Ancient Capitals: Nara & Asuka

Combines perfectly with any of our Kumano Kodo tours, and perfect if you would like to explore further cultural highlights of Japan.

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

Solo Travellers

As the activity is flexible and your choice on this tour, we grade this tour as easy.

In Asuka you will stay in a small Minshuku and in Nara you will stay in a lovely hot-spring Ryokan. Minshuku are generally simply furnished and less formal, but have excellent food and wonderful personal service. Ryokans are simply but elegantly decorated Japanese inns also offering wonderful service. Most Ryokan and Minshuku have large, communal segregated baths. Traditional accommodations do not have western-style beds but futons. Futons are slightly harder than western mattresses, however, when laid on tatami matting they are really quite comfortable. Japanese futons are simple single mattresses, much lighter than in the west and not supported by a wooden frame.

Meals

Japanese cuisine is the highlight of many people’s visit to Japan and this is especially the case on this tour. Your trip includes 4 breakfasts and 4 evening meals.

Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included with meals. Tipping is not customary at hotels and restaurants in Japan.

Single Rooms

This trip is available to solo walkers and a limited number of single rooms are available, although a single/solo supplement is payable.

You can start this tour on any day of the week subject to availability. Accommodations are busy and may charge extra during the following Japanese holiday periods: New Year (29 December to 04 January), Golden Week (29 April to 05 May) and O-bon (13 - 15 August).

Time of Year

It is tough to beat the spring months of April and May but the summer months from June to September are also great as are the autumn colours in October and November. Japan can get very hot and humid during the summer months so you should keep this in mind if planning to travel at this time as it will make walking more difficult. Japan also experiences occasional tropical cyclones from June through to October. However, we usually get plenty of notice of these and very rarely should they affect your walk. 

By Air: The best airport to arrive at is Osaka International Airport (KIX), which has flights from many international destinations.

Getting around

Your package includes round trip train tickets from either Kyoto or Asuka. The public transport system in Japan is world-class and your pre-departure information pack has detailed information on how to use your tickets and the trains. Local buses are not included and should be paid for locally. Again your information pack will have detailed information on how to do this and it is very easy.

Luggage transfer is not included during this tour.  In Japan there is an overnight luggage forwarding service which is cheap, reliable and costs about £12 per bag per day if you would like to have your bags transported for you. We provide full details of this in your pre-departure information pack.