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Japan

Walking Eastern Japan: The Tokaido Road

Program No. 25370RJ
Follow local experts on an active and interactive exploration of Japanese history, culture and natural wonders along eastern Japan’s Tokaido road.
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Start
Walking/HikingHistoryMicro GroupNew
Length
12 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
6,899
Special Offer
Flights start at
1,450
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
24 meals ( 10B, 7L, 7D )
1 expert-led lecture
13 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Walking about 3 miles throughout the day; some stairs, flat city streets, elevators/escalators sometimes available. Use of transportation including assorted rail and subway transfers, approximately 2 hours total.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This small group walking program will be accompanied by a Group Leader who will handle logistics and lead most lectures and field trips, unless otherwise specified. Everyone will handle their own luggage for transfers throughout the program. Program-related travel and transfers will be via public transportation unless noted otherwise. Meals will include water and tea with other beverages available for purchase, unless otherwise noted. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We will then hear a morning lecture on the Tokaido by our Group Leader, and go on a walk through the Nihonbashi area, the starting point of the Tokaido.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Using Tokyo’s efficient public transportation system, we will visit Sengakuji Temple, the resting place of the 47 Ronin, to learn from the Group Leader about their connection to the Tokaido and the Tokugawa era.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in or near the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning. Main luggage will be gathered in the morning and sent to Shizuoka via overnight courier, so remember to pack overnight belongings in a day pack for our stay in Hakone Yumoto.
Activity Note
Walking about 3 miles throughout the day. Use of transportation including assorted rail and subway transfers; riding about 2 hours total; some stairs, flat city streets, elevators/escalators sometimes available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will send our luggage by overnight courier to Shizuoka before a morning exploration of Shinagawa, the first of 53 post-towns that travelers departing Tokyo would encounter. The modern city has now encroached upon the original settlement, but enough remains to charm, and we will spend the morning here soaking up the atmosphere of the area.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will transfer by train to Hakone Yumoto and check in to our accommodations with hot springs for a relaxing evening. Upon our arrival, we’ll take some time to learn the vital dos and don’ts of living in traditional Japanese style from our Group Leader. Where do we take off our shoes? Where are the beds? How do we use the baths? The lessons learned here are important and will be vital throughout the program as we stay at a variety of traditional Japanese accommodation.
Dinner:
At our accommodation, we’ll enjoy the first of several formal Japanese meals.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time with stops. Walking about 5 miles total, approximately 4 hours on cobblestones (steep and slippery when wet), forest trails, and paved roads. Dedicated vehicle support throughout the walking. Total elevation gain of about 900 feet. Getting on/off a bullet train; riding under 1/2 hour.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
We will head out for a walk with our Group Leader along a section of the old Tokaido highway to Lake Ashi, enjoying the scenic views and taking in the ambiance of the historic trail.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant along our walk.
Afternoon:
We will take a motorcoach to Mishima Taisha Shrine for a stroll through the streets of this charming small city, before a speedy Shinkansen bullet train takes us to Shizuoka and our hotel for check-in.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in or near the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 7 miles on mostly minor paved roads with a short stretch of forest trail, temple and museum grounds. Total elevation gain 260 ft.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will take a local train to Okitsu for a morning visit to little-known Seikenji Temple. This little-known temple is where Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu studied as a young man. We’ll view the temple’s hidden gem – a beautiful Japanese garden – before a walk over the Satta Pass, enjoying—weather permitting—the famous view of Mt. Fuji, as depicted in Ando Hiroshige’s blockbuster woodblock print series, the 53 Stages of the Tokaido.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant along our walk, we’ll have plated meals, plus tea and water; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
After lunch, a short walk brings us to the nearby Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum to view original woodblock prints and, if we wish, try our hand at the process ourselves. We will ride from nearby Kambara Station back to Shizuoka and our hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to explore some of Shizuoka city’s many restaurants. Please refer to the list of suggested restaurants in your program materials as well as in the handouts provided by the Group Leader.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Short rail and road transfers. Walking about 6 miles on minor paved roads with a short climb on cobblestones. Thereafter some steep climbs and descents, but on good surfaces. Total elevation gain 1000 ft.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
A local train transfer ferries us across the Oi River and to Kanaya. From here we will walk to the nearby Tea Museum, learning more from the helpful and knowledgeable museum docents about Shizuoka Prefecture’s position as the green tea capital of Japan. Having passed by many a tea field on our journey so far, we now have the chance to learn the history and craft of teamaking in the region.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will take a scenic afternoon walk through the tea fields of the Makinohara Plateau to the post-town of Nissaka. A short motorcoach ride to Kurami Onsen follows for check-in, hot spring bathing, and delicious local cuisine.
Dinner:
At the inn.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 66 miles in the morning and 23 miles in the afternoon, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Maximum of 8 miles on forest trails and minor paved roads. Total elevation gain 900 ft. Vehicle support on this day, so walking can be shortened if necessary.
Breakfast:
At our inn.
Morning:
A dedicated vehicle is with us today as we transfer to the start of our walk along the Hime Kaido, or “Princess Highway,” a spur of the Tokaido that avoided an open boat crossing in difficult conditions. Our walk takes in farming communities and citrus groves, and our Group Leader will regale us about some of the more unusual travelers who took these paths.
Lunch:
At a sheltered spot en route, we’ll have sack lunches purchased at a service area.
Afternoon:
At the end of the walk, we will board our awaiting motorcoach and ride to Yuya Onsen, a charming settlement set beside a rushing river deep in the Ina Valley. Here, we’ll check in to our rooms and relax in the hot springs before dinner.
Dinner:
At the inn.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning. Main luggage will be gathered in the morning and sent to Nagoya via overnight courier, so be sure to pack overnight belongings in a day pack for our first night in Nagoya.
Activity Note
Walking about 5 miles on paved paths and single-track road, approximately 3 hours total. Minimal elevation gain. Getting on/off three trains; riding approximately 2.5 hours total.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
We will send our luggage by overnight courier to Nagoya before departing on a morning stroll along the scenic banks of the Ure River. An express rail transfer to Toyohashi follows.
Lunch:
On your own to explore the cafes and restaurants in the Toyohashi station area.
Afternoon:
We’ll take a short rail transfer to Arimatsu, famed for its tie-dyeing traditions. We will meet a master craftsperson and try our hand at the process in an afternoon seminar. Following a short train ride to central Nagoya, we will check in at our hotel.
Dinner:
At a restaurant near the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 3 miles on flat city streets and around a museum. Short subway transfers. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Though somewhat overshadowed by its neighbors Kyoto and Tokyo, Nagoya is poised in the middle of the country as a manufacturing and shipping powerhouse for the nation, with companies such as Toyota maintaining a significant presence and employing thousands. A wealth of unique museums displaying the cultural and technological history of Nagoya are open to the public, and our Group Leader will lead us on a visit to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. From textile to car production with early looms giving way to assembly processes in modern car manufacturing, we’ll gain insight into Japan’s industrial success.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own to explore some of Nagoya city’s many restaurants. Please refer to the list of suggested restaurants in the attachments as well as in the handouts provided by the Group Leader.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Walking about 5 miles on city streets. Little elevation gain while walking but the Osaka castle visit will involve some stair climbing. Getting on/off a boat; ride is under 1/2 hour. Transfers by rail (with luggage) and local subway.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Checking out of the hotel, we’ll transfer with our luggage by comfortable express train to Osaka for our final day together. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and leave our luggage before setting off to lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We take a boat trip on the Osaka Castle moat system and visit the imposing building. The 1615 siege of the castle was the final chapter in the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would continue to rule Japan until the modern era.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant near the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 10:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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