Walk Japan Ltd. pioneered and specialises in off-the-beaten-track walking tours of Japan. Since 1992, it has been introducing little-known areas of Japan that would otherwise remain elusive to most visitors. Avoiding tourist buses, Walk Japan’s tours bring fascinating aspects of the country up close, and enable participants to mix with local people and experience a slice of their way of life.
Former Tokyo resident Paul Christie, Walk Japan CEO and managing director, said: “As with life in most capital cities, the countryside often remains less well known. But appreciating other regions will make your time here a fulfilled and connected experience”.
Walk Japan’s tours also help the traveller to gain insights into local history, culture and society.
Most of the tours are suitable for people of reasonable fitness. “The emphasis is on soaking up the atmosphere and not racing through Japan”, said Christie.
The firm recently introduced shorter versions of some of its tours, designed to help visitors get the most out of their stay, even if it is only brief. These trips, lasting up to only five days, nevertheless offer in-depth experiences for those with less time to spend here. These are highlights of two of its popular short-stay tours.
Kiso Road
One of the most beautiful sections of the Nakasendo Way, a classic walking tour that follows the ancient route through the Kiso Valley of central Japan as far as the high alpine Kaida Plateau. One travels through some of the nation’s most picturesque and historical villages, stays in rural, family-run inns and relaxes in onsen thermal hot spring baths. Meals are a treat of local cuisine and, because one is deep in the mountains, the ingredients include many locally grown vegetables, morsels foraged in the surrounding mountains and fresh-water fish caught in nearby streams and rivers.
Yakushima Adventure
This tour accesses some of Japan’s most dramatic scenery through ancient, sub-tropical rainforests with time to enjoy the best of local food and onsen hot spring baths along the way. The giant cedars and remarkable natural stone formations of Yakushima, an island off the southern tip of Kyushu, are the highlights of this tour. So spectacular and significant is the environment of Yakushima that it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Other popular tours include:
• Kunisaki Trek
• Kyushu Expedition
• Hokkaido Hike
• Mt Fuji Circuit
• Shogun Trail
• Custom tours are tailored for individuals and groups of up to 13 people
• Tour leaders are fluent in Japanese and English, and have knowledge about, and experience in, living here
• Featured in National Geographic, Business Week, Time Asia and Rough Guides
• Tours are graded from not very taxing to climbing mountains
For more details:
www.walkjapan.com | 090-5026-3638
