Japan

Travel in Japan

The spring is an ideal time of year to visit Japan—flowers are in bloom and festivals are plentiful. In general the weather should be very pleasant; however, it can be unpredictable, and we may encounter snow during our time in the mountains, where our travels take us between 6,000 and 10,000 feet of elevation.

Meals and Accommodations

Though all our accommodations feature Western amenities and are quite comfortable, hotels in Japan tend to be less luxurious than in many other parts of the world. Additionally, twin-bed rooms are often more spacious than single-bed rooms. In Takayama, we stay at a typical Japanese ryokan. Tea is served at low wooden tables and guests sleep on futons placed on the tatami mats. Our ryokan also features typical Japanese communal baths, with separate men’s and women’s quarters. 

Though Western-style breakfasts are available at our hotels, most lunches and dinners consist of Japanese cuisine, as does the breakfast during our ryokan stay. We expect that participants will be a self-selecting group whose interest in exploring Japanese culture outweighs the need for familiar food and lodging.

Activity Level

We consider this trip to be relatively strenuous. On average, daily programs involve two to four miles of walking, often over uneven, sloped terrain. In some instances, such as at temples, stairs do not have handrails. In the Alps region, travelers will need to climb up and down stairs and in and out of funiculars, gondolas, and public buses, at an altitude of 9,800 feet while carrying their own overnight bag. Slip-on shoes are recommended, as shoes must be removed at every temple we visit. Participants must be in good health and able to keep up with an active group of travelers.