Japan Sacred Northern Lakes & Mountains Hiking Tour
Spiritual Traditions & Hot Springs from Tokyo to Nikko
- Available: July, August, September
- Activity: Level 3
- Accommodations: Comfortable Hotels
-
Group Size:
4-15 Guests
Min Age: 13
Highlights
- Escape to northern Japan and hike it's unspoiled lakes, high-altitude wetlands, and lush gorges
- Discover Japan's "mountain faith" - Shugendo, with deeply rooted spiritual traditions, in sacred Dewa Sanzan
- See Nikko's UNESCO-listed sites, unwind in natural hot springs, and overnight in traditional ryokans
Itinerary
Arrive in Tokyo
Day 1
Welcome to Japan! After arrival at the airport, transfer to your hotel, where you'll enjoy a festive welcome dinner and a well-deserved night's sleep.
Accommodation: Park Hotel-Tokyo
Meals: Dinner
Go Back in Time in Tokyo
Day 2
After breakfast, head out for a full-day walking tour of Tokyo, beginning with Yanaka, an old quarter of the city that still retains charm from the Edo period, with its traditional wooden houses, narrow streets, and small temples. Continue on to Asakusa and Senso-ji, a large Buddhist temple with a five-story 7th-century pagoda that was rebuilt after World War II. Leading up to the main temple buildings is Nakamise-dori, a pedestrian street lined with craft and souvenir shops capped off by Kaminari-mon, the temple's famous entrance gate. Please see luggage FAQ for more details on this day.
Accommodation: Park Hotel-Tokyo
Activity: 6 hours/5-6 miles hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey to Historic Nikko
Day 3
Travel to historic Nikko, a town set against a stunning backdrop of wooded hills and national parklands. The extravagantly ornate buildings of Nikko's Toshogu Shrine are now on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. The shrine was created in commemoration of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a shogun venerated for uniting feuding lords to create the nation of Japan, and the intricate temple carvings are full of whimsy - including cats and monkeys. Finish your tour with Rinno-ji, with its lacquered pillars and gohonzon shrines, and Futarasan Shrine, dedicated to the Nikko Mountains' spirits.
Accommodation: Itaya Ryokan-Nikko
Transportation: 2-hour train ride
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the Natural Beauty of Oku Nikko
Day 4
This morning set out to explore Oku Nikko, the "hinterland of Nikko," an area of outstanding natural beauty in the mountainous north of Nikko and now a protected national park. Enjoy leisurely trekking in the Karikomi Lake area, famous for its natural sulfur hot springs. Monks have harnessed these waters for their healing properties since their discovery in 788 - and at your ryokan, in the Nikko Yumoto Onsen area, you can experience these waters for yourself! You'll also explore the surrounding marshlands and their wide array of bird life.
Accommodation: Itaya Ryokan-Nikko
Activity: 5-6 hours/8 miles hiking with 1,840' elevation gain & 1,870' elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
See Yamadera's Temple & the Scenic Ginzan Onsen
Day 5
Travel to Yamagata and hike to Yamadera, the "mountain temple" known as Risshaku-ji. This Tendai sect of Mahayana Buddhism temple is perched atop the mountainside with 1,000 steps leading to it. The upper temple houses a sacred flame that has been burning since the temple was founded in 860! A viewing platform situated slightly farther up the mountain offers impressive views of the neighboring peaks and the valley below. Descend and board the train to scenic Ginzan Onsen, a small hot springs town known for traditional wooden onsen lining the riverfront. Please see luggage FAQ for more details on this day.
Accommodation: Takimikan-Ginzan Onsen
Activity: 1 mile/2 hours hiking with 738' elevation gain & loss
Transportation: 4-hour transfer by bus & train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hike from Haguro-san
Day 6
After breakfast and perhaps another quick soak in the hot spring, we take a bus to our nearest railway station and catch the shinkansen (bullet train) north, following the Japan Sea's picturesque coastline to Dewa Sanzan - the three sacred peaks of Haguro-san, Gas-san, and Yudono-san. The lowest of these is Haguro-san (1,358'), the spiritual home of the Shugendo, which blends the native Shinto belief system with Buddhism and other forms of mountain worship. Continue to Gyokusen-ji Temple, allegedly founded in 1251 and its garden completed in the 1650s, and now designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. We'll visit the shrine at the summit of Haguro san, and descend the 2,446 steps to our accommodation for the evening.
