Trip Overview
Departures
Click for Dates + Prices
Duration
12 Days
Activities
Cultural
Cycling
Hiking
Physical Rating
Moderate
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Meet the Dynamic Women of Japan
Sacred Japan is a beautifully balanced combination of relaxing walks, e-bike rides and intimate experiences with locals. Meet the strong and dedicated female free divers known as the ama-san, sea cucumber farmers and the women who harvest tea. From rural tea plantations to a thunderous taiko drumming demonstration, we witness the passion of Japanese women who are carrying on generational traditions and Japanese heritage through sound, art, tea and sushi!
Discover Mystical and Ancient Marvels
Renew Your Senses
We walk along sections of the Nakasendo Trail, the cliffside Kuniga Coast Walking Track, Mount Daisen and through the tidy gardens, serene temples and shrines of Tadasu no Mori Forest. In the Oki Islands (a designated UNESCO Global Geopark), we e-bike and take in the wildness of the sea. We find deep purification in the onsens’ healing waters and in the arduous climb to a 1000-year-old temple on Mount Mitoku. This trip revolves around newness: we taste it in the flavors of Kyoto cuisine and see it in the emerald rice paddies and bamboo groves. Every day is a taste of something unfamiliar.
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Itinerary
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Day 1
Tokyo
今日は (Hello), Tokyo!
Arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT. Depending on your arrival time, you will either be transferred to our Tokyo hotel by the one group transfer, or an escort will be arranged for you to be accompanied to the hotel by train. Transfers are included for those arriving the night before Day 1 or Day 1 of the trip itself.
Tonight, we meet our expert guide and gather at 6 p.m. for our inaugural Wild Women dinner in the glittery capital of Japan. Tokyo is the world’s most populous metropolis. The city is nearly vibrating with neon and yet there are countless green spaces and parks. It’s an endless mix of contemporary architecture, trendy cafes, electronic giants, anime, harajuku, Buddhist temples, Edo Castle and the spike of the 2,080 foot (634 m) Tokyo Skytree.
Packing Notes: Tonight you will pack your ‘Day Pack’ with the items you will need for the next two nights on the Nakasendo Trail. Your main luggage will be transferred to Kyoto. Your guide will let you know which essentials you should bring with you and how best to pack.
Included Meals
Dinner
Accommodations
Washington Shinjuku Hotel or Similar
Travel
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes (airport transfer to hotel)
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Day 2
Tsumago
The Nakasendo Samurai Trail
After breakfast we board an early express train to Shiojiri Station and then a local train to Narai where we stop for some local lunch and scenic views from this well preserved post town. After eating we leave Narai and move to Nagiso by local train (1h15 min) to begin our grounding walk on the ancient trail. This historical route was one of just two trails that vitally connected Edo to Kyoto over a 336-mile (540 km) expanse with 69 shukuba (post towns) serving as station-like rest stops for travelers.
On our soulful journey, we visit the post towns of Shiojiri and Nagiso and walk in the ghostly footsteps of monks, merchants and samurai along time-worn mossy cobblestones through rural villages. The Kiso Valley is fragrant with Hinoki cypress, Japanese umbrella pines and cedars and dotted with several shrines.
Today’s journey ends in the Tsumago area. This old town is bewitching with its neatly restored lattice wooden houses, tiny shops, museums and car-free main road. Local laws prohibit any demonstration of modern life—including parked cars, phones and power lines.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Traditional Japanese Inn, Minshuku or local hotel in the Tsumago area (depending on location booked, a bus ride may be required)
Travel
Train Tokyo to Narai: (3 hours 30 min)
Narai to Nagiso: (1 hour 15 min)The Hike
3.1 miles (5 km), approximately 2–3 hours, depending on the group’s pace, on paved road
Elevation Gain: 328 feet (100 metres)
Elevation Loss: 262.5 feet (80 metres)
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Day 3
Magome
The Village of Kiso Valley
Today we walk from Tsumago to Magome on a trail that winds through immense forests, small villages along jade rice paddies and over Magome Pass (2,600 feet/790 m). We see the water wheel by the granary and the Odaki and Medaki Waterfall (Male and Female Waterfall). Legend has it that the waterfall’s natural power will reinvigorate the body, mind and soul and transport us into another world.
In Magome, we stop for lunch as we reach the end of our Nakasendo route. Traditional wooden houses line the street like Tsumago, sandwiched between rustic tea houses and soba (Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour) restaurants. After soaking in all there is to see in Magome, we head onwards to Ise.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Ancient Rest Inn Ikyu or similar
The Walk
5 miles (8 km), which takes about 2–3 hours
Elevation Gain: 1213.9 ft (370 m)
Elevation Loss: 623.4 ft (190 m)
Mix of asphalt, paved and gravelTravel
3 hour transfer (private shuttle)
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Day 4
Osatsu-Cho
Women of the Sea
We have an early start to see the sunrise on the “Soul of Japan.” The Ise Grand Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu.
