In the Shadow of Mountains

A small-group guided cultural tour exploring two sides of western Japan - the Japan Sea Coast and the Inland Sea

In the Shadow of Mountains

Number of travellers

Start date

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Tour details

In the Shadow of Mountains
x1 traveller
USD 0
Single room additional charge
USD 560

Solo supplements guarantee solo rooms at the hotels on your tour. At inns, you will share with another member of your departure of the same gender.

TOTAL
USD 0

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  • Duration: 12 days
  • Trip level:
    Gentle
    Level
  • Availability: May and September
  • Type:Guided tour with an expert bilingual guide
    Level
  • Price: USD 4,560(Price per person, based on 2 travellers sharing a room)
Departures

Please choose your preferred month to see available departures.

Highlights
  • See the lovely canals and historic white storehouses of Kurashiki
  • Explore enchanting castle towns of southern Japan - Tsuwano and Hagi
  • Learn about traditional miso paste and visit a sake brewery with history stretching more than 200 years
  • Visit the preserved remains of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Visit and enjoy an overnight stay in Hiroshima
  • Stay in hot-spring inns on the Japan Sea coast and the Inland Sea coast
  • Explore Miyajima Island with its iconic red torii gate and free-roaming deer
  • Listen to traditional shamisen music

The tour begins in Japan's old capital of Kyōto; let this ancient city fascinate you with its traditional narrow streets. Admire Kurashiki's historical area and listen to traditional shamisen local folk music. We travel by train to Yunotsu on the Japan Sea Coast, one of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site along with Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. 

Enjoy soaking in the mineral water before leaving for Tsuwano, a charming town known as the 'little Kyōto of San'in' with its picturesque streets lined with Edo-era buildings and koi carp ponds. The journey continues through the former castle town of Hagi, famous for its pottery, then to Hiroshima and the famous Miyajima Island as well as Sensuijima Island, a secret paradise on the Seto Inland Sea. We will arrive in energetic Ōsaka, where neon and crowds welcome you back to the modern side of Japan.

Download PDF Itinerary

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What is included
Full-time services of an English-speaking tour guide
11 nights in hotels and Japanese-style inns
Daily breakfast and 10 dinners
All transportation between tour locations
Entrance to museums, temples and other sights on the group's itinerary
Forwarding of 1 item of luggage on 3 occasions
Sake and miso brewery experience
Hagi-yaki pottery making experience
What is not included
Flights
Airport transfers
Drinks and meals not included in itinerary
Entrance fees to museums, temples etc. not mentioned in the itinerary
Single room supplement for solo travellers at hotels
Itinerary

Meet your guide and other members of the group at the tour hotel in central Kyōto. There will be a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

 

Accommodation: Western-style hotel

Meals: Welcome dinner

After breakfast we travel by train to Kurashiki, famous for the picturesque scenery of its preserved canal area, framed with weeping willow trees and white-plastered storehouses (kura) from the Edo period. Many of Kurashiki’s former storehouses have been converted into museums, shops, and cafés. After lunch, we explore this lovely part of the town and then have some free time later in the afternoon. Overnight in Kojima on the coast near Kurashiki.

 

Accommodation: Japanese-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

A full day to explore the Kojima area of Kurashiki with your guide. Kojima faces the Seto Inland Sea and was once prosperous through sea-salt production and domestic trade through the port. We first visit a sake and miso paste brewery that has been operating for generations, since 1785. We learn about the traditional way of making miso paste and sample sake. We then transfer to Washuzan Hill, its short walking trail leading up to stunning views over the Seto Inland Sea. After lunch we continue onwards to Shimotsui Port and listen to a local artist play a traditional instrument and sing a beautiful song.

 

Accommodation: Japanese-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

We cross to the San’in coast, travelling by train to Yunotsu, a hot spring town on the Japan Sea coast, whose waters were discovered more than 1,300 years ago. In addition to being an onsen, Yunotsu flourished as a port during the Edo Period, when silver from the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was delivered and shipped. We arrive in Yunotsu around noon and explore the town. Yunotsu has the wonderful, pure hot spring Yakushi-yu, whose water properties received the highest rating from the Japan Spa Association. Our accommodation tonight has its own onsen baths, but you should try Yakushi-yu too, if you love onsen.

