JAPAN
Cherry Blossoms. Snow Monkeys.
Mount Fuji.
Encounter Japan at its most unforgettable — from wild snow monkeys and fleeting cherry blossoms to sacred temples, alpine forests, and the timeless presence of Mount Fuji.
Duration
12 Days
Location
Kyoto, Fuji &
the Japanese Alps
Wildlife
Japanese
Macaques
Group Size
10 Guests
Maximum
What to Expect Physically
The Daily Experience
This immersive Japan journey includes daily walks of 2 to 3 miles across natural, uneven terrain. You’ll encounter moss-covered stone paths, forest trails, snow-dusted temple steps, and occasionally slippery mountain tracks — especially in places like Kyoto, Koyasan, and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.
Walking & Terrain
From historic city streets to remote alpine forests, this is a walking journey designed to take you deep into landscapes that feel timeless.
Who This Trip Is Best For
If you have mobility challenges, or experience joint or back pain, we recommend considering the physical demands of the route. This trip is best suited for those who can move confidently through uneven terrain and who seek active, mindful travel with moments of wild beauty underfoot.
Spring Weather & Field Conditions
The Daily Temperature
As we journey across Japan — from the lowland cities of Osaka and Tokyo to the higher elevations of Koyasan and Jigokudani — you’ll experience a wide range of spring temperatures and weather conditions.
The Elements
Expect cold nights near or below freezing, especially in the mountains, with a chance of snow. During the day, temperatures can rise to mild and comfortable levels, particularly in lower regions, though occasional rain showers are common.
The Essential Layers
Travelers should come prepared with layered clothing for warmth, waterproof outerwear, and footwear suitable for a variety of terrain and climates.
Cherry Blossoms, Snow Monkeys & Sacred Japan
Experience Japan’s wild beauty and timeless culture — from fleeting sakura season and wild snow monkeys to sacred temples, bamboo forests, Mount Fuji, private cultural access, and quiet moments most travelers never reach.
A glimpse of
Japan’s beauty
and soul
WORLD UNTOUCHED EXCLUSIVES
Access
Otherwise Impossible.
Extraordinary travel is rarely defined by what you see. It is defined by what becomes possible once the crowds disappear.
These privately arranged experiences open doors into a side of Japan most travelers never realize exists.
Private Geisha
Private Temple
For one private evening, doors normally closed remain open only to our departure. Within the grounds of Kyoto’s hidden Ikkain Temple, experience one of Japan’s most exclusive cultural traditions as geisha privately host our group through dance, music, tea service, conversation, and centuries-old hospitality rituals rarely accessible to outsiders.
Private Tea
Ceremony
Removed entirely from the performative versions often built for tourism, this privately arranged tea ceremony offers access to one of Japan’s most disciplined cultural traditions exactly as it was intended to be experienced. No crowds. No spectacle. Only silence, precision, and ritual preserved through centuries of practice.
Private Sumo
Training
Observe sumo training up close at Nakamura Stable with expert interpretation. Witness the discipline, strength, ritual, and intensity behind Japan’s national sport from inside a world few travelers ever enter.
Private Michelin
Star Dinner
For one extraordinary evening, one of Japan’s Michelin-starred culinary experiences becomes entirely private for our departure alone. With no outside guests, we enjoy a chef-led dining experience where every detail is arranged exclusively for our group — transforming dinner itself into an experience far beyond the restaurant.
Private Soak
Snow Monkeys
For two extraordinary mornings, access normally reserved for only a rare few becomes ours alone. Before outside visitors arrive, we privately enter a historic Japanese hot spring where wild snow monkeys move freely around us — an intimate wildlife encounter unlike anything else found in Japan.
Cherry Blossoms
in Bloom
Time in Japan’s most beautiful season.
Sacred Stillness
in Koyasan
A spiritual mountain retreat far from the noise.
Snow Monkeys
Observe wild macaques in their mountain habitat.
Mount Fuji
Iconic. Timeless. Impossible to ignore.
