YUKIGUNI SNOWSHOE
ADVENTURE
Estimated Price: $2,850 USD per person double occupancy, +20% for single occupancy
Suggested Activity Level: 6/10
Trip Includes
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7 nights accommodation
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All breakfasts and dinners
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All activities, guiding and transportation within tour
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Snowshoe rentals
Trip Excludes
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Airfare to/from Japan
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Travel insurance, medical coverage, etc.
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Transportation to Nagano Station and from Takayama Station
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Winter equipment excluding snowshoes
activities
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Snow Monkeys
Soba Making
and more...
Suggested dates
January - March
location
Nagano, Niigata, Takayama
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Itineraries listed are recommended by Active Travel Japan but can be customized based on length and fitness level. Price listed is subject to change. Group sizes are a minimum of 4 and maximum of 10.
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN NAGANO, TOGAKUSHI
We meet at 3:00 PM at Nagano Station this afternoon and drive 1 hour to Togakushi Shrine. We have some time to walk around Chusha Shrine and it’s beautiful natural setting. Dinner is in our accommodation.
● Hotel: Shukubo Gokui
● Facilities: Pilgrim’s Inn (Not en suite)
● Meals Provided: Dinner
DAY 2 – SNOWSHOEING IN TOGAKUSHI
Today we snowshoe in the beautiful forest around Togakushi Shrine and Joshinetsu national park. We begin the day by snowshoeing through the woods, before coming to an opening and a frozen lake. On clear days, the view of Mt. Togakushi in the background is stunning. We continue onto a cedar lined avenue with 400-year-old trees and a famous thatch gate. We snowshoe down to the shrine entrance, where are picked up and taken to a late lunch in Togakushi village. In the evening, we go out to a local hot spring and have dinner in the inn.
● Hotel: Shukubo Gokui
● Facilities: Pilgrim’s Inn (Not en suite)
● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3 – TOGAKUSHI - NABEKURA KOGEN
Today we drive 1.5 hours from Togakushi to Kijimadaira Village to try our hand at traditional Washi paper making. After lunch at a farm to table restaurant, we drive to Nabekura Kogen and go for an afternoon walk in the surrounding countryside. On a clear day, the rolling farms provide a fantastic backdrop for photographs. In the evening, we go out for an onsen (hot spring) and dinner at a local country-style izakaya style restaurant with home cooked delicacies.
● Hotel: Nabekura Kogen Mori no Ie
● Facilities: Cabins (en suite)
● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4 – SHIGA KOGEN AND SOBA MAKING
After making breakfast together, we drive 1.5 hours to Shiga Kogen where we take a series of chairlifts up the highest elevation ski resort in Japan. On clear days the views are spectacular with sights of both Mt. Fuji and the Sea of Japan. We stop to enjoy a coffee and crumpet at the crumpet cafe, before descending 3 hours to the bottom of Yokoteyama Ski Resort. From here we drive 30 minutes to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park to visit the world-famous attraction. For dinner, we try our hand at making our own soba noodles with a charismatic teacher before returning to the cabins.
● Hotel: Nabekura Kogen Mori no Ie
● Facilities: Cabins (en suite)
● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 – NABEKURA KOGEN - OKUHIDA ONSEN
We make breakfast together again, before driving 3 hours through Matsumoto City to check out Matsumoto Castle. From there we drive 1 hour into the Northern Japanese Alps and take the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway to the middle station, where we begin our day’s snowshoeing. Today is a gently winding path through the forest, with occasional views of the surrounding peaks on a clear day. We return to the inn for dinner, where we enjoy a bath and dinner.
● Hotel: Ryokan in Okuhida Onsen
● Facilities: Japanese Style (en suite)
● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6 – OKUHIDA ONSEN - TAKAYAMA
After breakfast, we return to the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway where we ascend to 2,000 meters to begin the day’s trek. If we are feeling energetic, we will complete a 3-hour round trip journey through a beautiful alpine forest and reach the mountain hut where climbers ascending Mt. Hotaka stay. We return to the car, where we drive the remaining 1 hour to Takayama City and check into our accommodation, a beautifully restored model home in the heart of Takayama’s old town. Dinner is in a local restaurant serving Hida Beef.
● Hotel: Renovated Japanese Style Home
● Facilities: Shared Bathroom and Toilets
● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7 – SHIRAKAWAGO
This morning we transfer from Takayama City to Shirakawago, a 1 hour journey. Shirakawago is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, famous for its original A-Frame thatch roof buildings. After a soba noodle or Hida Beef lunch, we walk around the village and enter one of the residences where the Wada Family resided. There is a famous view from above the snow-covered village where we will stop by, before driving back to Takayama City. Dinner is in a local restaurant serving traditional Takayama fare.
● Hotel: Renovated Japanese Style Home
● Facilities: Shared Bathroom and Toilets
● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8 – ONWARD TRANSFER
From Takayama, you transfer to your onward destination. Centralia International Airport in Nagoya is the closest airport from Takayama, although airports in Tokyo and Osaka are also easily accessible. Daniel will help you reserve your train to Nagoya Station, Kanazawa Station, or another onward destination.
PACKING LIST
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Enough clothing for the entire tour (laundry facilities are limited)
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Toiletries
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Warm waterproof jacket and windbreaker
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Waterproof hiking pants
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T-shirts (short and long sleeve) + fleece for layers
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Water bottle
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Worn-in waterproof hiking or snow boots
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Long underwear
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Warm socks
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Day pack/backpack and pack cover
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2 sets of gloves (ski gloves + thinner gloves for any kind of weather)
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Beanie/knit cap and/or ear warmers
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Hand warmers/heat pads
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Sunscreen
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Sunglasses and/or goggles
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Hiking poles with snow baskets
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Gaiters
Additional Items
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Passport – Make sure it is not expired and that you do not need a visa to enter Japan! Bring a photocopy of your passport in case the original is lost or stolen
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Credit Card – Most businesses in Japan accept major credit cards (there may be an international transaction fee)
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Cash – For the places that don’t, bring at least $300 ~ $500 per person
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Debit Card – Along with your PIN number for cash withdrawals. Post offices and 7-11s accept all major debit card companies
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Important Documents – Bring a copy of your travel and medical insurance policies
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Camera – Don’t forget th charger or extra batteries
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Medication – Please inform us beforehand of allergies if there is anything we should know regarding your medications
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Reading material - Sometimes there is no wifi or English TV stations
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Snacks - If there is anything specific you want while snowshoeing
CANCELLATION
20% Transferable but Non-Refundable Deposit
60 ~ 31 Days Prior to Arrival: 70% Refund
30 ~ 4 Days Prior to Arrival: 50% refund
72 Hours or Less Prior to Arrival: 0% refund
PAYMENT
20% Deposit to Reserve Your Place
90 Days Prior to Departure: 40% Due
30 Days Prior to Departure: 40% Balance Due
CONDITIONS
5 hours for making reservations, research, changes to the itinerary etc. is included in the price of a custom tour. After 5 hours, ¥5,000 per hour will be added to the tour price.
Group sizes are between 4 and 10. A 30% and 50% surcharge will be added to custom tours with 3 and 2 people respectively
LIABILITY & INSURANCE
Traveling with Active Travel Japan involves potentially dangerous activities and therefore Active Travel Japan assumes no liability for any loss, theft, damage, personal injury or death resulting from participation in its tours. Active Travel Japan requires all travelers to sign a waiver form prior to participation, in addition to being covered under a medical insurance and travel insurance policy to both minimize the financial and medical associated with high risk activities.