 

Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn)

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Today we visit Ōmori-chō, settled by Iwami Ginzan Silver Miners. The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It was the biggest silver mine in Japanese history, flourishing from the 16th to the 20th century. The distinctive landscapes connected to silver mining are still well preserved today – old mining sites, miners’ settlements, fortresses, transportation routes, and shipping ports. The area is now beautifully wooded, with wonderfully invigorating fresh air. Ōmori-chō is dotted with picturesque Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, shops, and cafes. We will visit one of the major remaining silver mineshafts and explore the town. You will have some free time during the afternoon. 

 

Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn)

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After breakfast we travel to Tsuwano. Popularly called the 'Little Kyoto of San'in', Tsuwano is known for its picturesque main street, lined with Edo-era buildings and koi carp ponds. It was a castle town, ruled by the Kamei clan from the 17th to the mid-19th century. It also has the famous mountainside Taikodani Inari Shrine with its 'one thousand vermilion torii gates'. We visit the shrine and the ruins of Tsuwano Castle, wandering the pretty streets.

 

Accommodation: Minshuku (family-run guesthouse)

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Today we travel by local bus from Tsuwano to the charming town of Hagi. Hagi was for 260 years the castle town of the Mōri lords of Chōshū. The town is protected on two sides by the forks of the Aibagawa River and on the remaining north side by the sea. The castle, now in ruins, is further fortified by moats and a defensive chequerboard of samurai dwellings. The remains of the dwellings, with their earthen walls, old gates and orchards of colourful citrus trees are Hagi's most famous sight. We explore the area and also visit the Kikuya House historic building.

 

Accommodation: Japanese-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After breakfast we will stroll around another area of the town to enjoy more of the historic houses. Hagi is famous for its pottery – Hagi-yaki is a pinkish-beige stoneware which ranks among the most highly esteemed tea ceremony wares. Hagi-yaki ripens to its full beauty with use, its pale tones deepening and softening as tea seeps into the porous crazing. After lunch we will try our hand at pottery making and we will have the opportunity to buy pieces made by local artists.

 

Accommodation: Japanese-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After breakfast we leave the San'in coast and travel to Miyajima, an island nestling in the Seto Inland Sea near the city of Hiroshima. This island is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine with the giant red torii gate which seems to float on the sea at high tide. The sight is ranked as one of the most scenic views in Japan. Wild deer live on the island, but they have now become accustomed to people. We will arrive on Miyajima around noon and after lunch we will visit Itsukushima Shrine and Daishō-in Temple. Our hotel tonight is in Hiroshima itself.


Accommodation: Western-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we travel to Tomonoura then to Sensuijima Island, a secret paradise on the Seto Inland Sea. Before leaving Hiroshima, there will be a little free time and you may visit the Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum if you wish. After lunch in the lovely small fishing village of Tomonoura, we take the short ferry ride to the island. We stay at an island ryokan with wonderful hot spring baths. Bathing is not gender-segregated and bathing clothes will be provided by the ryokan. Set just above the beach and overlooking the sea, the view from this onsen is wonderful and relaxing.

 

Accommodation: Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn)

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

We spend the morning exploring the quiet fishing town of Tomononura. The town preserves its old-fashioned fishing townscape well. In recent years, Tomonoura has been chosen as a location for several international and local films, such as Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman and Ponyo on the Cliff by the popular Studio Ghibli. After lunch we travel to Ōsaka. There will be some free time in the afternoon before the group meets again for the farewell dinner at a local restaurant.


Accommodation: Western-style hotel

Meals: Breakfast, farewell dinner

Our tour ends after breakfast at our hotel. Your guide will be on hand to offer advice on travel to the airport if you are flying home, or on onward travel if you are extending your stay in Japan.

 

Meals: Breakfast