Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Japan – Tokyo – Aizuwakamatsu – Sendai – Lake Towada – Kakunodate – Ginsen Onsen – Tsuruoka
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready, your off-the-beaten-track adventure in Japan starts today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and settle into the lounge for some complimentary nibbles. Flights to Tokyo take just under 14 hours, giving you plenty of time to learn a few key phrases before touchdown.
Land at Haneda Airport the following morning, where (armed with a Japan Rail Pass) you'll catch the 30-minute train to Tokyo. Once you arrive at your hotel, check in, unpack and head out – the city waits for no one.
If you’re seeking a bit of eccentricity to kickstart your trip, head to Harajuku, land of quirky street fashion and colourful cosplayers. For a brush with Tokyo’s thriving tech empire, visit the Akihabara district. Craving a cold one? The alleys of Shinjuku are home to 200 pocket taverns. Prefer something more tranquil? The Rikugien and Koishikawa Korakuen parks have your name written all over them.
There are also a host of standout museums here, including the Daimyo Clock Museum, Japan Toy Museum, Fukugawa Edo Museum and Tabi and Lifestyle Museum. For a deeper dive into Tokyo’s traditions, you could even grab tickets to a kabuki or noh show (traditional Japanese theatre shows), attend a sumo wrestling competition or wander through the old Yanaka and Meiji Jingu quarters.
Before dinner tonight, you can round off your first day by taking to the skies (well, sort of). Shibuya Sky is a 755ft tower overlooking the city. On a clear day, it’s even possible to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. Safe to say, you’ll be starting on a high note.
Ride the rails for an hour and 15 minutes this morning to reach Koriyama, where you’ll catch a one-hour bus to Aizuwakamatsu – one of the last samurai strongholds from Japan’s Edo period. Known for its handcrafted lacquerware, smooth sake and Tsuruga Castle, this place is a genuine hidden gem.
Check in for one night in a charming hotel. Then, drop your bags and head out for a stroll through the Oyakuen Garden. Afterwards, savour the flavour of tradition at one of the city’s tea pavilions. Lovers of military history should also visit Bukeyashiki, a reconstructed samurai house. And of course, you can’t miss the region’s pride and joy, Tsuruga Castle, whose gardens are packed full of cherry and maple trees. Talk about photogenic.
Alongside dinner tonight, order a round of the renowned local sake. Or, for an even more immersive experience, you could visit a sake brewery. Not sure where to start with that one? Just ask your trusty Concierge.
Bid Aizuwakamatsu a fond farewell (or should we say sayonara?) this morning before hopping back on the train to Sendai, an hour and 45 minutes away.
Check in for the next two nights in another delightfully inviting hotel. Then, following some post-journey stretching, it’s time to wine, dine and recline. Another day of exploring awaits tomorrow...
More than 400 years after its founding, Sendai is still marked by the spirit of its creator, Date Masamune, whose memory is honoured by a mausoleum. Now a pleasant, wooded city, this former feudal capital is also home to the Sendai City Museum and the Osaki Hachimangu Shrine.
While you’re here, be sure to visit Matsushima Bay, nicknamed the ‘Isle of Pines.’ Just a 30-minute train ride from Sendai, Matsushima is considered one of the three most beautiful natural sites in Japan. It’s made up of 260 islets and is covered with pine trees. There are a few ways to visit, but the most picturesque is a walk along the coast, where you’ll pass a series of ornate temples. Our favourite? Entsuin, which is surrounded by a moss garden and a mystical bamboo forest – cue more fantastic photos.
Rise, shine and dine on a delicious breakfast this morning before catching the train to Geibikei, an hour’s journey away. Then, trade tracks for water as you board a boat to delve into the Geibikei Gorge for a seriously scenic immersion in the region’s natural beauty.
With your jaw dropped and your camera roll full, set off on the 30-minute bus ride to Hiraizumi, where you’ll spend the night in a traditional ryokan built on a natural hot spring.
Another day, another train. Chug along for two hours this morning to reach Hachinohe, where you’ll switch tack and pick up a hire car to drive an hour and 45 minutes to Towadako, your base for the next two nights.
Take it easy this evening with a dip in one of the nearby hot springs, before dining on a delicious spread of traditional Japanese dishes at your hotel. For an extra hearty meal, tuck into some bara-yaki (marinated beef).
Today is yours to explore Towadako (a.k.a. Lake Towada) at your leisure. Spanning an area of roughly 38 miles and plunging more than 325 meters deep, Towadako is the largest crater lake on the island of Honshu. The surrounding area is particularly popular with hikers and nature lovers thanks to its century-old cedars, maples and other plant species, all of which take on shimmering colours in autumn.
