Back Roads of Japan

This small-group tour from G Adventures begins with two days to take the measure of Tokyo and Kyoto, before heading off the usual beaten track. Matsumoto, home to a 16th-century samurai castle, offers a glimpse into Japan’s feudal past with its black walls and wooden interiors. In Nagano, there’s the chance to watch the snow monkeys in the Jigokudani Monkey Park, monkeys bathing in natural hot springs.

The ride continues to Hagi, where bicycles are the best way to get around this quiet, well-preserved town, and a community homestay provides a genuine experience of local life. The Tottori sand dunes afford wide, sandy spaces to stretch legs and visit the fish market nearby. Throughout, travel is by bullet train, local trains, bus and on foot, moving at a measured pace that balances city hustle with rural calm. A Japan Rail pass is included for seven days, though you’ll need to pack light and carry your own luggage through stations.

The Chief Experience Officer will guide the way, leaving space for independent wandering and decisions on where to eat. The itinerary is flexible and honest about the physical demands, such as walking an average of 15,000 steps a day. It’s a tour that acknowledges the quirks of Japan’s transport and accommodation, with time to adjust to its particular rhythms.