Interior Japan (Private Groups)
Location:
Dates:
Cost:
Explore the ruggedly mountainous interior of Japan with us on this 10 night/11day pickleball adventure! The prefectures of Tochigi, Nagano, and Gifu are characterized by stunning natural landscapes, age-old Shinto shrines, peculiar sights such as the hot-spring-loving snow monkeys, and uniquely regional gastronomy. We finish the tour in Takayama, a major cultural hub of Japan, which is often referred to as mini-Kyoto. This insider experience also features plenty of pickleball instruction and play with locals at our local guides’ favorite Japanese venues, where most tourists never set foot.
Trip Details
What’s Included
- 10 nights at standard accommodations
- All meals excluding 2 dinners and 2 lunches
- All activities including, tours, entrance fees, pickleball clinics and transportation within Japan (transportation excludes return trip from Takayama to Tokyo-area airports)
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from Tokyo airports, Haneda Int’l Airport (HND) or Narita Int’l Airport (NRT)
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Travel insurance, medical coverage, etc.
Maximum Group Size 20
Activity Level 5/10
Accommodations
Standard Accommodations
Trip instructors
Itinerary
ARRIVAL IN JAPAN
- Arrival in Japan
- Please book your airfare to/from Haneda Int’l Airport (HND) or Narita Int’l Airport (NRT) – Travelers from
North America will likely need to depart a day earlier to arrive on the scheduled start
date. - Transfer to the Hotel Nikko Narita
- Meet in hotel lobby at 7:30 PM
- Welcome dinner and tour orientation on site
NARITA ~ TOCHIGI
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Private vehicle transfer to Sakura City (~2:30 hrs)
- Japanese lunch at local restaurant
- Private clinic with Pickleball Trips instructors and recreational play with local group (~4:00 hrs)
- Gyoza dinner followed by live music in Utsumomiya
TOCHIGI ~ KARUIZAWA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Private vehicle transfer to Yaita City (~1:00 hrs) for recreational play with local group (~2:00 hrs)
- Lunch with players
- Private vehicle transfer to Karuizawa (~2:30 hrs)
- Explore the old town and Kamoba pond with the option for creating a Japanese craft
- Local dinner with Pickleball Trips group
FREE MORNING, AFTERNOON PICKLEBALL
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Free morning in Karuizawa for golfing (Karuizawa Prince Golf Course) shopping (outlet mall), or a brisk hike (3-4km to Usui Pass).
- Lunch in town
- Recreational play with local group in Saku or Komoro (~3:00 hrs)
- Dinner with Pickleball Trips group in Karuizawa
KARUIZAWA ~ SHIBU ONSEN
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Private vehicle transfer to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City (~1:30 hrs) followed by lunch at Fujiya Gohonjin for French Japanese fusion cuisine
- Transfer to Suzaka (~0:30 hrs) for Edo period miso-factory tour and tasting
- Transfer to Shibu Onsen (~0:45 hrs)
- Private clinic with Pickleball Trips instructors (~2:00 hrs)
- Dinner at traditional Japanese restaurant
SNOW MONKEYS, SOBA, HOT SPRINGS
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Beautiful forest walk to world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (~0:30 hrs each way)
- Soba making experience and lunch in traditional Japanese farmhouse followed by Washi paper making experienc
- Private vehicle transfer to Maguse Onsen hot spring (~0:20 hrs)
- Sake tasting and farmhouse dinner
SHIBU ONSEN ~ KISO VALLEY
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Recreational play with local group (~2:00 hrs) followed by onsen soak
- Local specialty Shokudo-style lunch
- Private vehicle transfer to Kiso Fukushima in the Kiso Valley (~2.5 hrs) and walk around Post Town
- Traditional Kaiseki-style dinner at Onyado Tsutaya
NAKASENDO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Travel to Magome Post Town (~1:00 hrs)
- Walk 7.5 km of the Nakasendo from Magome to Tsumago (~3:00 hrs)
- Picnic lunch along the way at Edo Period tea house
- Return to Kiso Fukushima, including stop for coffee (~1:00 hrs)
- Dinner at local izakaya or hot pot style restaurant
KISO VALLEY ~ TAKAYAMA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Private vehicle transfer from Kiso Fukushima to Kaida Kogen (~0:30 hrs) for hike (~2:00 hrs)
- Homemade pizza lunch in Kaida with spectacular views of Mt. Ontake (weather
dependent) and ice cream at local dairy - Travel to Takayama (~1:30 hrs)
- Free afternoon exploring Hida Takayama with dinner on your own
SHIRAKAWAGO, GUJO HACHIMAN
- Udon noodle breakfast in Takayama
- Private vehicle transfer to Shirakawago (~0:45 hrs) to explore the world heritage thatch-roof village and have lunch on your own
- Travel to Gujo Hachiman (~1:30 hrs) to explore the famous castle town
- Return to Takayama (~1:00 hr) for farewell dinner of Hida Wagyu Beef
DEPARTURE
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Tour ends in Takayama
- Our guides will be happy to assist you with your onward transfer or train
reservation - Please note that Takayama is around a 5-hour train ride from both Narita Int’l
Airport (NRT) and Haneda Int’l Airport (HND) so please do not book an early return flight on this day
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.
