Back Roads of Japan
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
From AUD $5264 Was AUD $7019
Small Group
Average
Rating
(20 reviews)
Back Roads of Japan
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
11 days
Small Group
Budget
Average
English
Experience Overview
Wander off the beaten path away from Japan's big cities and popular sites with this 11-day tour that takes you to destinations that are often overlooked.
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Hagi Community Homestay, Hagi Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Hands-On Moment: Traditional Paper-making Lesson, Mihomisumi
- Modern Tokyo walking tour
- Zenkoji Temple visit (Nagano)
- Jigokudani Monkey Park visit (Nagano)
- Matsumoto Castle visit
- Hagi Community Homestay welcome ceremony
- Hagi cycling tour
- Tottori sand dunes visit
- Tottori fish market visit
- Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine visit
- Japan Rail (JR) pass (7 days)
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (8 nts), Homestay (2 nts, multi-share).
- 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Transport
- Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle, subway, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Highlights
- Spot snow monkeys in Nagano
- Explore a 16th-century samurai castle
- Cycle through the rural town of Hagi
- Experience a homestay in a traditional Japanese community.
Trip Details
11 days
Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle, subway, walking.
English
Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Budget
Classic, Budget
Average
Itinerary
Day 1: Tokyo
There are no activities planned today until your evening welcome meeting. Please ensure you arrive on time for the welcome meeting and bring your passport so your CEO can collect the required information for your train tickets. Refer to your voucher for the most up to date welcome meeting time.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Hotel En Michi
Day 2: Tokyo
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Join your group for a guided orientation walk as you explore eclectic and modern Tokyo.Accommodation - Hotel En Michi
Day 3: Tokyo/Nagano
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Activity - Visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where wild snow monkeys can be seen bathing in the natural hot springs. The pool where most of the monkeys soak is man made, fed by the hot springs. Along the walking paths up to the pools other monkeys tend to stop and watch visitors curiously.Accommodation - Hotel Nagano Avenue
Day 4: Nagano
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.Activity - Stop at the castle of Matsumoto one of Japan's most treasured castles, maintaining it's original wooden interior and stone exterior. Explore this castle where 16th century Samurai once roamed before venturing out with the group to wander Matsumoto's ancient streets and or dine in a traditional storehouse.Transport - Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.Activity - Visit the Buddhist temple of Zenkō-ji, one of the last remaining pilgrimage sites. Built in the 7th century, the city of Nagano was built around the already standing structure.Accommodation - Hotel Nagano Avenue
Day 5: Nagano/Otsu
Meals included: Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Biwako Otsu Prince
Day 6: Otsu/Hagi
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - Get to know a local family at this G Adventures for Good-supported community homestay in Hagi, a farming, fishing and historical heritage town. In recent years, due to the rapidly aging population and limited income opportunities in many of the rural areas of Japan, many community members have had to leave Hagi in order to make a living. Learn about local history and customs, and enjoy a home-cooked meal with your hosts.Accommodation - Homestay in Hagi
Day 7: Hagi
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Explore Hagi on a cycling excursion led by your CEO. Enjoy the slow pace of life as you pedal past the city's samurai era architecture, and cycle along the Japanese Sea.Activity - Get to know a local family at this G Adventures for Good-supported community homestay in Hagi, a farming, fishing and historical heritage town. In recent years, due to the rapidly aging population and limited income opportunities in many of the rural areas of Japan, many community members have had to leave Hagi in order to make a living. Learn about local history and customs, and enjoy a home-cooked meal with your hosts.Accommodation - Homestay in Hagi
Day 8: Hagi/Tottori
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Activity - Learn the traditional art of "washi" paper making. Take home your handmade washi as a memento.Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Accommodation - New Otani Tottori
Day 9: Tottori/Kyoto
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan, the Tottori Sand Dunes (or "Tottori Sakyu") were formed thousands of years ago when sand was washed away from a nearby river. Walk amongst the dunes and opt to climb one to take in scenic views of the coastline.Activity - Check out Tottori's harbour fish market, home to fresh seafood and some of Japan's best crab. Walk amongst the stalls and watch the locals in action. Opt to try a tasty dish in the market's restaurant section.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
Day 10: Kyoto
Kyoto is home to over 2,000 temples, including some of the most magnificent in the country, dating back centuries. Use free time to continue exploring, the options are endless – the city also boasts museums, castles, and traditional gardens – or opt to visit neighbouring Nara or Osaka.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Visit the Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area.Free_time - Explore more of this cultural hub.Accommodation - Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
Day 11: Kyoto
We highly recommend booking post-nights to explore more of this beautiful city.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
- Flights to and from origin and destinations
- Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
- Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
- Recommended gratuities/tipping
- Optional activities/tours
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.
You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.
Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.
This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.
Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.
If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.
If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.
Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
- Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
- Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
From
AUD $7019
Duration: 11 days
Trip Type: Small Group
Activity Level: Average
Wander off the beaten path away from Japan's big cities and popular sites with this 11-day tour that takes you to destinations that are often overlooked.
Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 22 Apr 2026
Customer Reviews
12/26/2023
Great trip at a decent price, but it's always wise to look at other offers and compare.
12/26/2023
Mack! He was an absolute legend. He went above and beyond and all of the place we stayed were close to the transport. The hotels were great and the itinerary was accurate.
Tour Operator
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
12/26/2023
Great trip at a decent price, but it's always wise to look at other offers and compare.
12/26/2023
Mack! He was an absolute legend. He went above and beyond and all of the place we stayed were close to the transport. The hotels were great and the itinerary was accurate.
12/26/2023
Good unique experience, but can mostly organize yourself
12/26/2023
Easy to arrange, pressure taken away having a guide managing moving and exploring.
12/26/2023
The tour was fantastic, providing access to destinations and experiences of the Japanese culture outside the typical touristy areas.
12/26/2023
The home stay element is unique.
11/29/2023
Very well organized trip with an exceptional guide.
11/29/2023
Having now had 2 trips with G Adventures for our family group, our fabulous and expert guides took the pressure off us and organized everything and were also extremely accommodating when we wanted a little flexibility.
11/29/2023
Very well organized.
11/21/2023
small group
11/21/2023
Well organized and a good price.
11/21/2023
G Adventures has never let us down in terms of providing an amazing experience at a reasonable price point.
11/21/2023
Well organized with back up plans for when the unexpected arises. CEO makes moving through a foreign country enjoyable and stress free. Accommodation was high quality. We really liked that the tour group included people from all over the world.
11/21/2023
Everything in the tour was so meticulously planned out to the minute, so that you are able to fit so much into each day and minimize time spent planning, figuring out trains, etc.
11/21/2023
Travel with a small group enables to to see / learn more.
11/14/2023
Loved the small group style and interesting choice of places and towns we went to, very different from other tours
11/14/2023
I think it was a great trip but some of the activities could have been a bit better
11/14/2023
Our CEO was great. Interesting experiences, good introduction to Japanese history and culture.
11/14/2023
The experience overall was very good but the group was younger than expected.
11/14/2023
Overall experience was excellent
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