DAY 1 –  | ARRIVAL IN TAKASAKI

The tour begins at Takasaki Station this afternoon. Takasaki is on the Hokuriku and Niigata Shinkansen lines and is easily accessible from Tokyo. We drive 1 hour to Minakami, check into our accommodation and go out to a local Izakaya style restaurant for dinner.

● Hotel: TBD

● Facilities:

● Meals Provided: Dinner

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DAY 2 – | MT. HOTAKA

After breakfast, we drive 45 minutes to Kawaba Ski Resort, where we take a series of chairlifts to the top. From here it's a 3 hour round trip hike to the peak of Mt. Hotaka, with stunning vistas on clear days. After returning and having a bath, we will go out to another local restaurant in Minakami for dinner.

● Hotel: TBD

● Facilities:

● Meals Provided: Dinner

 

DAY 3 – |  MINAKAMI

Today, we snowshoe in the mountains around Minakami. Please stay tuned for the exact route. After a morning and afternoon snowshoe experience, we drive 1 hour to Tsunan, where we check into our accommodation and enjoy a unique cave onsen. Dinner is at an Izakaya style restaurant in Tsunan specializing in seafood.

● Hotel: Kawatsuya

● Facilities: Ryokan (Not en suite but our group only)

● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner 

 

DAY 4 – | AKIYAMAGO

After a Japanese breakfast at our ryokan, we snowshoe through 120 year old terraced rice paddies with a local guide and visit a famous bridge. Lunch is at a tiny restaurant in Akiyamago. We continue further into the mountains for an afternoon snowshoe in a magical snowy forest. On clear days, the view of Mt. Torikabuto is fantastic. Dinner is at another local restaurant in Tsunan. 

● Hotel: Kawatsuya

● Facilities: Ryokan (Not en suite but our group only)

● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner 

DAY 5 – | NABEKURA KOGEN

After a Japanese breakfast at the ryokan, we drive 1 hour to Nabekura Kogen and go for a  walk in the surrounding countryside. On a clear day, the rolling farms provide a fantastic backdrop for photographs. This is also one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan. For lunch, we visit a farm to table restaurant serving local fare. An afternoon onsen at a famous mountain spring is next. In the evening, we go out for a dinner at a country-style izakaya style restaurant serving home cooked delicacies. 

● Hotel: Nabekura Kogen Mori no Ie 

● Facilities: Cabins (en suite) 

● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner 

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DAY 6 – | SHIGA KOGEN

This morning, we make breakfast together in the cabins. We then 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. After enjoying a coffee or hot chocolate at the Crumpet Cafe, we descend 3 hours to the bottom of Yokoteyama Ski Resort. Lunch is at a ski resort restaurant. From here we drive 30 minutes to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park to visit the world-famous attraction, then visit a nearby hot spring onsen. We go out to a hot pot style restaurant for dinner.

● Hotel: Daniel's Guesthouse

● Facilities: (Not en suite but our group only)

● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner 

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DAY 7 – | OKUHIDA

After a quick breakfast, we leave early and drive 2.5 hours to the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway where we ascend to 2,000 meters to begin the day’s trek. If feeling energetic, we will hike all the way to the mountain hut where hikers stay to begin their ascent of Mt. Nishihodaka. After a delicious lunch at the top, we descend down the two ropeways, then drive the remaining 1 hour to Takayama City. After checking into the accommodation, a beautifully restored model home in the heart of Takayama’s old town, we go to dinner in a local restaurant serving Hida Beef. 

● Hotel: Renovated Japanese Style Home 

● Facilities: (Not en suite but our group only)

● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner 

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DAY 8 – | 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. We walk around the village to a sightseeing point, then enter a residence that has been turned into a museum. After returning to Takayama, we have a hamburger (Hida Beef burgers available) and have the afternoon free for any last minute shopping. Dinner is in a local restaurant serving traditional Takayama fare. 

● Hotel: Renovated Japanese Style Home 

● Facilities: (Not en suite but our group only)

● Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner 

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DAY 9 – | 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, Toyama Station, Kanazawa Station, or wherever else you need to go.