mountains & monkeys tour
“mountains & monkeys” tour
we have been refining this tour for 19 years, with many of our guests returning again and again to experience the unique charms of the northern region of mainland japan. our focus is on the rare, hard-to-reach rural hot springs (onsen) of the northern mountains, the tohoku region’s akita and yamagata prefectures, as well as the japan alps region of nagano prefecture. we stay in famous old-style inns, simple country inns, and modern takes on both. aside from many fabulous baths, we have befriended local farmers that invite us to pound rice with them, we always sample the very special local mountain cuisine, and each village greets us with an unforgettable and heartwarming northern welcome. oh, and yes: we visit the famous bathing snow monkeys, too!
in the “our baths” section you will find a photo-blog of some of the villages and towns we visit, the kind of lodging we have chosen, and a tempting view of some of the baths.
mountains & monkeys 2024
19 days: october 12–30th $8300 USD
(pricing based per person/double occupancy)
day one 10/12: leave US
day two 10/13: arrive NRT (generally 3-5 pm for US flights) we will greet you after customs and get you to the hotel
day three 10/14: day of exploring narita’s ancient temples, delightful local food street, visit our favorite onsen, welcome dinner (B, D)
day four 10/15: bullet train all the way north to akita’s most hidden hot spring, nyuto onsen with its deep mountain setting and super pure waters before a sumptuous dinner in the inn (B, D)
day five 10/16: free day to gently hike through the mountains to all of the villages amazing baths. another dinner featuring local cuisine (B, D)
day six 10/17: another full free day to wander and bathe. (B, D)
day seven 10/18: local charter to visit the famously healing onsen “hells” en route to kakunodate in time to pound mochi rice with our local farmer friends before a communal feast (B, D).
day eight: 10/19: free day to explore the ancient samurai town & its museums, galleries, architecture. casual dinner in the inn’s café (B, D)
day nine 10/20: train to yamagata prefecture, with a stop at the unesco heritage pilgrimage temple yamadera with its 1000 steps before a yamagata specialty dinner in the inn (B, D)
day ten 10/21: a whole free day to explore zao onsen and its many gorgeous baths, take an art class, hike to the caldera, eat some local cuisine at a grill-it-yourself dinner (B, D)
day eleven 10/22: another day of bathing, hiking. dinner on your own in the village (B)
day twelve 10/23: time to soak before heading down the mountain for dinner at the famous shabu shabu KING (B, D)
day thirteen 10/24: bullet trains to the japan alps, to nozawa onsen & its traditional architecture, baths & cuisine. nagano local specialty dinner in the inn (B, D)
day fourteen 10/25: free day for wandering, bathing, hiking in the village. optional afternoon mushroom foraging with a local expert. the inn will cook the days harvest for our dinner (B, D)
day fifteen 10/26: more nozowa, optional day trip to one of japan’s highest altitude baths (with views to die for!) dinner is your choice on your own (B)
day sixteen 10/27: private charter today as we stop in a local crafts town & apple farm en route to shibu onsen, closest village to the snow monkey park! banquet dinner in the inn with a surprise performance (B, D)
day seventeen 10/28: monkey day! visit the famous bathing snow monkeys, wander the quaint “spirited away” village & its many baths before dinner at a local pub (B, D)
day eighteen 10/29: bullet trains back south to tokyo, then narita with time to unwind before our farewell dinner (B, D)
day nineteen 10/30: morning visit to the temple or the onsen before you begin your safe journey home