Escape the crowds in Tokyo
and find another you in Japan
Visit East Japan and Tohoku.

Departing from Tokyo

Akita Shinkansen from Tokyo to Akita.(JR EAST PASS)

Chusonji Temple

• Iwate prefecture

Explore golden temple halls established 1,170 years ago

UNESCO-listed Chusonji Temple looks down on the town of Hiraizumi from the gentle slopes of a wooded hill. In autumn, the hill is ablaze with the vibrant reds of the season, which add to the beauty of the Golden Pavilion and the peaceful grounds of this historic temple site that’s stood here since 850BCE.

Geibikei Gorge

• Iwate prefecture

Glide downriver between towering cliffs

Over the millennia, the emerald waters of the Satetsu River have carved the sheer 50m-deep white rock ravine to form Geibikei Gorge, a masterpiece of nature. As the boatman punts your flat-bottomed gondola downstream, the sounds of the water and the abundant carp feeding add to the magic of this incredible Japanese natural monument.

Departing from Tokyo

Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano.(JR EAST PASS)

Kamikochi

• Nagano Prefecture

Be spell-bound by the splendour of Kamikochi and the North Japan Alps

It doesn’t take long to get to the Hida Mountain Range which acts as a backdrop to Matsumoto Castle. In place of the fortress’s stately feudal towers is the elegant grandeur of the mountains that mark the western limits of Nagano Prefecture. Deep, tree-filled valleys, high peaks and the sparkling Azusa River are lit golden-red in autumn when the area is at its most beautiful.

Shiraito Falls, Karuizawa

• Nagano Prefecture

The waterfall of white threads and melted snow

Like a veil of pearls, the Shiraito Falls spring from the side of Mount Asama. There’s no sign of a river or lake to feed this waterfall. Instead, it relies on melting snow from the heights above that collect at the base of the mountain, which cascade in a delicate arc of white rivulets surrounded by the glorious red of the autumn trees.

Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street

• Nagano Prefecture

Is it the countryside or downtown Tokyo? See the old and the new all in one place

Japan is its own anachronism - somehow being simultaneously ultra-modern urban yet traditional and rustic. There’s no better example than in Kyu-Karuizawa’s Ginza Street, where the contrast is easy to see. From local breweries and homemade jams to Tokyo boutiques and unique bistros, ‘Kyu-Karu Ginza’ and its legacy as a midway point for travelling merchants of old lives on.

Departing from Tokyo

Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo station to Toyama station.（Hokuriku Arch Pass）

Mikurigaike

• Toyama prefecture

Bathe in Japan’s highest onsen

On the shores of Mikurigaike – a lake in the hollow of a volcano – this mountainside onsen looks out over the North Japan Alps. At 2,410m, this hot spring is the highest in Japan and an icon of the Murodo-daira region. The onsen is open until late autumn before the winter snowfalls.

Kiyomizudera Temple

• Kyoto prefecture

Look out over Kyoto city from the sacred temple’s ancient veranda

Looking down on the ancient city of Kyoto from its perch amongst the Higashiyama district is Kiyomizudera Temple. The temple was founded in 778 while its self-supporting veranda, last rebuilt in 1633 after several fires, is part of the Japanese vernacular. Approaching the temple via its ancient hillside cemetery gives even more meaning and allows further understanding of the temple and of Kyoto itself.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

• Kyoto prefecture

Walk down the famous torii gate tunnel

Possibly the most iconic temple in Japan thanks to the 1000-strong bright orange Shinto torii gates framing the path up to Mount Inari, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto is not to be missed. This sacred temple to Inari Okami – the god of harvests, agriculture and industry – is over 1300 years old.

Nunobiki Falls & Nunobiki Herb Garden

• Hyogo prefecture

Ride the cable car over famous waterfalls to hilltop herb gardens and views across Kobe

From downtown Kobe, the Nunobiki Ropeway cable car lifts you through the mountainside forest canopy, past one of Japan’s most famous waterfalls to gardens boasting over 75,000 herbs and 200 seasonal blooms. Views over Kobe and Osaka Bay from the Ropeway and the gardens are beautiful beyond belief. Exploring the Nunobiki Falls, which have inspired Japan’s poets and artists for centuries, takes 20 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station on foot.

Nara Park

• Nara prefecture

Spot wild deer in the park of museums, temples and Nara’s mystical heritage

Experience the perfect blend of nature, culture, history and beauty at Nara Park. This vast parkland is home to the world’s biggest bronze Buddha, remarkable scenes of mountains reflected in ponds teeming with fish and turtles, and sights of tame deer wandering by ancient temples and torii gates. You’ll also find the Nara National Museum here full of art, relics and archaeological artefacts.

Return to Tokyo

You can use the Hokuriku Arch Pass to head back to Tokyo from Kansai, or you can fly back to Tokyo from Kansai International Airport.