Japan
Walking Western Japan: Mountain Paths and Hidden Temples
Program No. 23311RJ
Through mountain trails, rural farmland and lush forests you’ll discover authentic Japan. With local experts, explore Western Japan on foot to learn about the culture and history.
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800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Nov 12 - Nov 25, 2024
Starting at
8,749DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 21 - Jun 3, 2024
Starting at
9,199Oct 2 - Oct 15, 2024
Starting at
9,199Oct 22 - Nov 4, 2024
Starting at
9,199Nov 12 - Nov 25, 2024
Starting at
9,199May 14 - May 27, 2025
Starting at
9,62914 days
13 nights
33 meals
12B 10L 11D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
The Kuju Mountains, "Fizzy" Bathing!
Nagayu Onsen
6
Ancient Carvings, Hilltop Citadel
Nagayu Onsen
9
Traditional Life in Rural Japan, Makiodo
Bungo Takada
10
Fuki-ji Temple – A National Treasure
Bungo Takada
12
Kitsuki, Castle Town
Yufuin
13
The Slopes of Mount Yufu
Yufuin
14
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
With its verdant landscapes and very few tourists, Kyushu — Japan’s westernmost island — is a hidden gem best explored on foot. Gain intimate insight into Japanese culture as you walk picturesque rural trails, understanding the importance of nature in Japanese society. Discover the winding mountain paths with local experts and walk to sublime temples that hide in dense forests. Venture past rice paddies while the hushed sounds of water keep you and your fellow Road Scholars company. Meet farmers along the way who will teach you about their customs and stay with a family as you dive head — or foot — first into the ever-beautiful Japanese way of life.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Hiking between 2.5 - 7 miles (throughout the day). Trails can vary from paved roads and paths to uneven rocky terrain, including some large steps. Must handle own luggage on and off transport. Elevation gains of around 500 - 1,000 feet on most days but up to 2,500 feet on a couple of days.
Micro Group
These adventures feature our smallest group size, with 12 participants or fewer.
What You'll Learn
- Stop at the Fuko-ji temple, Fudo-Myo deity and Oka-jo castle on a walk toward Taketa.
- Spend the night in the home of a local family in Bungo-takada to immerse yourself in their daily life.
- Learn about and sample local delicacies at traditional accommodations, a sake brewing houses and a tea shop.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Miwa Fujinuma
Although a Japanese national, Miwa was born in a suburb of Washington D.C., where her family was living at the time for her father’s work. She also lived in Australia with her family, where she became interested in the natural environment and ultimately pursuing a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy. Returning to Japan in 2003, Miwa worked for an environmental consulting company and become fascinated with sustainable living. She now lives in a traditional Japanese farmhouse and partakes in making traditional Japanese goods.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Miwa Fujinuma
View biography
Although a Japanese national, Miwa was born in a suburb of Washington D.C., where her family was living at the time for her father’s work. She also lived in Australia with her family, where she became interested in the natural environment and ultimately pursuing a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy. Returning to Japan in 2003, Miwa worked for an environmental consulting company and become fascinated with sustainable living. She now lives in a traditional Japanese farmhouse and partakes in making traditional Japanese goods.
Diane Tincher
View biography
Originally from Virginia, Diane first arrived in Asia as a young adult. She moved to Tokyo from Manila in 1987, and settled in Kagoshima City in 1995. Diane has a deep love of the natural world and delights in exploring the numerous waterfalls, hiking paths and Edo Period (1603-1868) roads of the Kagoshima region. She has eight adult children, and teaches English at homes for the elderly and the disabled, in kindergarten classes, and privately. Diane joined Walk Japan as a Group Leader in 2018.
Tetsuo Nakahara
View biography
Tetsuo Nakahara began his career as a dolphin swimming guide in Oahu. A native of Kyushu, Tetsuo studied in Florida and then California. He has trekked to Annapurna in Nepal and surfed in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. He took up scuba diving in Australia, and later worked as a scuba diving guide. He returned to Japan in 2002 and worked as a translator and writer/photographer for the Stars and Stripes. Tetsuo spends his free time either surfing, free diving, hiking, or camping.
Reina Yamada
View biography
Reina Yamada was born and raised in Yokohama, but spent her teenage years in Dubai and her early adult years in the UK. She graduated from Loughborough University with a sports management degree, and has largely worked in sports development and event management. Reina moved back to Japan in 2019 to work for the Organizing Committee of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She is passionate about traveling, and enjoying and appreciating the cultures and traditions of countries around the world.
Suggested Reading List
(25 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Walking Western Japan: Mountain Paths and Hidden Temples
Program Number: 23311
Tokyo, A Biography
In his 500-year history of Tokyo, Mansfield presents the Japanese capital as an "indestructible organism"
that has survived bombs, earthquakes and radiation and continues to thrive. An easy introduction to a
fascinating city.