Traveling by bus to Osatsu-cho, we meet the lean and mean Ama divers known as the “ama-san.” This group of free divers are celebrated for their unique culture, customs and exceptional pearl harvesting skills. Ama means “woman of the sea” in Japanese and these fearless pros routinely dive down to an astounding depth of 82 feet (25 m) without the aid of modern scuba equipment.
We enjoy tea and a grilled seafood lunch while chatting with the Ama divers and learn about their lifestyle. After this deep dive into extreme legendary female empowerment, we’ll board an express train to Kyoto and have dinner before checking into our hotel for the evening.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Asai Kyoto Shijo or Hotel Vista Premio, Kyoto (Kawaramachi)
TRavel
30 minutes (bus), 45 minutes (bus), 2.5 hours (express train)
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Day 5
Shiga
The Women Tea Farmers
After breakfast, we’ll take a short train ride to the Asamiya tea experience. Here, the surreal green tea plantations completely cover the hillsides in a mesmerizing way.
During this deeply steeped visit, we meet local women tea farmers or women who are in the tea business. In their skilled company, we learn how to pick and roast the green tea leaves and the fine art of brewing a perfect cup of tea during a tasting session. The tasting will also help us discern the subtle differences and aroma of tea blends and how they are influenced by the seasons and weather conditions.
We have lunch at a nearby restaurant before visiting two pottery studios where we meet a talented female potter. It’s a slow and easy walking tour around the village.
After we return to our hotel, we gather later for dinner and possibly another cup of green tea!
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Asai Kyoto Shijo or Hotel Vista Premio, Kyoto (Kawaramachi)
Travel
25 minutes (train), quick shuttle to lunch, 30 minutes back to Kyoto (train)
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Day 6
Kyoto
A Big Taste of Kyoto
We begin our day with a private traditional Japanese tea ceremony where we try our hand at making Japanese matcha. We learn more about Japanese tea, assist at a Matcha grinding demonstration and get to experience a real Tea ceremony.
Afterwards, we take a short bus ride to Shimogamo Shrine. We have time to explore the immaculate grounds and impressive architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Next, we head to Enko-ji. A meditative stroll through the Zen temple’s gardens will allow us time for reflection and peace. Afterwards, we will catch a bus to the Gion district, where we have the opporunity to walk through the streets, discovering more of this fascinating district. We leisurely make our way back to our hotel.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Asai Kyoto Shijo or Hotel Vista Premio, Kyoto (Kawaramachi)
Travel
Tea ceremony to Shimogamo Shrine (45 min bus ride)
Enkoji to Gion (45 min bus ride)
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Day 7
Misasa Onsen
Sacred Mitokusan
We take an express train into the countryside to Misasa Onsen. This region has been a sanctuary for those seeking restoration in the healing waters for over 850 years.
Mitokusan is a 1000-year-old temple built miraculously into a rock face of Mount Mitoku at 2,953 feet (900 m). It is considered one of the three most sacred sites of the Shugendo religion (a form of mountain asceticism-shamanism) and a pilgrimage to this temple is said to purify the “six roots of perception.”
Due to the technical nature of this ‘pilgrimage’, we won’t be embarking up the mountain, but we will enjoy the serene settings of the lower temple complex of Mitokusan and join the priests to make tracings.
In the evening we will have the opportunity to soak in the onsen at our hotel, fed by natural hot springs.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Misasakan
Travel
4 hours (express train)
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Day 8
Nishinoshima Island
Kuniga Coast Walking Trail
This morning, we have a private transfer to the port of Shichirui. Here, we board a ferry to the volcanic Nishinoshima Island. The Oki Islands and the Kuniga Coast cliffs are a designated UNESCO Global Geopark (sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development).
After lunch in the port area, we travel by taxi to the top of the Kuniga Coast Walking Track, which follows along the edge of Matengai Cliff at 843 feet (257 m) above the Sea of Japan. The short trail cuts through cow and horse pastures to Tsūtenkyō Arch, Kuniga Bay and Kuniga Shrine.
In the port area we meet a special group of local women who play taiko drums and make traditional crafts together. We can try our hand at drumming. A short inter-island ferry takes us to Ama Island to our hotel.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Entô Hotel
Travel
2 hour (private shuttle), 3 hours (ferry), 1.5 hours (1.2 miles/2 km walking), 7 minutes (ferry)
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Day 9
Oki Islands
Cycling the Oki Islands
After breakfast we explore this wind and wave-sculpted archipelago in the Sea of Japan by bicycle (or e-bike) and meet women who are entrepreneurial and environmental stewards of this UNESCO designated Global Geopark. The cluster of islands are part of the Daisen-Oki National Park and only four of the Oki Islands are inhabited.
During the cycling tour, we have lunch midway with a group of local women working hard to maintain cultural traditions while also making positive, sustainable changes.
The afternoon is at our own leisure before dinner together.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Entô Hotel
biking
4 hours (biking)
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Day 10
Mount Daisen
Bikes and Bays
After an early bird breakfast (7 a.m.) we take a ferry from Hishiura Port back to the mainland and will have lunch on board. From Sakaiminato Port, a private shuttle will whisk us to the Mount Daisen region where we explore the super scenic area by bicycle. The two hour ride takes us through swatches of forest and farmland with captivating views of Mihonoseki Bay below.
