Active Japan - Hiking and Biking Extraordinary Japan

Start your adventure by enjoying the highlights of Kyoto and explore Gion, the charming and historic district home to many traditional teahouses, where in the evenings it is common to see the colorful local geisha as they head to and from work. Stroll along the Philosopher’s Walk, a mile-and-a-half-long road which takes you into the cultural heart of Gion as you pass several temples, shrines and side streets lined with coffeehouses, boutiques and craft shops. End your ambling at Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion), a Zen temple along Kyoto’s eastern mountains (Higashiyama), then visit Kinkaku-ji, or the “Golden Pavilion” - one of Kyoto’s most iconic images. Located in the western reaches of the city, the temple was built as a retirement villa by one of the Ashikaga shoguns in the 15th century - the ideal spot to enjoy a private tea ceremony.

This morning, hike to Arashiyama bamboo forest, one of Japan’s most well-known woodlands, and venture onwards to nearby Kokedera Moss Temple - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former royal household - now famous for its collection of over 100 different varieties of moss, which envelops the entire site in a blanket of vibrant green. Visits here are by strict invitation only in order to help preserve the delicate nature of the moss. Afterwards, drive to the base of Mount Atago, on the western side of Kyoto. Standing at over 3,000-feet high, the mountain (sacred in the Shinto religion) is home to the Atago shrine - founded at the beginning of the eighth century, and dedicated to the prevention of natural disasters and fires; patrons can even buy charms of protection for their homes here. This area of Kyoto is an important area of worship for several groups of Mountain Ascetics - the Shugenja and Yamabushi - who practice a mix of Buddhism, Shintoism, and Animism.

It is a relatively early start this morning for the Kurama-dera Temple Hike. Take a car to Kurama, a rural town in the northern mountains of Kyoto City; surrounded by forested mountains, this quaint village is very popular amongst the locals as a spot for a relaxing getaway. Hike two to three hours through the cedar wood forest to the temple (the hike can be steep at times) and along the trail you will find waterfalls, bridges, bamboo groves and a Shinto shrine called Yuki Jinja. Kurama-dera Temple itself has a fascinating history, steeped in myth and legend, and is one of the few temples in modern Japan to maintain an air of true spirituality enhanced by the heavenly views of the valley below. If you wish to continue the trek, behind the temple’s main building the hiking trail extends through the forest, past several other temple structures and onto Kibune, a small town in the neighboring valley - this occasionally steep walk takes about an hour to complete.

Depart Kyoto by Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) for Hiroshima. Visit the Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims. Here you are welcome to ring the Peace Bell, whose tolling sounds regularly throughout the park. The Peace Memorial Park is also steward to the Flame of Peace - not be extinguished until all nuclear weapons have been banned. The Peace Memorial Museum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, is essential for those who wish to learn more about the bombing of Hiroshima; artifacts such as a watch stopped at 08:15 (the time the bomb Struck Hiroshima) and a child’s melted tricycle really draw to attention to the personal, human side of the event. Following lunch, take a ferry to Miyajima Island - one of the most scenic spots in Japan - believed by many to be an Island of the Gods, and the location of the iconic Itsukushima Shrine.

This morning take the ferry to the island of Shikoku and visit Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s twelve “original castles” which have survived from the Edo period, and witness elevated views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea. Then take a stroll around the atmospheric Matsuyama Old Town; separated from the rest of Matsuyama by the Miyamae River, Old Town was once an independent port, but became a part of Matsuyama as the city expanded. Visit Ishiteji Temple, located near Dogo Onsen to the northeast of Matsuyama's city center; this sprawling compound boasts several halls and holy buildings, a three-storied pagoda, various statues and a unique inner temple connected to the main grounds via a cave, and is one of the 88 temples that makes up the Shikoku pilgrimage route.

Today, take part in the thrilling Shimanami Kaido Cycling route, where you can ride the Shimanami Kaido Expressway, connecting Honshu and Shikoku Island. The route consists of dedicated pedestrian and bike lanes, which run alongside the highway itself, and is a spectacular 40-mile road-and-bridge network connecting Japan's main island with Shikoku, incorporating six smaller islands in the process. The sublime scenery of the Shimanami Kaido makes this one of the most beautiful cycling routes in the world and provides photo opportunities galore - local lighthouses, shrines and natural wonders - that most travelers zip past in their cars. Once you have crossed the full 40-mile bridge route, a support vehicle will drive you back to Matsuyama and your hotel, where you can relax for the evening.

Matsuyama is home to eight of the 88 Buddhist temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage and you can often see pilgrims dressed in white making their way between the temples. Take part in the pilgrimage with a drive to the mountain plateau of Kuma Kogen (“Bear Plateau”) and the start of today’s hike in the forest setting of Daihoji (Temple 44), then begin the hike to Iwayaji (Temple 45) following the mostly even trail onto the small village of Shimohatanokawa. The route continues through rural landscapes and woodlands before dropping gently into an isolated valley before ascending once again into the forested hills; amble along ridge tops before beginning a final descent to the mountain temple of Iwayaji. After the hike, travel by vehicle back to Matsuyama to retire for the night.

Today visit the famed Kenrokuen garden, where you can wander through the beautiful landscaped garden, known as the “Garden of Six Sublimities”. Dating to the early 1600’s, Kenrokuen is one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan,” and is considered by many to be the finest in the country. This classic Japanese strolling garden, includes hills, ponds, rocks, moss, and tea houses, is best experienced by walking through its stately grounds. In the afternoon visit Kanazawa castle, an Edo period fortress which served as the Kanazawa University campus for several decades. While many of the majestic buildings were lost to fires throughout the centuries, the castle is now being rebuilt to ancient specifications. Today, the lush grounds of Kanazawa Castle are a lovely, scenic park that is especially beautiful during spring’s cherry blossom season, and fall. The walking tour will culminate with a visit to Nomura-ke, a samurai residence painstakingly restored to the specifications of its 17th-century heyday. Afterwards, explore Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya district (the “eastern tea” neighborhood), which is a designated National Cultural Asset in Japan. This area is perhaps the best example of Kanazawa’s dedication to the preservation and re-creation of the architecture and culture of the Edo period.

This morning, check out and meet your guide in the lobby for private transfer to Mount Hakusan National Park (approximately two and a half hours). At the park, meet your expert mountain guide for a guided trek through the trails. Along with Mount Fuji and Mount Tateyama, Hakusan is one of the Three Sacred Mountains of Japan. The mountain has been a place of pilgrimage and worship since the eighth century and renowned for its natural beauty. The park spreads across four prefectures and covers 185 square miles of protected, primal landscape. The park ranges from temperate to alpine climate zones, giving it a rich diversity of vegetation as well as wildlife - with animals such as the golden eagle, Asiatic black bear, and Japanese macaque all calling the park home. After you’ve finished hiking, drive two hours to the Kaga region to check into a luxury ryokan and enjoy a much needed onsen experience.

Enjoy a leisurely day visiting local artists and craftsman, who strive to maintain the traditional art forms of Japan in this quaint and charming town. Witness a Kutani porcelain master’s studio and private gallery, a wooden furniture artist’s studio, Japanese washi-making studio, maki-e lacquerware studio and a tatami mat-maker’s workshop.

Return to Tokyo or Osaka and onto your next destination.