Onsens
Traditional hot springs for body and mind.
But to experience the Japan most travelers never reach.
Why We Design Journeys Differently
Extraordinary Places
Deserve Extraordinary Intent.
World Untouched was built around a simple belief: extraordinary destinations should never be experienced through rushed itineraries, oversized groups, or surface-level tourism.
Every expedition we build is intentionally designed from the ground up — balancing wildlife, culture, pacing, access, and deeper understanding.
We spend years refining every journey we offer. Every lodge, local partner, route, seasonal timing, and experience exists for a reason.
Our itineraries are not assembled from tourism checklists. They are carefully constructed to create something increasingly rare in modern travel:
Not simply to see remarkable places.
But to understand why they matter enough to protect.
EXPEDITION DOSSIER
12 Days.
Sacred Japan.
Rare Access.
Cherry blossoms, sacred mountain forests, private cultural access, wild snow monkeys, Mount Fuji, onsens, bullet trains, and Tokyo in bloom — timed with intention and built with depth.
Arrive in Osaka
Osaka Castle, a welcome dinner, and the first taste of Japan’s contrast between old and new.
The Arrival: Our journey begins in Osaka, where ancient temples rise beside modern skyscrapers.
The Welcome: We visit Osaka Castle before gathering for a welcome dinner built around regional ingredients and the themes of history, spirituality, and nature that guide the journey.
The Evening: Those with energy can step into the neon pulse of Shinsaibashi — a vivid counterpoint to the stillness ahead.
Nachi Falls & Sacred Pagoda
Journey south to Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji Temple, and Japan’s tallest single-drop waterfall.
The Journey: We travel south from Osaka through countryside and coast toward Katsuura.
The Sacred Site: At Kumano Nachi Taisha and Seiganto-ji Temple, a red pagoda frames Nachi Falls in one of Japan’s most iconic sacred landscapes.
The Evening: We ferry across Katsuura Harbor to our hotel, known for oceanfront cave onsen baths, before a multi-course kaiseki dinner.
Koyasan’s Ancient Forests
Enter the sacred mountain heart of Shingon Buddhism and walk the lantern-lit paths of Okunoin.
The Morning: We begin with a sunrise soak in an oceanfront cave onsen.
The Mountain Ascent: From Katsuura, we follow the Wakayama mountains toward Koyasan, Japan’s sacred Shingon Buddhist heart.
The Evening: After a traditional shojin ryori monk’s dinner, we walk the torchlit paths of Okunoin Cemetery beneath towering cedars.
Koyasan to Kyoto
Morning temple ceremony, mountain descent, cable car, limited express train, and arrival in Kyoto.
The Morning: We begin with a predawn temple ceremony before walking once more through the cedar-lined paths of Okunoin.
The Transition: We descend by bus and cable car, then continue by limited express train to Kyoto.
First Kyoto Impressions: Depending on timing and group energy, we visit either Kinkaku-ji or Kiyomizu-dera and the surrounding historic lanes.
Kyoto in Bloom & Private Geisha Evening
Sunrise torii gates, Higashiyama, Nishiki Market, Gion, and a private geisha experience.
The Sunrise: We begin before dawn at Fushimi Inari Taisha, moving through the red torii gates before the crowds arrive.
The Day: We continue through Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama, Nishiki Market, and Gion.
The Exclusive Evening: The day culminates in a rare private geisha experience arranged exclusively for our departure.
Bamboo Forest, Nara Deer & Bullet Train
Arashiyama at dawn, sacred deer in Nara, Todai-ji, and the Shinkansen north to Nagano.
The Morning: We begin in the stillness of Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove.
Nara: We visit Nara Park, Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall, and Kasuga Shrine.
The Bullet Train: From Kyoto, we board the Shinkansen north to Nagano and continue into the hot spring valley of Jigokudani.
Snow Monkeys & Obuse
Watch Japanese macaques in the steaming springs before exploring historic Obuse.
The Wildlife Encounter: We spend the morning with Japanese snow monkeys as the troop moves through steam, snow, and forest.
