Best of Northern Japan

Tokyo

Your airport pick up will meet you at Narita or Haneda International Airport (assuming your flight arrives after 8:00am and before 21:30) and will take to your hotel by public transportation. They will answer any of your questions and hand you your pocket internet device to use during your trip. They will also hand you a rechargeable transportation card to use on non-JR trains with about 2,000 yen initial credit for each traveler. Details directions will be included in your tour organizer send to you about 2 weeks before you depart for Japan.
Once you are checked in and had time to rest, you will be free to enjoy dinner anywhere you’d like. Make sure to ask your airport pick-up to provide a few recommendations before parting ways.

Nikko

Today you will travel to Nikko and stay in one of their famous Japanese ryokan inns. Nikko’s colorful shrines and temples, and its national park offer the visitor a wonderful combination of both Japanese history and natural beauty. Nikko means “sunlight,” and its shrines and temples were constructed in the 17th century in honor of the great shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. This complex of temples and shrines at Toshogu are the highlight of Nikko.
You will have dinner served at your ryokan and breakfast the following morning. After dinner we suggest bathing in one of the ryokan’s natural hot spring baths.

Aizu-Wakamatsu

This castle town is well known for its sake and samurai tradition because the Aizu clan remained loyal to the shogun even after the feudal leader was removed from power in the Meiji Restoration. While staying in Aizu-Wakamatsu we suggest you to visit Tsuruga Castle or Aizu Bukeyashiki (a large reconstructed samurai house), Suehiro Sake Brewery,… The ride from Nikko to Aizu-Wakamatsu for about 3 hours and 20 minutes

Aizu-Wakamatsu

Today after breakfast at your ryokan in Aizu-Wakamatsu you will head to Ouchijuku. Like Tsumago or Magome along the Nakasendo road; Ouchijuku is a former post town along the Aizu-Nishi Kaido trade route, which connected Aizu with Nikko during the Edo Period. Ouchijuku is located in Shimogo Town, about 20 kilometers south of Aizu. The nearest station is Yunokami Onsen on the Aizu Railroad (it’s a 35 minutes ride, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass), from where Ouchijuku can be reached in a 15 minute taxi ride (around 2000 yen one way).

Aizu-Wakamatsu

Today you will explore the beautiful and off the beaten path area of Urabandai. The best way to explore the area is to take a sightseeing taxi. The taxi drivers are very knowledgeable and can introduce you to the tasty food spots that only locals know. We will try our best to reserve an English speaking driver for you but it depends on availability so we invite you to reserve your tour as soon as possible.

Matsushima

Today you will travel to Matsushima, a group of about 260 shima (islands) were covered in matsu (pine trees) and this is how the area got its name. Along with Miyajima and Amanohashidate, Matsushima Bay is considered one of the most scenic places in Japan. The islands can be viewed from various lookout points. You will take a local cruise to best enjoy Matsushima. The train from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Matsushima Station will take approximately 3 hours.

Yamadera

Today you will arrive in the town of Yamadera which is is famous for its scenic temple located in the mountains northeast of Yamagata City. The temple grounds extend high up a steep mountainside, from where there are great views down onto the valley. The temple was founded over a thousand years ago in 860 as a temple of the Tendai sect under the official name Risshakuji. Its popular name, Yamadera, literally means “mountain temple” in Japanese. Today’s highlight after climbing about 1000 steps will be the Godaido Hall. From there you will have a relaxing view on the valley. If time allows we invite to hike in the surrounding forest where you will find stone lanterns and small Buddha statues. Dinner will be served at your accommodations so check-in by 17:30. The train ride from Matsuhima to Yamadera is about 1 hour and 25 minutes long.

Ginzan Onsen

Ginzan Onsen is a well-known hot spring town in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture. The area originally developed around a silver mine; however, these days it is better known as one of Japan’s prettiest onsen towns with historic ryokan lined up along the river. Ginzan Onsen’s traditionally styled ryokan occupy beautiful three and four story wooden buildings that, with their exposed woodwork and white plaster walls, evoke nostalgic feelings of a bygone era. There is one exception, however, in the Fujiya ryokan at the center of town, which was recently rebuilt by famous modern architect Kuma Kengo. Dinner is included at your ryokan so check-in by 17:30. The train ride from Yamadera to JR Oishida Station takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. From there you will take a shuttle bus to Ginzan Onsen (30 minutes ride).

Kakunodate

Kakunodate is a former castle and samurai town. Though the castle no longer remains, its samurai and merchant districts are relatively unchanged from its founding in 1620. Well preserved former residences that now serve as museums offer a glimpse into the samurai lifestyle. The Aoyagi House, with its thatched roof, is one of the most interesting. The Ishiguro House has a collection of samurai armor and clothing on display. This area is also famous for its cherry trees. The industry of cherry-bark veneer handicrafts, called kabazaiku, thrives here and visitors can purchase locally crafted items as souvenirs. Kabazaiku demonstrations are given in the Denshokan Museum, where these and other regional crafts are on display. The bus and train from Ginzan Onsen to Kakunodate Station takes about 4 hours.

Nyuto Onsen

Nyuto Onsen is a hot spring resort in the rural setting, surrounded by deep forest and mountains. Main features of Nyuto Onsen are simply to enjoy plenty of mountain and forest scenery, taste traditional Japanese meals and appreciate their natural hot-springs. In summer, thousands of flowers blossom and open up around you. While leaves on trees change to shiny golden colors in autumn which attracts many season admirers, on the other hand you may surprise the volume of snow falls in winter.  Dinner will be served early at your ryokan, check-in by 17:30. The transfer from Kakunodate to Nyuto Onsen will take about 45 minutes.

Nyuto Onsen

Today you can relax in your ryokan and enjoy its baths but if you like you can also visit other hot springs around Nyuto Onsen: Taenoyu, Kuroyu, Ganiba,… They charge a small fee for a bath during the day. Dinner will be served at your ryokan so come back on time.

Tokyo

Today after breakfast in Nyuto Onsen you will come back to Tokyo. It should be the perfect time to buy souvenirs, visit a few more unique sights or take some rest. This will be your last evening on this journey, if you want to arrange a specific dinner or activity in Tokyo feel free to ask us. It takes about 3 hours and a half from Nyuto Onsen to Tokyo Station.

Today you will fly home with memories that you will keep for the rest of your life.