Japan Adventure Small Group Tour
Oct 25-Nov 1, 2025
Min/Max: 7/12
Moderate
Overview
Join me on a coastal adventure in Japan in 2025! This tour is full of adventure (hiking, biking, and kayaking), Japanese culture, and food! We will be traveling through Tohoku, a relatively unknown region in Japan on the Michinoku Coastal Trail. Going the opposite way of the tourist crowds allow us to connect with the people of Tohoku on a deeper level. All while enjoying the comradery of like minded active people!
The Tohoku region of Japan is made up of the northernmost six prefectures on the main island. The area boasts great natural beauty and an abundance of natural resources, such as delicious fresh seafood.
On March 11, 2011, the Tohoku Pacific Coast area was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. After more than 10 years of disaster recovery within the area, you can see the beautiful scenery that has not changed from before the earthquake and witness the lives of local people who have risen up against these adversities as you walk along the Michinoku Coastal trail. The trail was created to help the region heal – emotionally and economically. You’ll be welcomed with open arms as you move along the trail.
Highlights:
- Explore Japan’s newest 1000+km hiking trail in the northeastern Tohoku region; hiking, biking and kayaking
- Experience the beautiful nature around you, from the sea, rivers, villages and mountains, still as magnificent as pre Earthquake
- Enjoy the freshest local seafood and Japanese cuisine every day!
- Mingle with locals who have risen from the disaster and continue to strive towards the revitalization of their hometown.
- Stay in small intimate ryokans where you’ll be exposed to many new Japanese traditions. Also enjoy one night of glamping along the coast
- Soak in onsens (hot springs) and learn about this important piece of Japanese culture
- Immerse yourself for a week in a different world through a variety of activities that allow you to become familiar with the nature and culture of the area.
While learning about the disaster and interacting with local residents, this trip offers you a chance to contemplate “life,” not only that of yourself but also of others, as well as life within our natural surroundings. You will also get a new perspective on living with the natural environment in a sustainable way by learning how the locals have lived with nature in everyday life.
Itinerary
Details
This tour is run by Michinori Travel Tohoku company in Japan. I have worked with them to create this custom tour for my readers. This tour is completely operated by them, therefore the booking is done by them. I adhere to their rules and guidelines since they are responsible for the tour.
Our guide, Katy, works for Michinori Travel Tohoku and she’s superb! She’s an Australian who has been living in Japan for over 15 years. She speaks/reads/writes fluent Japanese and lives in Iwate in the Tohoku prefecture. She knows the area well and has lead numerous trips on the MCT. She is one of the main reasons why I wanted to offer this tour to my readers! She works with local guides from each area to organize our experiences and she’ll be with us the entire time.
What’s Included
- All B, L, D during the tour except no breakfast or lunch day 1, no lunch or dinner day 8
- All lodging during the tour
- Entrance fees
- MCT Passport booklet
- Local Guide with Knowledge of the region
- Packing List
- Group call before the tour
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to Japan
- Shinkansen Train (fast train) tickets. You will need to purchase your own transportation Sendai and return transportation when we end in Hachinohe
- Alcoholic beverages (except for the Kesennuma Brewers Table Dinner, and cocktails at Aquarius Bar)
- Travel Insurance is required. I use and recommend Allianz Travel Insurance. More info here.
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Medical expenses
Map of Route
Booking
Booking
- Send me an email at info@Ottsworld.com letting me know about your interest. We will set up a call to discuss any questions you have. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis – there are only 12 spots available on this tour.
- I will then provide you a link where you can put down your deposit and reserved your space with Michinori Travel Tohoku – the local company I’m working with to deliver the tour.
- A minimum of 7 people are required for the tour to run. Please wait to purchase airfare until we can confirm seven guests.
Please note – Travel Insurance is required by Michinori Travel Tohoku. It is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guest to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependents/traveling companions for the duration of their trip in Japan. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the tour, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods.
Cancellation Policy
Final payments are due 90 days before departure – July 27, 2025. At this time it will become non-refundable.
Cancellations after this date will incur 100% of the tour cost.
Cancellations before this date can be made but the deposit is non-refundable.
Is this tour for you?
Fitness: This tour is active, you must be able to comfortably hike 7 miles on rough terrain with ups and downs. Please note – some of the MCT trail is along roads, it is not all hiking trail – few long distance trails are all trail. You must be able to ride a bike for 12 miles. In Japanese onsens, it is required that you use them naked. They are always segregated between men and women. If you intend on using an onsen, then you must follow the traditional rules they have.
Food: Japanese food is a big part of this tour. This tour is for the adventurous eater. We will be eating Japanese food every day. However, Often there are western options for breakfast and there are plenty of 7-11’s where you can get snacks. You should be open to trying new things, sometimes foods that you aren’t familiar with, and foods that you don’t know what it is. There will be an abundance of seafood on this tour, however if you do not like seafood, we can find other options.
Dietary Requirements: If you have allergies such as buckwheat, nuts or seafood, we can accommodate these needs at every meal as long as we know in advance. Furthermore, we can also accommodate for vegetarian (specifically lacto-ovo vegetarian) or pescatarian options for each meal as well with notice. Unfortunately, we cannot cater specifically for gluten-free, halal, kosher or vegan options on this particular tour.
Weather: We will be there in autumn and if we are lucky, we should have beautiful fall colors to hike and bike through. This region has an abundance of trees and is very popular in autumn for local Japanese travelers. However – autumn leaves are tricky – so nothing is guaranteed. It will be cooler fall weather – great for being active. You’ll want a heavier jacket at night (a light puffy would be perfect), and of course rain/wind gear. And the onsens will feel so good!!
Daytime temperatures are typically 61–68°F (16–20°C) in the lowlands, and 46–57°F (8–14°C) on high passes. Evenings are usually 39–54°F (4–12°C)
Extra Add-Ons
Extra Days in Tokyo – Even though this tour doesn’t include Tokyo, most guests will fly into and out of Tokyo. So why not spend a few days in the World’s largest city! I’m more than happy to help you organize your time there at some off the beaten path sites and my favorite neighborhoods! Also – if you want to see the ‘Cat lovers’ side of Tokyo – I have an entire itinerary for that too! Just ask me and we can organize a great extra few days in this vibrant, fascinating, quirky city!
If you have extra time, I suggest that you go explore a few other regions of Japan. In addition to a couple of days in Tokyo, I would also recommend going to Shikoku Island, Kyoto, or Hokkaido. Here’s a few ideas for you. However I’m happy to talk to you and help you plan an extra week in Japan seeing the popular and lesser known sites!
Japan Rail Pass – if you want to go to other regions of Japan, then I highly recommend getting a Japan Rail Pass. These are special passes/deals for tourists visiting Japan. These passes will allow you to include unlimited transportation options around the country, including airport transfers and fast Shinkansen trains (including the one that will get you to the start of this MCT tour)! They are offered in different durations and regions. You can learn more about Japan rail passes here.
Get more info on my Itinerary planning assistance here
Reviews
Oct 25-Nov 1, 2025
$4,200USD
$840 USD Deposit
$94 Single Occupancy
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