Obuse: Later, we continue to Obuse, known for chestnut groves, wood-paved streets, artisan shops, and preserved mountain-town charm.
Snow Monkeys & Mount Fuji Onsen
A final monkey morning before traveling south to Lake Kawaguchiko and Fuji-view onsens.
The Morning: We begin with a final visit to the snow monkeys before turning south toward Mount Fuji.
The Retreat: By afternoon, we arrive at Lake Kawaguchiko, where rooms and onsens frame Fuji-san.
The Evening: We gather for a refined lakeside dinner as the mountain shifts through evening light.
Chureito Pagoda & Fuji Five Lakes
Sunrise over Mount Fuji, the red tiers of Chureito Pagoda, and the landscapes of Fuji Five Lakes.
The Sunrise: We rise early for one of Japan’s most iconic views: Mount Fuji framed by Chureito Pagoda.
Fuji Five Lakes: We explore quiet shrines, water reflections, panoramic decks, and the sacred landscapes surrounding Fuji.
Fuji to Tokyo
Morning reflections of Mount Fuji before entering Tokyo through Asakusa, Ueno Park, and Skytree.
The Morning: We begin with sunrise over Mount Fuji reflected in Lake Kawaguchiko.
Tokyo Arrival: By midday, we enter Tokyo through Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street, Ueno Park, and Tokyo Skytree.
Tokyo’s Flavors & Farewell
Markets, sushi tastings, cherry blossoms, Meiji Shrine, and a final farewell dinner.
The Market: We begin with Toyosu Fish Market and a guided food walk.
The Afternoon: Cherry blossoms, Chidorigafuchi, the Imperial Palace grounds, Harajuku, and Meiji Shrine close out the city story.
The Farewell: The evening ends with a final dinner shaped by tradition, artistry, and celebration.
Farewell Japan
A quiet Tokyo breakfast and seamless airport transfer as the journey comes to a close.
The Morning: Our final morning begins with breakfast in Tokyo as the journey settles into memory.
The Departure: A World Untouched guide assists with your airport transfer for a smooth departure.
DATES & PRICING
Cherry Blossoms.
Rare Access.
Limited Departures.
We travel during Japan’s spring season — when cherry blossoms are in bloom, temple gardens soften with color, and private access experiences become the difference between simply visiting Japan and experiencing it differently.
2027 Departures
• Tokyo to Osaka: March 23 – April 3 $11,995
• Osaka to Tokyo: April 5 – April 16 Waitlist Only
2028 Departures
• Osaka to Tokyo: March 22 – April 2 $11,995
• Osaka to Tokyo: April 4 – April 15 $11,995
Small Group Departures
Designed for travelers who want Japan with more space, more intention, and access beyond the standard route.
CHERRY BLOSSOMS, SNOW MONKEYS & SACRED JAPAN
12-Day Japan Expedition
Main Package
Based on dual occupancy
Includes accommodations, in-country transportation, meals, guiding, entrance fees, taxes, gratuities, and private access experiences.
Single Supplement
Private room where available
For travelers requesting single occupancy throughout the expedition.
Inclusions & Exclusions
See exactly what is covered — and what remains your responsibility before departure.
Booking Policy
Reservations are secured with deposit. Spring departures are limited and timed around Japan’s cherry blossom season.
What’s Included
✅ Included
Full In-Country Support: From the moment you arrive in Japan to the final breakfast, we’ve got you covered.
All In-Country Transportation: All transportation within Japan is included, including scenic bullet-train travel and scheduled transfers throughout the journey.
Accommodations: Accommodations are included beginning the night of the welcome dinner through the final night of the expedition.
Meals: All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day.
Beverages: Non-alcoholic beverages are included throughout the trip.
Entrance Fees & Gratuities: Entrance fees, taxes, and standard local gratuities are fully covered.
Expert Leadership: Travel with an expert local Japanese guide and a dedicated World Untouched trip leader throughout the expedition.
