include a Hiroshima visit, so I decided to spend a few extra days in Osaka at the end of the tour and did a day trip there. This day trip was with a group of 40+ people and made me fully appreciate how lucky I was doing the previous 12 days in a small tour group. Oh, and a word of warning, be prepared to take more photos than you can imagine. I took over 5000 photos in the 20 days I was in Japan.. I absolutely embraced the Japanese photo-taking culture!
Eimear
May 04, 2025
This trip was fantastic, I loved the hiking and cycling and it was a great balance of activities and sight-seeing. Everything was well-organised. Our guide, Dai, was fantastic, sharing lots of information and recommendations and making the trip really special for us. I would highly recommend!
Victoria
Apr 20, 2025
This trip was amazing. A great way to see the lesser traveled parts of Japan and to get off of the beaten path. Everything is meticulously organized so all you have to do is show up and have a great time. Our leader, Hisa, made sure we were all very well taken care of and even took photos of the group during all of the activities so that we could be present and enjoy the moment.
Arman
Apr 19, 2025
Our tour guide made this trip an enjoyable memorable holiday. Thank you Hisa!
David
Apr 14, 2025
Amazing and insightful experience of the culture and history of Japan in the middle of a beautiful cherry blossom spring. Were provided an insight into the country in ways you would never have access to of self guided or in a large tour. Combination of hiking, biking and kayaking was perfect to experience all aspects of this beautiful country.
Matthew
Nov 21, 2024
Japan is wonderfully perfect just in the hospitality, cleanliness, service, transportation and people. Hiking and biking off the most visited spots adds 10 fold to this trip. I will recommend to all my friends and family.
Tanya
Nov 20, 2024
This tour was amazing! Japan has blown me away and our tour guide made it super special, with all his knowledge he shared. I loved all the hiking and bike riding and getting off the beaten track and into the mountains as well as the big cities. I can’t wait to come back! Thanks Hisa 🙏
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