A Luxury Japan Adventure Tour on Land and Water
Luxury Japan adventure tours combine diverse landscapes with rich culture and wellness. Over 11 days, trek through the Japanese Alps, raft down a river gorge and follow in the steps of samurai. Cycle with views of Mount Fuji and hike through ethereal, tangled forests in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park before heading to Kyoto, where you’ll bike between shrines and temples. Finish on Miyajima Island, where you’ll kayak right up to the ‘floating’ Itsukushima Shrine.
Trip highlights
- Trace the steps of samurai on a portion of the ancient Nakasendo Way
- Take a tandem float with a paragliding champion in the Japanese Alps
- Hike through Aokigahara, the ‘Sea of Trees’, at the base of Mount Fuji
- Enjoy forest bathing and onsen experiences, soaking in hot springs
- Cycle between temples, shrines and Nijo Castle in Kyoto
- Kayak around the ‘floating’ torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine
Our bespoke trips include
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Days 1–4
Trace the steps of samurai in the Kiso Valley
The densely forested Kiso Valley lies at the foot of Mount Ontake. Ascending this sacred volcano – guided by an Ontake worshipper and visiting shrines along the way – is among the rich experiences to start your private Japan adventure tour.
Swim in clear streams and waterfall pools. Take a private kayaking or canoeing tour through ancient canyons on the Kiso River gorge. And end active days with stargazing under incredibly dark skies.
From the former post town of Tsumago-juku, you’ll get to see where samurai and feudal lords once slept, before hiking a portion of the 17th-century Nakasendo Way or Samurai Trail. You’ll also practice shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, inhaling the scent of hinoki trees.
Dive right in
Paragliding
Canyon canoeing
Samurai Trail
Float through the Japanese Alps with a champion paraglider
Riding tandem with Kuremoto Yoshiki, a highly decorated paragliding pilot, you’ll rise up to 1,200 metres in the air. While gliding, soak up incredible views of the Japanese Alps and valleys, which are especially lovely with fall foliage and in cherry blossom season.
Paddle down a gorge on the Kiso River
In a canoe or raft, you’ll cruise along the limpid, green-tinted water of the Kiso River with your knowledgeable guide, paddling past the high, forest-clad walls of the gorge. Finish with freshly prepared lunch, served by a butler in a bamboo grove by a sandy river beach.
Hike a portion of the ancient Nakasendo Way
Follow a five-mile section of the storied route from the former post town of Tsumago-juku. Your private guide will share tales as you trace the steps of samurai, who walked beneath the giant trees, trained at the waterfall and rested at the teahouse you’ll also visit.
Days 4–6
Hike with views of Mount Fuji in Hakone
Your Japan multi-adventure tour continues in the spa town of Hakone. Set within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, its focal point is Ashinoko Lake with views of Mount Fuji.
You’ll spend your days traversing the volcanic valleys, mountains and forest trails on guided hikes and cycling tours, stopping at shrines and exploring the Fuji Five Lakes of the national park.
After active days immersed in the landscapes, soothe muscles in the area’s many onsens or hot springs, attached to Japanese ryokans (traditional inns) or reached via forested trails.
Where you could stay
Go deeper
Sea of Trees
Old Tokaido
Bike tour
Mount Kintoki
Hike among oaks and lava beds in the Aokigahara Forest
On the northwestern face of Mount Fuji, the Aokigahara Forest or ‘Sea of Trees’ was created when the mountain erupted more than 1,200 years ago. On this guided trek, walk among towering oaks and around fat, tangled roots clad in emerald moss. And hear stories and legends about this sacred forest.
Visit Hakone Shrine and follow and ancient highway
Shinto shrine Hakone Gongen has buildings tucked in the forest and a torii gate rising from Ashinoko Lake. From here, hike the Preserved Old Tokaido Walking Trail, part of an ancient Edo highway. Follow the ishidatami (stone-paved path) through cedar forest to Amazake Chaya, a 17th-century teahouse.
Cycle around Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Explore Japan’s first national park by bicycle. On an itinerary adapted to suit you, your experienced local guide will take you to the best Mount Fuji viewpoints and scenic pathways. Pedal deep into the park, travelling down forested paths and seeing the Fuji Five Lakes, formed by lava flow.
Reach the peak of Kintoki with a mountaineer
Ascend the 1,213-metre summit of Mount Kintoki. With a mountaineering guide, you’ll follow a trail through dense forest and past slopes with moss-covered trees and stones. At the top, pause for lunch at a rest house with views of Mount Fuji, Ashinoko Lake and the volcanic vents of Owakudani Valley.
Days 6–9
Cycle and walk between temples and shrines in Kyoto
Active Japan tours allow you to delve deeper into the country’s endlessly fascinating cultural heritage. Kyoto, the former imperial capital, is known for its high concentration of temples and Shinto shrines.
Take walking tours around grand palaces and down narrow streets lined with traditional wooden townhouses or machiya, looking out for geisha.
A bespoke cycling itinerary reveals beauty and history around every corner and down each side street. Pedal between the Zen Buddhist temples of Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, the latter known for its enchanting rock gardens. And explore 17th-century Nijo Castle, learning about its uguisubari or nightingale floors, designed to chirp to alert guards.
Where you could stay
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Make it mine
Bike tour
Karate lesson
Go on a cycling tour around classic Kyoto
Experience Kyoto’s rich heritage from a different perspective on a cycling tour of gilded shrines, ornate temple complexes and vast Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pedal down side streets and visit areas off the tourist trail. And ride through the towering bamboo forest of Arashiyama.
Take a private martial arts lesson in a temple
On this exclusive tour, you’ll visit a temple that’s not normally open to the public. In this extraordinary space, a karate expert and tutor will teach you the basics of the martial art. Learn some of the most important and popular moves in this fun, hands-on experience, which is tailored to all abilities.
Days 9–11
Soak in the sacred sites of Miyajima Island
Located just off the coast of Hiroshima in the Seto Inland Sea, compact Itsukushima is more commonly known as Miyajima or ‘shrine island’.
On the final stretch of your Japan adventure travel itinerary, you’ll be immersed in its sacred sites and natural beauty on coastal hikes and a trek up Mount Misen, the highest peak. Kayak to quiet beaches and the giant torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, which appears to float on the water at high tide.
And go cycling through important, and often sobering, sites in Hiroshima. Learn about the city’s rich heritage and see how it was rebuilt after the nuclear bomb.
See more
Mount Misen
Cycling in Hiroshima
Kayaking
Ascend Miyajima’s highest peak
At 1,755 feet, Mount Misen is the highest peak on Miyajima and rises within the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Itsukushima Shrine. Ride the Mount Misen Ropeway, a cable car that takes you close to the summit. From the station, you’ll be guided on a relatively short hike to the top for sea views and more trails.
Discover Hiroshima’s heritage on a private cycling tour
Delve into Hiroshima’s culture and history on this immersive cycling tour. Visit the only building standing after the A-bomb, now renamed Hiroshima Peace Memorial, and spend time at Peace Memorial Park. Along the way, your guide will share their rich local knowledge of the city, including what life was like here before World War II.
Paddle around Miyajima’s coastline and to Itsukushima Shrine
Setting off from Hiroshima, you’ll paddle across the Seto Inland Sea to Itsukushima Shrine, seeing the vermillion torii gate up close. Your guide will then lead you around the shoreline of Miyajima Island, for views of the old town and Mount Misen. You’ll stop at a quiet beach, with time to soak in the surroundings before returning to the mainland.
On our recent Japan journey, we had excellent guides, the logistics of travel between cities was great, and the itinerary worked out very well.
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive Impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
