• Discover Japan’s world-class alpine landscapes in their early summer brilliance on a 3-day wilderness hike

• Stay in mountain-top lodges and absorb the spectacular panorama, sunsets and sunrises

• Walk a section of the Salt Road historic trail in the alpine foothills and stay in an old country house in a picture-perfect hill village

• Enjoy an uplifting half-day cycle tour of the Azumino Plains, learning about wasabi growing, and visiting rustic country shrines and an elegant historic house

 

The Japan Alps are home to the highest peaks of Japan other than Mt Fuji. Snow-capped peaks soaring to over 3000 m, windswept ridges commanding panoramic views, luxuriant temperate and subarctic forests, and deep gorges cut by rushing streams are some of the spectacular landscapes in the Alps that can be truly appreciated only through multi-day wilderness hikes. This non-technical trekking-based tour will give you a taste of Japan’s world-class alpine scenery that is little known outside the country. A day of historic trail walking along a section of the Salt Road, an ancient trade route in the Alps foothills, and a half-day cycle tour through the beautiful agrarian landscapes of the Azumino Plains, will precede the alpine hike as a ‘warm-up’.

 

Day 1: Travel Tōkyō–Ōmachi (Nagano), Ōmachi town walk (including Salt Road Museum), travel Ōmachi–Hakuba; Day 2: Salt Road historic trail walk, country village stay; Day 3: travel Otari–Azumino, Azumino country cycling; Day 4: Japan Alps trek (ascent); Day 5: Japan Alps trek (traverse); Day 6: Japan Alps trek (descent), Kamikōchi hiking, travel Kamikōchi–Matsumoto; Day 7: Matsumoto Castle and town walk, travel Matsumoto–Tōkyō.

 

Accommodation: 2 nights Japanese-style alpine lodges (shared facilities, no bath; Japanese-style bedding); 1 night minshuku (shared facilities; Japanese-style bedding); 1 night traditional Japanese country house (private rental; Japanese-style bedding); 1 night mid-range ryokan (Japanese-style bedding; onsen bath), 1 night mid-range city hotel

 

Major themes: HIKING, NATURE, HISTORY, COUNTRY WALKING AND CYCLING

 

Physical fitness requirement: VERY HIGH

 

Cultural tolerance requirement: VERY HIGH

 

Departure date: 15 July 2018

 

Bookings before: 26 April 2018

 

Cost: from AUD $3600­ per person

 

Maximum group size: 6 persons