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.
Our Price From
A$5,379 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $1,961 per person
Save 27%
Trip Length
11 Days
Trip Starts
Kyoto
Trip Ends
Tokyo
Departures
Mar 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
Guiding Style
Fully Guided
Itinerary
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. Stay: Hotel En Michi
Take a CEO-led walking tour of eclectic modern Tokyo from the hub of Shinjuku to Shibuya through to Harajuku. Stay: Hotel En Michi
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. Stay: Hotel Nagano Avenue
Enjoy a day-trip to quaint Matsumoto and visit one of Japan's most treasured castles. Return to Nagano and explore historic Zenkoji Temple. Stay: Hotel Nagano Avenue
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. Stay: Biwako Otsu Prince (D)
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 enjoy dinner together. Stay: Homestay in Hagi (B/D)
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. Stay: Homestay in Hagi (B/D)
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. Stay: New Otani Tottori (B/L)
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. Stay: Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
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. Stay: Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya
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
- 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.
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout
- 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
- Bus, bullet train, local train, bicycle, subway, walking
- 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
AUD
Saturday
14 Feb 2026
14 Feb 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
24 Feb 2026
24 Feb 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$6,099
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
21 Feb 2026
21 Feb 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
03 Mar 2026
03 Mar 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$6,099
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
28 Feb 2026
28 Feb 26
Tokyo
Tuesday
10 Mar 2026
10 Mar 26
Kyoto
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$6,099
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 Enquire. 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 Enquire. 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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