Accommodation: Sankoin-Haguro-san
Activity: 2,446 steps/1,375' downhill & 1-1.5 hours walking with 1,375' elevation loss
Transportation: 2-hour bullet train ride
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover Shrine Secrets in Dewa Sanzan
Day 7
Transfer to the start of our hike on Mount Gas-san. The highest of the three sacred mountains, Gas-san (or "Moon Mountain," 6,509') is covered in deep snow - up to nearly 20 feet - for much of the year. The mountain is officially opened each year with a ceremony at the summit's Shinto shrine. Here pilgrims in white coats head for the Dewa Sanzan shrine, with its massive thatched roof. Along our walk there are lovely small ponds formed by the melting snow and an abundance of alpine flowers.
Accommodation: Sankoin-Haguro-san
Activity: 4.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 2,000' elevation gain & loss
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Sukayu Onsen
Day 8
This morning your bag travels ahead of you to Yakeyama while you and your overnight bag journey to Sukayu Onsen, in the far northeast of Honshu. Sukayu Onsen is one of the snowiest inhabited regions on earth, but thankfully the thermals caused by the dormant volcano, with their warm waters, provide an enjoyable counterbalance to the cold of the snow. The onsen is famous for its milky mineral-rich waters of its sen-in-buro, or 1,000-person bath! The bath is mixed gender, and there are also two smaller gender-specific hot springs. Please see luggage FAQ for more details on this day.
Accommodation: Sukayu Onsen Ryokan-Sukayu Onsen
Transportation: 6-hour train and bus transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hike on Mount Hakkoda
Day 9
Mount Hakkoda forms part of a plateau of dormant volcanoes situated between Lake Towada and Aomori, and is known for its high-altitude wetlands. While the volcanoes of Mount Hakkoda are dormant, they do make themselves known in the area's onsen. Following our scenic walk on the mountain, travel by bus to tonight's accommodation, where your bag, sent from Haguro, will be waiting for you.
Accommodation: Yakeyamasou-Yakeyama Onsen
Activity: 3 hours/5-8 miles hiking with 1,312' elevation loss
Transportation: 1-hour bus transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Walk in Oirase
Day 10
Your bag heads to Tokyo while you enjoy a half-day hike along the Oirase stream. This unspoiled area of Lake Towada is famous for its autumn foliage, but is spectacularly beautiful year-round. The stream follows the floor of the Oirase Gorge and is the only draining river from Lake Towada. During summer, waterfalls and fast-moving rapids punctuate the stream's lush greenery and virgin forests. The cedar, beech, and maple trees along its banks provide a beautiful canopy for your walk. The walk concludes with a scenic lake cruise to your accommodations. Please see luggage FAQ for more details on this day.
Accommodation: Shinzantei-Lake Towada
Activity: 4 hours/6 miles hiking & 330' elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Bullet Train Back to Tokyo
Day 11
This morning, we will enjoy a short and easy walk to Towada shrine. You'll then have lunch before you travel by bus and then shinkansen to make your way back to Tokyo. There is time to pick up additional local delicacies to snack on as you relax on the train journey back to Tokyo. You'll arrive at the hotel in the early evening, where your bag sent from Yakeyama awaits. The rest of the day is free and you can explore Tokyo in the evening on your own.
Accommodation: Park Hotel-Tokyo
Transportation: 5-hour bus and train transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore Trails in Kamakura
Day 12
Spend today walking in Kamakura, scenically located between the ocean and the wooded hills just southwest of Tokyo. Famous for its temples, some of which you discover today, it also provides great walking along the Ten'en trail, situated in the northern regions of Kamakura. Follow a ridgeline to Kencho-ji Temple, passing tomb caves and jizo statues as we walk through birch, maple, ginkgo, and bamboo groves. This afternoon, return to the hotel and relax. There is time to explore the neighborhood on your own before a festive farewell dinner with the group.
