Oku Japan celebrates border reopening with full roster of guided tours

White Hirosaki Castle and its red wooden bridge in mid winter season, Aomori, Tohoku, Japan

Now that Japan has officially re-opened to international travellers, Kyoto-based tour operator Oku Japan is offering its full roster of guided and self-guided tours.

“We are thrilled that all international markets are once again able to travel to Japan,” Hiroshi Kawaguchi, general manager of Oku Japan, said.

“While there are still a few guidelines that remain in place for visitors, as a tour operator we no longer need to offer only amended versions of our guided tours, and all our self-guided tours are once again an option for our guests.”

Oku Japan also offers a variety of experiences around the country, going off the beaten path to explore Japan’s more remote regions, with a focus on fostering interactions between its guests and the local population.

Oku’s self-guided trips also come with the option to add extensions and experiences to further enhance every itinerary. Some examples of these optional add-on experiences include walking with a Yamabushi ascetic monk on the Kumano Kodo, making Sanuki udon noodles in Shikoku, or enjoying a rural farm stay in the Kumano region, among others.

Here are just a few examples of Oku Japan’s self-guided itineraries that are now available to book:

Hiroshima & Shimanami Kaido

  • Duration: 6 days
  • Availability: Recommended from March-November
  • Level: Active
  • Price: US$1,845 per person

Nara Ancient Capitals

  • Duration: 5 days
  • Availability: Recommended from March-November
  • Level: Active
  • Price: US$1,165 per person

Hokkaido Winter: Lake Akan to Shiretoko

  • Duration: 7 days
  • Availability: Recommended from January to March
  • Level: Moderate
  • Price: US$2,325 per person

Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage

  • Duration: 8 days
  • Availability: Recommended from March to November
  • Level: Challenging
  • Price: US$2,115

Oku Japan’s itineraries aim to steer clear of the classic tourism haunts and the on-the-bus/off-the-bus style of travel, with itineraries and interactions that encourage guests to get up close and personal with the places visit and people they meet along the way, putting tourist dollars to good use in remote, local communities.

“We feel very positive about the future of adventure travel in Japan,” Kawaguchi said.

“And we look forward to continuing our initiatives in the local communities where we operate – ensuring that our guests enjoy an immersion in the local culture and a more intimate connection to the places they visit and people they meet along the way.”

Check out the Oku Japan website to find out more about the itineraries.

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