Fall for Japan | Samurai Trail Add-On
Location:
Dates:
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Join us for a 9 day pickleball adventure to Western Japan! Explore modern cities like Hiroshima and Kobe, rural areas of Tsuyama as well as the ancient capitol of Nara, all while playing pickleball with local players. This will be a true insider experience and culinary treat as our tour leaders, who are natives or have spent extensive time living in Japan, take you to all their favorite spots!
Trip Details
What’s Included
- 9 nights at standard accommodations
- All meals excluding 1 dinner and 1 lunch
- All activities including, tours, entrance fees, pickleball clinics and transportation within Japan
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from Kansai Int’l Airport (KIX) or Narita Int’l Airport (NRT)
- 1 week JR Pass (2 weeks needed if joining Samurai Trails extension)
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Travel insurance, medical coverage, etc.
Maximum Group Size 16
Activity Level 5/10
Accommodations
Standard Accommodation – Details coming soon!
Trip instructors
Itinerary
ARRIVAL IN JAPAN
- Please book your airfare to/from Kansai Int’l Airport (KIX) in Osaka (Travelers from North America will likely need to depart the previous day to arrive on time)
- Transfer to airport hotel
- Meet in hotel lobby at 7:30 PM
- Welcome dinner (depending on arrival time) and tour orientation on site
OSAKA ~ TSUYAMA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Bus and train transfer to Tsuyama (~3:30 hrs)
- Japanese lunch along the way
- Private Pickleball Trips clinic at Mimasaka University (~3:00 hrs)
- Check into accommodation
- Dinner at local Tsuyama restaurant
TSUYAMA PICKLEBALL
- Breakfast at accommodation
- All-day pickleball event with local players
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Dinner with members of the Tsuyama pickleball club
TSUYAMA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Sightseeing in Tsuyama including hot springs and fantastic pizza restaurant
- Lunch
- Evening recreational play with local players, including instruction
- Dinner at local restaurant
TSUYAMA ~ HIROSHIMA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Private pickleball trips clinic at Mimasaka University (~3:00 hrs)
- Travel to Hiroshima (~2:30 hrs)
- Check into accommodation
- Local specialty ‘Hiroshimayaki’ dinner
HIROSHIMA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Ferry to Miyajima Island
- Miyajima Ropeway and Itsukushima Shrine
- Lunch on Miyajima
- Return to Hiroshima (~1:00 hrs)
- Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum
- Dinner at local Hiroshima restaurant
HIROSHIMA ~ OSAKA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Transfer to Himeji Station (~1:00 hrs)
- Sightseeing at Himeji Castle
- Local lunch in Himeji
- Travel to Osaka (~1:00 hrs)
- Check into accommodation
- Free afternoon to relax or explore Osaka
- Karaoke party and dinner with Daikichi Coverall
NARA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Train to Nara (~1:00 hrs)
- Morning sightseeing in Nara Deer Park, Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine
- Return to Osaka (~1:00 hrs)
- Afternoon Pickleball Trips clinic in Osaka with local players (~3:00
hrs) - Independent dinner
KYOTO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Travel to Kyoto (~1:00 hrs)
- Sightseeing in Kyoto temples and along ‘philosopher’s path’
- Lunch at local Kyoto restaurant
- Return to Osaka (~1:00 hrs)
- ‘Okonomiyaki’ finale diner in Osaka
DEPARTURE
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Departure from Kansai Int’l Airport (KIX) in Osaka
SAMURAI TRAIL | OSAKA ~ KISO FUKUSHIMA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Train from Osaka to Kiso Fukushima** (~3:00 hrs)
- Check into traditional Japanese-style ‘ryokan’
- Walk a section of the Nakasendo Way
- Dinner and hot spring at accommodation
SAMURAI TRAIL | MAGOME ~ TSUMAGO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Train and bus to Magome Village (~1:30 hrs)
- Walk 4.5 mi (7 km) from Magome Village to Tsumago Village (~2:30 hrs)
- Late lunch in Tsumago Village
- Return to accommodation
- Dinner at local Kiso Fukushima restaurant
SAMURAI TRAIL | KAIDA KOGEN AND PICKLEBALL
- Breakfast at traditional acommodation
- Drive to base of Karasawa Waterfall (~0:20 hrs)
- Hike around 2 mi (3km) from Jizo Pass into Kaida Kogen (~2:00 hrs)
- Lunch at forest cafe with food and entertainment
- Walk past Kiso horse pastures and dairy farm
- Return to Kiso Fukushima (~0:30 hrs)
- Private Pickleball Trips clinic (~3:00 hrs)
- Finale dinner at sumo-style ‘Chanko Nabe’ hotpot restaurant
SAMURAI TRAIL | DEPARTURE
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Depart for Kansai Int’l Airport (KIX) (~3:30 hrs) or Narita Int’l Airport (NRT) (~5:00 hrs)
Purchase your trip:
Cancellation Policy
| CANCELLATION | REFUND AMOUNT |
| 91+ Days Prior to Start Date | Full Refund Minus 20% Nonrefundable Deposit* |
| 61 ~ 90 Days Prior to Start Date | 50% Refund of Total Trip Cost |
| 31 ~ 60 Days Prior to Start Date | 25% Refund of Total Trip Cost |
| 0 ~ 30 Days Prior to Start Date | None (20% Deposit Transferable) |
Cancellation policy effective for all new trip purchases after 6/9/21.
Travel Insurance
We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy the your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:
- You need to cancel your participation on the tour
- You need to cancel or change a flight
- Lost baggage during the trip
- Stolen items during the trip
- Medical costs during the trip
We suggest you talk to your insurance provider to ask about the travel insurance plans available to you. You can also compare policies online. Here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider:
Travelex Travel Insurance
Travel Guard
You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.