Accommodation: Park Hotel-Tokyo
Activity: 3 hours/4 miles hiking with 708' elevation gain & 730' elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart from Tokyo
Day 13
This morning, bid each other farewell and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Dates & Prices
- 2023
- 2024
- Go Custom
- Inclusions
2023
Scheduled Dates
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
- $10,295 price per person dbl occ+$1,350 single supplementAvailable
- $10,295 price per person dbl occ+$1,350 single supplementAvailable
- $10,295 price per person dbl occ+$1,350 single supplementAvailable
- $10,695 price per person dbl occ+$1,350 single supplementWaitlistConfirmed
2024
Scheduled Dates
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
- $10,295 price per person dbl occ+$1,650 single supplementAvailable
- $10,295 price per person dbl occ+$1,650 single supplementAvailable
- $10,295 price per person dbl occ+$1,650 single supplementAvailable
Go Custom
Create Your Very Own Adventure
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
Start PlanningInclusions
Price Includes
- Expertise and services of our experienced adventure guides
- All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
- Snacks and water between meals
- Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
- Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
- Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
- Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
- Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
- Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
- Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
- Travel Protection Program
- Personal expenses
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Naomi Honda
Naomi earned her master's degree in sports tourism and marketing to complement her travel agency background and expand her knowledge of the tourism industry. During her study, she organized and managed events for international students for the purpose of cross-cultural exchange. In 2014, she passed the national tour guide exam and since then, she has been working as a guide. She is interested in Japanese history, food, culture and sports. Currently, she is studying to be qualified as a Kikisake-shi (Master of Sake).

Tomomi Shimazu
Tomomi was born and raised in Tokyo. After completing her degree in international relations, she studied in the UK and the US. Later she lived in Hawaii and Israel for years and traveled extensively in Europe, the US and Middle East. She now lives in Tokyo, close to its center and loves gardening, walking, cycling and yoga. Tomomi enjoys guiding and sharing her knowledge of both traditional and urban cultures of Japan. Meet Tomomi on MT Sobek's adventures in Japan.
Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 3. You will be walking 2-5 hours and 1-8 miles a day on flat paths and mountain trails through the Japanese countryside, visiting idyllic villages, ancient temples, and traditional inns. Elevations are between 500 and 3,500 feet. There are some steady climbs that require stamina. You need to be in good health and physical condition for this trip.
Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 2
6 hours/5-6 miles hiking
Day 4
5-6 hours/8 miles hiking with 1,840' elevation gain & 1,870' elevation loss
Day 5
1 mile/2 hours hiking with 738' elevation gain & loss
Day 6
2,446 steps/1,375' downhill & 1-1.5 hours walking with 1,375' elevation loss
Day 7
4.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 2,000' elevation gain & loss
Day 9
3 hours/5-8 miles hiking with 1,312' elevation loss
Day 10
4 hours/6 miles hiking & 330' elevation gain
Day 12
3 hours/4 miles hiking with 708' elevation gain & 730' elevation loss
Accommodations
Rejuvenate at traditional ryokans (inns) - many with onsen (hot springs) - set in scenic mountain locations.
Weather
Late July to September is very hot (75°F to 95°F) and humid. The weather can be cooler in the mountains.
FAQs
Who will meet me on arrival?
You will take a limousine bus to the hotel, where your MT Sobek guide will meet you in the evening for a trip briefing and dinner.
What days will I be without my luggage during this trip?
You will be without your luggage, carrying your essentials in your daypack, on days 2, 5, 8 and 10. Your luggage will be transported by courier to your accommodation on the following day.
Can I still travel to Japan if I'm gluten-free?
Yes, you can, but please let us know as soon as possible so we can manage your request.
Can I travel to Japan if I'm allergic to fish or shellfish?
Fish is a more challenging allergy to manage due to the ubiquitous nature of dashi (fish broth), but we will relay your request to the cooks along the way.
What is staying in a ryokan or minshuku like?
The ryokans vary significantly, but usually have tatami mats for flooring and futon beds that are laid out each night. Baths may be communal and divided by gender.
Similar Trips to Sacred Lakes & Mountains of Northern Japan Tour
Inspiration to Explore
Guest Reviews
"Great trip to a less explored part of Japan with a very knowledgeable guide. Couldn't do this trip without this kind of support."
Jerry G.
MT Sobek Guest, Sacred Lakes & Mountains of Northern Japan
"There is no way we could have navigated our way around northern Japan on our own. Our guide was indefatigable in explaining everything we were seeing, doing, and eating, along with relevant cultural and religious customs."
Shannon G.
MT Sobek Guest, Sacred Lakes & Mountains of Northern Japan