Work Japan has added seven new tours in Japan this year, including guided and self-guided tour options for travelers.
Five new tours have been added to central and northern Honshu, Japan's main island, and two tours have been added to southern Kyushu.
Oyakuen Garden in Fukishima Prefecture, Japan. Photo courtesy of Walk Japan
In the northern Honshu region of the Tohoku region, travelers can choose a nine-day guided tour or a 10-day self-guided Michinoku Coastal Trail itinerary that explores the 637-mile section of the trail between Hachinohe and Kesennuma. Travelers can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sanriku coastline and visit coastal fishing and farming communities. Prices for the nine-day guided tour start at $3,300, while the 10-day self-guided tour starts at $2,000 per person.
Matsumoto and the Salt Road
In central Honshu, travelers can explore an ancient trade route to the historic castle town of Matsumoto on the nine-day Shio-no-Michi: The Salt Road itinerary. The journey takes participants through remote mountain villages before reaching the coast of the Sea of Japan. Guests will see a rural landscape with rice fields, beech forests, and other natural features against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The itinerary is offered from May to June and September to November, and prices start at $3,000 per person.
Another self-guided itinerary option is available in central Honshu. The six-day self-guided Tokaido Wayfarer is a walking culinary adventure through the central Tokaido region, connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Along the route, guests will discover rural landscapes, picturesque coastlines, and towns nestled in between. The itinerary is available year-round, and prices start at $1,200 per person.
Climate's Gourmet Travel Itinerary
Five-day Onsen Gourmet: Gifu Journey focuses on the central Honshu prefecture of Gifu, visiting this remote region of mountain ranges, deep valleys, plateaus, isolated villages, and several historically preserved towns. Guests on this journey will experience hot springs and sake while discovering the cultural roots of the region’s rustic cuisine. This itinerary is available through November and starts at $2,500 per person.
In Kyushu, travelers can follow in the footsteps of the monks on a six-day self-guided Kunisaki Wayfarer journey to the lesser-known but picturesque Kunisaki Peninsula. Guests will visit elegant temples along lush forest paths and quiet country roads. The tour begins at Usa Grand Shrine, one of Japan’s most important shrines, and ends on the island of Himeshima in the Seto Inland Sea. The self-guided Kunisaki Wayfarer season runs from January to June and September to December, with rates starting at $1,300 per person.
Travelers can also explore Kyushu’s hot spring culture with a 5-day Onsen Gourmet: Oita & Kumamoto itinerary starting in Japan’s hot spring capital, Beppu. Guests will explore Oita and neighboring Kumamoto prefectures in northern Kyushu, known for their diverse countryside and high-quality local cuisine. This itinerary is available year-round and starts at $2,300 per person.
