Rural Family Adventure: Treasures of Japan's Heartland

8 days
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5/5 Excellent
3 reviews  
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Private Guided
Experience the warmth of rural Japan on this adventure for the whole family Our tour offers a fascinating insight into the Kansai area, heartland of Japan's culture and history. It offers a whole range of experiences from the urban sights of imperial Kyoto to rural immersion in the communities of Asuka and Sasayama. 
From$2,686
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Visit some of the best rural regions and old capitals of JapanMeet free-roaming animals - Japanese deer and macaques
    • Cycling through peaceful countrysideOutdoor kitchen experience in the peaceful terraced rice fields with local farmers
    • Pottery making experience at one of the ancient kilns in the rural communityScenic boat ride along the Hozu River down to Arashiyama in Kyoto
    • Make your own paper lantern at the oldest studio in KyotoA thrilling Taiko drumming lesson with a famous professional team

What's this trip about?

    Experience the warmth of rural Japan on this adventure for the whole family Our tour offers a fascinating insight into the Kansai area, heartland of Japan's culture and history. It offers a whole range of experiences from the urban sights of imperial Kyoto to rural immersion in the communities of Asuka and Sasayama. 

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizePrivate - your group only
Age range5 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityNara
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Family Friendly
  • Transformative

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Kyoto
  • Nara
  • Osaka

Activities

  • Cooking
  • Culture
  • Cycling
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature
  • Short Cruise
  • Trains & Rail

Trip includes

    • Full-time services of an English-speaking tour guide
    • 7 nights in hotels and Japanese-style inns (Ryokan and Minshuku)
    • Daily breakfast, 1 lunch and 6 dinners
    • All transportation between tour locations
    • Entrance to museums, temples and other sights on the group's itinerary
    • Forwarding of one item of luggage on two occasions

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Meet in Nara

Accommodation: Hotel

Arrive in Nara. Feed the freeroaming deer in Nara Park. Meet your tour guide and other group members at the tour hotel. There will be a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Travel to Asuka and cycling

Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)

This morning, we travel by train to Asuka, Japan’s first permanent capital. We rent bicycles and explore the village with its picturesque scenery and surrounding countryside. After lunch, we continue our leisurely...

Day 3: Harvesting and outdoor cookery lunch with a local farmer

Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)

We join a young farming family in Asuka and help them harvest seasonal organic vegetables. Harvesting is great fun and a fascinating experience. After this good exercise, our hosts set up an outdoor kitchen in a r...

Day 4: Travel to Sasayama and make our own Tambayaki pottery

Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)

Today we travel by train and bus to Sasayama, an ancient castle town which flourished as a transportation hub linking western Japan with Kyoto. We stop at an Tambayaki pottery village famous for some of the oldest...

Day 5: Sightseeing in Sasayama

Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)

There is so much to see in Sasayama! There is the site of Sasayama Castle, originally built in 1609 as part of an offensive against rebels based in Osaka. We begin our own exploration of the town in the area where the Samurai warriors used to live. We’ll also see insi...

Day 6: By boat to Arashiyama

Accommodation: Hotel

This morning we travel to Kameoka and then enjoy a scenic two-hour boat ride along the Hozu River down to Arashiyama in Kyoto. Arashiyama is a lovely area of western Kyoto famous for its bamboo groves. We visit the monkey park on Mount Aras...

Day 7: Vermilion Gates in Kyoto

Accommodation: Hotel

This morning we visit Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine and walk through thousands of beautiful vermilion gates which line the paths on Mount Inari. We continue to a traditional Japanese paper lantern studio and try our hand at making a small pape...

Day 8: Tour ends

Our tour ends after breakfast at the tour hotel in Kyoto. Your guide will offer advice on your journey to the airport for your homeward flight, or on onward travel in Japan if you are extending your stay.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,686
Price per day$336
Last Updated: 7/15/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Oku Japan.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Oku Japan Reviews & Ratings

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Other Oku Japan Reviews

M

Marco

Dec 2016

Provided byOku Japan

Everything was perfect

We walked the self-guided Nakasendo Trail in October coordinated through Oku Japan. Everything was perfect, maps were easy to follow, accommodation was amazing and t...

M

Mark

Dec 2016

Provided byOku Japan

Absolutely amazing experience

absolutely amazing experience using oku japan for a 4 day kumano kodo trail self-guided tour (november 2016), the attention to detail and organization, the quality o...

E

Enid

Oct 2016

Provided byOku Japan

It was fabulous!

Just returned from the Nakasendo Trail walking tour. It was fabulous! Our guide, Naomi, was outstanding and Oku Japan was an excellent company to deal with. I highly...

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Tour Operator

Oku Japan

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Oku Japan operates guided, self-guided and custom tours around Japan. Our main office is in Kyoto, and some of our sales staff are based in the UK. In spring 2015, Oku Japan opened a branch office in the village of Chikatsuyu, where we are proud to be part of the local community.

Our guides are professional, trained guides who are bilingual Japanese and English (as well as some who speak German or French) and have a deep knowledge of and passion for Japan's people, culture and history.

Our service begins the minute you book, with the personal service and the full support of our team who will do their best to answer any question or fulfill any request. If you choose one of our small-group, guided tours, our guides travel with you throughout the trip, always on hand to help and make your trip the truly memorable.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Flights
    • Airport transfers
    • Pay locally for drinks with meals and for lunches
    • Entrance fees to museums, temples etc. not mentioned in the itinerary
Guides
Yumiko Sugai I await your visit to reveal the hidden depths of this mysterious and rather wistful archipelago Kiyoko Se Being a guide is an opportunity to meet so many different people; it is thrilling to meet them and hear stories of their past trips and experiences. Naomi Honda I travelled extensively through Europe and Asia and my passion for different cultures and people inspired me to become a guide.
Cancellation policy

If you or any other person included on the Booking Form wishes to cancel their booking, the cancellation will be effective from the UK working day (normally Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) on which we receive your written notification by email, mail or fax. The following cancellation charges will apply:

  • 60 days or more: deposit only
  • 59-42 days prior to departure: 30% of the total tour price
  • 41-15 days prior to departure: 50% of total tour price
  • 14 days prior to departure: 100% of the total tour price
  • We advise you to take out insurance against irrecoverable cancellation costs.

If any member(s) of your party is/are prevented from traveling, the person(s) concerned will be able to transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing the following requirements are complied with. We must be notified of the transfer(s) in writing (giving full details of the original and substitute party member(s)) not less than two weeks before departure. A transfer will not be possible if there is a waiting list for places in which case the available place must be offered to the next person on that list. Where a transfer to a person of your choice can be made, all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers as a result together with an amendment fee of USD45 per person, per element must be paid before the transfer can be affected.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

8 Breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
5 years and up
Suitable for children aged 5 and upwards.
Additional Information
Trip ID
okujap-FamHeaOku

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