Overview
Read reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 11 Day Back Roads of Japan. 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. Visit the treasured castle of Matsumoto and learn about samurai culture, relax in a traditional hot spring-fed onsen, explore the quaint city of Hagi by bicycle, and settle in at a community homestay to truly immerse yourself in the local culture. Of course, there's time before and after to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, making this trip a well-rounded glimpse into Japan's past and present.
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Our Price From
US$3,472 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $1,157 per person
Trip Length
11 Days
Trip Starts
Tokyo
Trip Ends
Kyoto
Departures
May 2026 to Dec 2028
Countries Visited:
Operator
G Adventures
1 Trip Review
Avg. Rating: 5/5
Trip Style
Classic
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
6-99 Years
Max. Group Size
15
Pace
Moderate
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
AJBR
Itinerary
Arrive to your start hotel before 4:00 pm and join your group and CEO for a Welcome Meeting in the evening around 6:00 pm. 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.
Accommodation:
Hotel En Michi
Included Experiences
- Meet Your CEO and Group: 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.
Take a CEO-led walking tour of eclectic modern Tokyo from the hub of Shinjuku to Shibuya through to Harajuku.
Accommodation:
Hotel En Michi
Included Experiences
- Orientation Walk: Join your group for a guided orientation walk as you explore eclectic and modern Tokyo.
Optional Experiences
- Sensō-ji Temple Visit: Explore Sensō-ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple and the oldest temple in the entire city. Leading up to the temple the street is lined with shops selling yummy food and great souvenirs.
- Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Visit: Visit this shrine dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths.
Journey to Nagano, located in the Japanese Alps and host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Discover the world-famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and watch Japanese snow monkeys bathing in the natural hot springs.
Accommodation:
Hotel Nagano Avenue
Included Experiences
- Bullet Train: Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
- Jigokudani Monkey Park Visit: 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.
Enjoy a day-trip to quaint Matsumoto and visit one of Japan's most treasured castles. Return to Nagano and explore historic Zenkoji Temple.
Accommodation:
Hotel Nagano Avenue
Included Experiences
- Local Train: Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
- Matsumoto Castle: 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.
- Zenkō-ji Temple: 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.
Travel to Otsu in Shiga prefecture, located on the banks of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. Settle in and relax with a stroll around this picturesque lake before heading out to enjoy a delicious bowl of Ramen for dinner.
Accommodation:
Biwako Otsu Prince
Included Meals:
Dinner
Included Experiences
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Grab a quick breakfast before heading off, on a long travel day. In the late afternoon, arrive in the quaint city of Hagi, a former castle town that boasts feudal architecture. Take part in a welcome ceremony with the local residents, and meet your host family at a community homestay, a G Adventures for Good project. Get to know each other as you cook dinner together.
Accommodation:
Homestay in Hagi
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Hagi Community Homestay: 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 help make a home-cooked meal with your hosts.
Explore rural Hagi on a guided morning cycle, spotting samurai architecture along the way. On return, experience authentic Japanese countryside life. Return to your homestay in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner with your host family.
Accommodation:
Homestay in Hagi
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Hagi Cycling Excursion: 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.
- Hagi Community Homestay: 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 help make a home-cooked meal with your hosts.
Bid farewell to your host family after enjoying breakfast together. Later, travel to Miho-misumi by train, taking in scenic views along the way. Learn the art of making "washi," a UNESCO-recognized traditional Japanese paper, then enjoy a Japanese lunch along the beautiful coastline before continuing to the seaside town of Tottori.
Accommodation:
New Otani Tottori
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Included Experiences
- Bullet Train: Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
- Traditional Paper-making Lesson: Learn the traditional art of "washi" paper making. Take home your handmade washi as a memento.
Spend the morning exploring Tottori's scenic sand dunes, some reaching 50m (164 ft) in height. After, visit the local fish market and opt for a fresh seafood lunch. In the late afternoon, travel to Kyoto for two nights in the traditional heart of Japan.
Accommodation:
Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
Included Experiences
- Tottori Sand Dunes Visit: 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.
- Tottori Fish Market Visit: 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.
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Visit the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, famed for an impressive 10,000 red torii gates. This afternoon, enjoy free time in this picturesque city. Opt to experience zen gardens, teahouses, shrines, and local gift shops – and maybe even spot a real-life geisha. 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.
Accommodation:
Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
Included Experiences
- Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Visit: 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.
Optional Experiences
- Nijo Castle and Gardens Visit: Visit the Nijo Castle, the residence of the first shogun of the Edo Period built in 1603. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the property is divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circular fortification), Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and the gorgeous gardens that surround both.
- Gion Walk: Walk through Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Visit shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.
- Kiyomizu Temple Visit: Visit the Kiyomizu Temple, a Buddhist temple in Kyoto and part of Kyoto's UNESCO listed sights. Originally built in 798, the current structures were built in 1633 without the use of a single nail.
- Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Visit: Explore Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion, named for the temple’s top two floors that are covered in gold leaf. The temple is surrounded by trees and sits on a reflective pond, making this must-see in Kyoto a perfect place for photos. While the temple can be busy, there are gardens around the area to explore once you’ve had enough of the view.
Depart at any time. We highly recommend booking post-nights to explore more of this beautiful city.
Trip Inclusions
- 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.
- 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
- Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle, subway, walking
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout
- Hotels (8 Nights), Homestay (2 Nights, Multi-share)
- Japan is one of the most populous countries in the world and space is at a premium. Therefore, hotel rooms are small! Additionally, many Japanese hotels do not have designated non-smoking rooms. Therefore, we ask hotels to deodorize rooms before check in. Please note rooms for couples usually still have two twin beds in Japan. Rooms with one large Queen or King bed are not common.
- Ryokan are traditional inns found across Japan. Featuring tatami floors (soft mats of woven straw), futon beds, Japanese-style baths, cotton kimono (casual robe worn to lounge around or to head to the bath), and elaborate meals (often served in the comfort of your own room), a ryokan is the perfect place to experience traditional customs and hospitality. As ryokan are usually top tier accommodations, most guests stay only one night, often to celebrate a special occasion or holiday. Don’t be intimidated by the formalities inherent to a stay at a ryokan, your hosts will welcome you the same way they do all their guests. Have fun and enjoy this relaxing opportunity to learn more about Japan’s unique customs.
- Minshuku are Japan’s answer to the Western bed and breakfast. Similar to ryokan, they have traditional features like tatami floors, futon beds, and Japanese-style baths. Minshuku are often family-run, and as such they offer a great opportunity to interact with local people and learn more about the nation’s customs. More affordable and simpler than ryokan, minshuku tend to have smaller guestrooms, shared bathroom facilities, and any included meals (traditional, local, and delicious) are served in a communal dining room.
- Please note that some of the traditional Japanese inns used on this tour only offer shared bathing facilities. This means that individual shower stalls will not be available, instead several shower stations are available in an open, same-sex bathing area. Shared bathhouses and onsen (hot springs) are an essential part of Japan’s culture, traditionally serving as a place for men or women to gather, relax, and discuss the days happenings.
- 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: Classic
Get the best of both worlds with G's Classic trips as your knowledgeable CEO (Chief Experience Officer) leads you to iconic highlights and hidden gems, while ample free time lets you discover what excites you most. Enjoy included meals showcasing local flavours, plus opportunities to dive deeper into the food scene independently. Stay in comfortable hotels, authentic homestays, and unique accommodations that capture the spirit of each destination.
Trip Reviews (1)
Fabulous way to see Japan 2
Bron, NSW, Australia, Apr 2018
Our G Adventures 'Backroads of Japan' was a wonderful experience. Our CEO Kiyoe was very friendly, knowledgeable and helped us with all aspects of the journey including assisting us with transportation details when we had independent time.
We had three days in Tokyo, which gave us an opportunity to meet with other group members. We went to Takayama, read more Kurashiki, Nagano and Kyoto. We learned about the culture and history of Japan and relevant information about each region we visited. Staying in a ryokan was a unique experience and the meals provided were highlights.
Another great benefit was that this tour usually runs with up to 15 people. We were fortunate to have only six people in our group. Overall, it was a very rewarding experience. I enjoyed the variety of transport used, with the shinkansen trips a highlight. Yvonne Brooks at Global Journeys was very helpful and I would not hesitate to contact her regarding another tour.
We had three days in Tokyo, which gave us an opportunity to meet with other group members. We went to Takayama, read more Kurashiki, Nagano and Kyoto. We learned about the culture and history of Japan and relevant information about each region we visited. Staying in a ryokan was a unique experience and the meals provided were highlights.
Another great benefit was that this tour usually runs with up to 15 people. We were fortunate to have only six people in our group. Overall, it was a very rewarding experience. I enjoyed the variety of transport used, with the shinkansen trips a highlight. Yvonne Brooks at Global Journeys was very helpful and I would not hesitate to contact her regarding another tour.
Dates & Pricing
USD
Saturday
02 May 2026
02 May 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
12 May 2026
12 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,889
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Monday
04 May 2026
04 May 26
Tokyo
Thursday
14 May 2026
14 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,889
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Wednesday
06 May 2026
06 May 26
Tokyo
Saturday
16 May 2026
16 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,889
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
09 May 2026
09 May 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
19 May 2026
19 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,889
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Monday
11 May 2026
11 May 26
Tokyo
Thursday
21 May 2026
21 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,629
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Wednesday
13 May 2026
13 May 26
Tokyo
Saturday
23 May 2026
23 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,629
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
16 May 2026
16 May 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
26 May 2026
26 May 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,629
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
23 May 2026
23 May 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
02 Jun 2026
02 Jun 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Exclusive Savings
Was: $4,629
US$3,472
Save $1,157
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Saturday
30 May 2026
30 May 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
09 Jun 2026
09 Jun 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,629
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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