The Chubu region at the center of the main island embraces several national parks, and the North and South Japan Alps, the ‘Roof of Japan’.
Excellent walking and hiking can be quickly and easily accessed from the metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, via the bullet train or on local lines.

The Chugoku region covers the western part of the Honshu, main island of Japan. It is bordered on the north by the Sea of Japan, and to the south by the Setonaikai or Inland Sea. Cities in the Chugoku region include Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Okayama, and Tottori.

Big skies, superb hiking on the Daisetsu Kogen plateau and in the northeast towards the remote Shiretoko Peninsula on the Okhotsk Sea. Winter snowshoeing, powder snow skiing, and the flower fields on the islands of Rishiri and Rebun in early summer.

The Kanto Plain is dominated by metropolitan Tokyo with a population of 13 million. The 23 Tokyo wards have a population of about 9.2 million.
Beyond the Tokyo metropolis, six prefectures make up the Kanto: Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, and Ibaraki.
Devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and bombed and destroyed by fire in the Second World War, central Tokyo is now characterized by gleaming towers of glass and steel, solid enough, we’re told, to withstand a major earthquake, should one happen.
Dynamic, crowded, Tokyo is an exciting place for those with the energy to enjoy it.

The Kinki region lies in the heart of Japan. Centered on Osaka and Kyoto, it also has the historically and culturally important city of Nara, just south of Kyoto.
There are great hiking routes in the Yoshino Kumano National Park which covers much of the Kii Peninsula to the south.

The island that’s got it all. Mountains, volcanoes, abundant hot springs, fine food and drink, vibrant cities, an interesting history, wonderful neighbouring islands, and warm, friendly people. The heavily forested island of Yakushima is a short hop from Kagoshima.

The Shikoku pilgrimages in the footsteps of the monk Kobo Daishi are very popular. We run several of these tours every year. Predominantly rural, Shikoku has the only undammed river in Japan – the Shimantogawa – and some fine mountain hikes and pilgrimage routes.

Beyond Kyushu lie the jewel-like Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Ishigaki, Miyakojima, and the Yaeyama Islands – some closer to Taiwan than Japan. Sapphire seas, huge coral lagoons, and a distinctly different culture and feel to the rest of Japan

The ‘Deep North’ of Honshu, the main island. Beautiful countryside with fine hikes, notably in the beech forests of the Shirakami Mountains, on Hakkoda Plateau, and around Hirosaki. Brilliant summer festivals, apples galore, and deep, deep snow in winter.