Those who do not wish to cycle can explore the village shops and temples independently before reconnecting with the group.
Included Meals
Breakfast, bento box lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Sanrakusou
Travel
Ferry (3 hours 30 min), shuttle from port
Biking
Up to 5 miles (8 km), approximately 2 hours (biking)
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Day 11
Tokyo
Sushi Roll
In the morning, we transfer to the Yonago Airport to catch our flight to Tokyo.
With full memory cards and a highlight reel spooling in our heads and hearts, we’ll transfer to our hotel to refresh and have the rest of the day at leisure before we reset and enjoy a farewell dinner together.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Washington Shinjuku Hotel or Similar
Travel
1.5 hours (flight to Tokyo), 1 hr drive (from airport to hotel)
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Day 12
Tokyo
決別 (Goodbye), Tokyo
After an early breakfast, transfers will be coordinated to Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT). As we squeeze each other goodbye and share a few laughs and tears, it’s time to exchange contact info, photos and ideas for a reunion! Where next? Another pilgrimage perhaps?
Included Meals
Breakfast
What’s Included
- An awesome English-speaking local female Japanese guide
- Eleven nights’ accommodation in hotels, including three nights in a traditional tatami-style room (*Optional private single upgrades are only available for eight of the eleven nights and are subject to availability)
- All ground transport including trains, local buses, private car and ferries
- Domestic flight from Yonago Airport (YGJ) to Haneda Airport, Tokyo (HND)
- Group arrival and departure airport transfers
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 12
- Private traditional tea ceremony
- Asamiya tea experience (4.5 hour plantation tour and tasting)
- Bikes and helmets (e-bikes will be provided on the Oki Islands)
- Entry to onsens (hot springs)
- Admission to shrines and temples
Please Note:
All applicable taxes are included in the trip price.
At some of the boutique accommodations we use we are unable to secure private rooms. On this trip the private upgrade is for eight out of the eleven nights, on the other three nights you may have a roommate. We are staying in unique small accommodations with limited space.
Itineraries may be subject to change without notice due to weather and other environmental conditions. Please review our Booking Terms.
Trip Details
Know Before You Go
Click HERE for all of the logistical details you’ll need to know prior to departure—including the packing list, arrival and departure details and suggested tipping information.
This trip starts in Tokyo, Japan (airport codes: NRT or HND) and finishes in Tokyo, Japan (airport codes: NRT or HND).
Onsens
Most ryokans have ‘onsens’ – which are public bathing areas, sometimes filled with heated mineral water, and sometimes fed by local hot springs. You will be provided with a small and large towel. Onsens are gender segregated (women’s and men’s). When you enter the change rooms, there will be lockers for your clothing. Find a shower stall and rinse down well, using the soap and small towel provided. Then find your way into the onsen for a quiet soak. It’s important to be mindful of other women using the onsen and to keep voices low. These are quiet spaces.
A common question asked is whether you can enter an onsen if you have a tattoo. It is an unwritten rule that public onsens do not permit those who have tattoos on their body. If you choose to enter a public onsen with a tattoo, chances are, no one will notice (especially if it’s small and inconspicuous), but if you are asked to leave, you should respectfully do so.
The Wild Women Way
If you’re wondering how we roll, it’s together. The Wild Women Way is our modus operandi, our mantra and our rock solid foundation. You can learn more about our Wild Ways HERE.
How We Support You
Ready for a big adventure? We’re in it together. On this trip, we walk a lot and do some exploring by bicycle. Yes, some of it can be a challenge, but you’re never alone. Like thousands of women before you, you’ll draw on strength you didn’t know you had and come out feeling like the goddess you are.
Like all our trips, this trip can be scaled to suit different abilities and comfort levels. If you have concerns or reservations about your ability to complete or enjoy this trip due to any physical or medical reasons, please contact us and let’s talk about it.
What the Trip Entails
This is an active, multi-activity adventure. We would like you to be comfortable with the following:
- Walking distances on this trip vary: On the Nakasendo pilgrimage, you can expect to walk up to 5 miles (8 km) a day
- On other days, the walking duration can be one hour on the Kuniga Coast Walking Track or up to 3 hours walking in the Mount Daisen area
- There are also shorter walking tours through villages and to the shrines
- Some days involve extensive travel via express train, local buses and ferries (something to be aware of if you are prone to motion sickness)
- For the Day 8 cycling activity in Mount Daisen, expect to ride for 3–4 hours, depending on the group’s pace, on a mostly downhill route (this is an optional activity)
- For the Day 10 cycling tour of the Oki Islands, there will be several breaks and a stop for lunch – e-bikes are provided this day
- Up to three nights will be spent in accommodations offering tatami rooms, which are traditional Japanese rooms with tatami (rush reed) flooring and low futon mattresses. These Washitsu-style accommodations have sliding doors (fusuma) versus hinged doors.
- Expect a menu and flavors that may be unfamiliar to you
- If you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to enter certain onsens
- Physical Rating: Moderate (Good level of fitness required. Trips are moderately challenging with an average of 4 to 6 hours of activity each day.)