When you’re not plodding around this picturesque paradise, be sure to check out Towada Shrine, a Shinto place of worship dating back to the Kamakura period that sits on one of the peninsulas jutting into the lake. Towada-Hachimantai National Park and the awe-inducing Oirase Keiryu Gorge are also well worth exploring.
Pry yourself away from the shores of Towadako this morning to buckle up for the three-hour drive to Kakunodate – road trip playlists at the ready.
Along the way, be sure to stop at Hirosaki, often called the ‘Kyoto of the North.’ Its castle park is home to about 2,600 cherry trees and welcomes crowds of locals every spring when the cherry blossoms (or sakura) are in full bloom. Nearby, Hirosaki Castle is also one of the best-preserved sites in the country and one of the few surviving feudal castles from the Edo period.
Having strolled these storied streets, hop back in your hire car for the rest of the drive to Kakunodate, where you’ll drop your bags and settle in for the next two nights.
Exploration is the name of the game today. It’s time to delve into Kakunodate, a captivating city that’s rich in history and bursting with culture.
If you’re keen on more samurai sightseeing, head to the Uchimachi district, where a cluster of perfectly preserved samurai houses still stand, some of which are open to visitors. While those who prefer a spot of retail therapy can visit Tomachi, the old shopping district, to grab some envy-inducing souvenirs – talk about hitting two birds with one stone.
When stomachs start to rumble, stop for a bite of kiritanpo (grilled rice cakes) or shoyu (soy sauce) ice cream, which you can enjoy while ambling along Kakunodate’s famous tunnel of cherry trees, spanning over a mile along the banks of the Hinokinai River. If you’re lucky – by which we mean travelling in early May – you’ll be able to see them in full bloom.
Leave Kakunodate behind this morning to hop back in the car for the two-hour-and-40-minute drive to the charming hot spring village of Ginzan Onsen, which sits on an old silver mine.
When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a characterful cluster of wooden inns lined up along a roaring river. Once you’ve checked in and freshened up, head out to indulge in the area’s thermal baths – there’s the option of open-air bathing (rotenburo) or indoor bathing (kashikiri).
Once you’ve soaked to your heart’s content, explore the pedestrian city centre and Shirogane Park, where a 72ft-high waterfall is just waiting to be admired. Afterwards, duck into the Nobesawa Ginzan cave to discover the city's former mining activity.
Following another delightfully delicious Japanese dinner, sink into your pillow and rest up for tomorrow’s adventures.
Hear that? The coast is calling. Bundle back in the car today for the two-hour drive to Tsuruoka, a UNESCO-listed ‘Creative City.’
Along the way, stop at Yamadera Temple. Tucked away atop a mountain, it’s certainly worth the 1,000-stair climb (time to smash those daily step counts). After all your huffing and puffing, you’ll be rewarded with a peaceful cedar forest and poetry-worthy views. Literally: this place inspired Japanese poet Matsuo Basho to write one of his most famous haikus.
To pepper your journey with more scenic sites, head to the Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum, located on the hill opposite the temple.
When you arrive in Tsuruoka, check in for two nights at your next home away from home. Then, drop your bags, trade your shoes for hotel slippers and prepare to tuck into some fantastic food – this city is famed for its gastronomy, after all.
More than just a foodie haven, Tsuruoka is home to the beautiful Buddhist temple of Zenpoji – a serene site where monks have been trained since the beginning of the 20th century – and Tsuruoka Park, built on the foundations of a historic castle. Travelling in April? You’ll catch this park in bloom when more than 700 cherry trees unfurl in shades of picturesque pink.
Thanks to its location on the shores of the Sea of Japan, Tsuruoka is also an ideal gateway to the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan: Mount Gassan, Mount Yudono and Mount Haguro.
Mount Haguro is great for those looking to encounter Shugendo, a religion found only in the Japanese mountains. Whereas eager explorers should set their sights (or should we say soles?) on either Haugro-san or Gassan, both of which take about a half-day to hike. Mount Yudono, however, is a little further, so you’ll need to hop in the car to explore on four wheels.
Snacks at the ready, it’s time to return your hire car and hop back on the train for the three-hour-and-45-minute train ride to Tokyo. Need a switch-up on your music during the journey? Throw on our destination-specific playlist to soundtrack the drive.
On arrival, delve back into the bustling streets of the capital to check in to your centrally located hotel for one last night. To ensure your off-the-beaten-track Japan escape ends with a flourish, ask your Concierge where to find the best restaurants in the city, and prepare to dine in style...
Like all great adventures, your scenic sojourn must come to an end. Tuck into one last delicious Japanese breakfast this morning before being privately transferred to the airport for your 14-hour overnight flight back to the UK.
Due to the time difference, you’ll arrive home in the early morning, having spent the night dreaming of your next Japanese adventure.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
