Globetrotters galore may be surprised to hear that the winter season is an ideal time to explore the beauty of Japan. Without the hordes of tourists and cooler temperatures, the holiday season is a sensational time to delve into adventure with Oku Japan’s culturally immersive trekking experiences.
Oku Japan is a champion Kyōto-based tour operator offering a new self-guided, winter-oriented trip in Central Japan to its catalog. Discover miraculous alpine sceneries, take on breathtaking snowshoeing expeditions, and unwind in secluded hot springs within the mountains of Japan’s extraordinary cities of Nagano and Gifu. The launch of Oku Japan’s debut six-day self-guided trip offers travelers the chance to experience a serene expedition through nature and total cultural immersion.
“In my opinion, winter is the best season to explore Japan – there are no crowds, the days are crisp and fresh, and the onsens feel even better at the end of a day of exploration,” says Hiroshi Kawaguchi, general manager for Oku Japan. “Our new Nagano and Gifu trip takes full advantage of the best that winter offers, as do our other winter-focused trips along the Nakasendō Trail and in Hokkaidō.”
The six-day self-guided route will have travelers beginning their journey in Matsumoto, a medieval castle town tucked away amid mountains in Central Japan. An enchanting pathway to the Japanese Alps, and home to the famous Crow Castle, travelers have the opportunity to traverse the grounds before taking a train into the Northern Japan Alps, where they can bask in panoramic views of the winter landscape. Guests can then take a dip and indulge at an onsen ryokan that is set in a serene and isolated mountain village. Additionally, a magical following day consists of a snowshoeing tour, in which a picturesque stroll takes travelers through snow-covered forests and frosted lakes.
The odyssey continues into Hida-Furukawa, an erstwhile castle town, where visitors can explore sundry buildings that can be traced back to the Edo Period, directly adjacent to its dazzling canals and general allure. A cozy supper will take place at the home of a native where vacationers will cook with locally sourced ingredients, to study how to prepare cuisine specific to the region. The evening will be spent in a classical townhome that presents an exhibition by local artisans who create specialty furniture and art. To conclude the trip, guests will continue to embark on walking excursions throughout the area before boarding a train to Takayama for the last night.
The next adventure is an eight-day walking tour, where voyagers will snowshoe from village to village amidst the most beautiful parts of the acclaimed Nakasendō Trail. Beginning in Kyōto, the group travels by train to Nakatsugawa, an old post town known for its stunning views of exquisite gorges, waterfalls, and lakes. The tour then continues to the city of Ochiai where guests will trek through cedar forests among cobblestone trails dating back to the Tokugawa Period. The group proceeds to venture on to Tsumago, which is stationed along one of the most charming and preserved sections of the entire trail. A town rich in history, Tsumago is home to locals whose families have resided there for hundreds of years. Travelers will then snowshoe through the post towns of Yabuhara and Narai and spend the night in a traditional onsen in the city of Kiso-Fukushima. By train, the group will then set out to explore Matsumoto Castle, which is considered one of the honored national treasures of Japan. After the tour, guests finally will get to traverse through one of the most populous and iconic capitals in the world: Tōkyō.
Oku Japan offers one final package that consists of a seven-day self-guided walking trip starting in Kushiro on Hokkaidō’s Eastern Pacific Coast. Visitors will first observe a nature reserve, where they can witness the exotic red-crowned cranes inside a dazzling winter oasis. The group will then go on to explore Akan-Mashū National Park, home to Japan’s largest settlement of indigenous Ainu people. Here, travelers will have the rare chance to bear witness to an Ainu ritual dance. Guests will then explore Akan’s landmark volcanoes, Mount Oakan, and Mount Meakan, followed by a trip to Lake Mashū.
Regarded as the most picturesque part of the seven-day voyage, Lake Mashū is a crater lake within the heart of an ancient volcano, renowned for its crystal-clear water and the most beautiful vistas on the island. After a day of hiking and snowshoeing, the group will stay overnight in a traditional onsen ryokan in the village of Kawayu Onsen. The adventure concludes with a train ride to the Shiretoko Peninsula, one of Japan’s most remote regions which possesses a unique year-round ecosystem. Home to over 275 species of bird, the peninsula is the perfect bird-watching escape. Lastly, the final day exploring the stunning frozen Furepe Waterfall and visiting the Shiretoko National Park, closing the tour with a relaxing overnight in a classical onsen accommodation.
Oku Japan is offering self-guided walking packages with prices ranging from $2,070 to $4,100 USD per person. For more information, visit www.okujapan.com.