The Book of Tokyo: A City in Short Fiction
This anthology of contemporary Japanese short stories was edited with the traveler in mind. The ten pieces
of literature, mystery, science fiction and horror form an imaginary tour of the city of Tokyo.
Thousand Cranes
This novella by the great Kawabata may be Japan's best-known literary work, a story of love, grief and
redemption. Kawabata's prose is as economical as the tea ceremony itself and very beautiful.
Eyewitness Guide Japan
Dazzling illustrations, architectural cutaways and color photographs, along with useful local maps, give
this guide to Japan's many attractions a distinct edge.
Learning to Bow, Inside the Heart of Japan
As surprising, helpful and informative as it is funny, this is an insightful account of travels and teaching in
Japan. Feiler presents anecdotes on the rituals, personality traits and cultural peccadilloes of the Japanese.
The Book of Tea
A graceful, witty meditation on Japanese aesthetics and culture as reflected through the tea ceremony. A
celebrity and cultural ambassador, Okakura was a curator at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.
Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook
A handy palm-sized guide to pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
The Inland Sea
Richie's masterpiece, more than a travel account, is a beautiful reflection on all things Japanese by one of
its most acute observers.
Japan's Cuisines
This illustrated overview charts the transformation of Japanese cuisine over the ages, revealing the
influences of private and public institutions, exploring the rise of tea and showing how lunch became a
gourmet meal.
The Little Book of Japan
Veteran Japanophiles Vilhar and Anderson produced this illuminating collection of 44 essays on Japanese
life and culture, which, even in the 21st century remains elusive and poorly understood.
Culture Smart! Japan
A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture, this is a helpful travel tool for
visitors to Japan.
Hiroshima
This classic book, first published in 1946, has been hailed as the greatest piece of journalism in the 20th
century. Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Hersey puts a human face on the Hiroshima tragedy through
interviews with survivors.
Bending Adversity, Japan and the Art of Survival
Financial Times Asia editor Pilling captures the dynamism and diversity of Japan after the 2011 tsunami.
He interviews, among many, novelist Haruki Murakami, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi,
industrialists, bankers, activists and artists, teenagers and octogenarians.
The Art of Setting Stones & Other Writings from the Japanese Garden
In these lyrical essays, Kyoto resident and landscape architect Marc Peter Keane uses eight Japanese
gardens as bases for essays on nature, religion and aesthetics. His rich, meditative excursions find beauty
in garden composition - every element gaining importance and interconnectedness.
Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye
When her American father passes away, Mockett seeks consolation in her mother’s home country of
Japan. She visits a radiation zone, a Buddhist school, temples and festivals in an effort to understand the
Japanese way of grieving, to bury her dead and find healing.
Memoirs of a Geisha, A Novel
The runaway best-selling novel about a geisha in the celebrated Gion district of Kyoto. A major feat of
literary impersonation, the novel is rich in period detail and ceremony.
Super Sushi Ramen Express
Using keen insight and sarcastic wit, Booth describes the cuisine and culture of Japan as he recaps the
nearly three months-long foodie road trip he and his family took through the island nation. A fun journey,
sure to both entertain and inform.
Kaempfer's Japan: Tokugawa Culture Observed
A good account of what it was like to travel in the Tokugawa period.
A Traveller's History of Japan
A lively and concise narrative history of Japan and its transformation from Shinto, Shogun and Samurai
traditions to 20th-century powerhouse.
Japan Adventure Map
Printed on waterproof and tear-resistant paper, this double-sided map shows all the islands of Japan at a
scale of 1:1,300,000.
In Praise of Shadows
This extended essay by the great Japanese novelist, first published in 1933, offers tremendous insight into
traditional Japanese art, architecture and design.
The Dog Shogun: The Personality and Policies of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Largely focusing on the so-called Dog Shogun, this book also covers the history before and after and argues that his policies are to a large extent responsible for Japan's rapid modernization in the 19th century.
The Samurai
This historical novel by one of Japan's best-known modern writers is set in the world of the 17th-century
Samurai. A Roman Catholic, Endo explored Christianity and morals in his many novels and stories.
Walking the Kiso Road: A Modern-Day Exploration of Old Japan
William Scott Wilson travels along the ancient Kiso Road, historically used by samurai and warlords and
relatively unchanged today. As he makes his way, Wilson engagingly ruminates on Japanese history,
culture and folklore.
Kyoto, A Cultural History
A rich portrait and guide to the gardens, monasteries, art, history and culture of Kyoto, once Japan's
capital, founded 1,200-years ago.