❌ Not Included
Expedition Leader Gratuities: Gratuities for World Untouched Expedition Leaders are not included.
International Flights: International flights to and from Osaka and Tokyo are not included.
Alcoholic Beverages: Alcoholic beverages are not included and are the responsibility of the traveler.
Passport & Visa Fees: Passport, visa, and related travel documentation costs are not included.
Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, souvenirs, and other incidental purchases are not included.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Where You Stay Is
Chosen As Carefully
As The Journey.
Every accommodation is selected for location, character, comfort, and its ability to deepen your connection to the places we explore.
Historic
Ryokans
Traditional Japanese inns chosen for atmosphere, craftsmanship, hospitality, and the quiet rituals that make place feel personal.
Mountain Onsen
Retreats
Peaceful hot spring properties selected for stillness, setting, and the restorative rhythm that follows long days of discovery.
Boutique Kyoto
Stays
Small-scale properties in Kyoto’s cultural heart, chosen for design, location, and proximity to temples, gardens, and quiet lanes.
Fuji View
Escapes
Scenic retreats where comfort, quiet, and landscape come together — with Mount Fuji becoming part of the experience itself.
We do not choose accommodations as placeholders between activities. We choose them as part of the journey itself — places that support access, atmosphere, rest, and a deeper sense of Japan.
What Past Travelers Say
Trusted by Travelers Who Seek
Extraordinary Experiences
Our expeditions are built around access, depth, and experiences most travelers never encounter. Here is what guests have shared after joining us in the field
“Every day on this journey was a new and wonderful experience... I returned home healthier, happier, and already dreaming of the next trip. Would I go again? In a heartbeat.””
Bev H.
International Travel News
“Japan felt completely different with World Untouched — quieter, more thoughtful, and far more personal than anything we could have planned ourselves.”
Laura
California
“The night walk through Koyasan was one of the most powerful travel moments I’ve ever had. It felt sacred without being staged.”
Michael
New York
“The pacing was what made it extraordinary. We saw the iconic places, but never felt rushed through them.”
Rebecca
Washington
Japan Is At Its Best
When It Is Experienced Slowly.
Spring departures are intentionally limited and timed around cherry blossom season, private cultural access, and the quieter rhythms that make this journey possible.
See Available Dates →2027 and 2028 departures now open.
FAQ
Your Questions, Answered.
Planning an expedition to Japan is a big decision. Here are answers to the most common questions from our guests.
01How Physically Demanding Is This Expedition?
The Daily Activity: Most days involve walking a few miles at a comfortable pace while exploring temples, gardens, historic districts, and natural areas.
The Terrain: Expect stairs, uneven stone pathways, train stations, and occasional elevation gain — particularly in places like Koyasan and the snow monkey park.
If you are comfortable being active throughout the day and spending extended time on your feet, you will do perfectly well.
02What If The Cherry Blossoms Bloom Early or Late?
Nature Sets The Schedule: Cherry blossom season shifts slightly each year depending on winter temperatures and seasonal conditions.
Our Strategic Timing: We design departures around historical peak bloom windows based on decades of flowering data.
Built In Flexibility: That said, we travel to different elevations and latitudes to ensure our best chance of hitting the timing right in at least one part of the journey.
03Why Travel Japan With World Untouched?
Beyond Standard Tourism: This is not a typical Japan itinerary built around crowded tourist checklists.
Rare Access: From private cultural experiences to carefully selected accommodations, much of this journey is built around experiences most travelers never access.
Our Philosophy: We design every expedition to create genuine connection with culture, wildlife, landscape, and the communities that make these places extraordinary.
04Do I Need A Visa To Visit Japan?
United States: U.S. citizens currently do not need a visa for tourist stays under 90 days.
Canada, Australia & Europe: Travelers from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and most European countries also receive visa-free entry for short-term tourism.
Final Responsibility: Entry requirements can change, so we always recommend verifying current requirements before departure.
05How Do We Travel Around Japan?
Private Transfers: Much of the journey is handled through private transportation, allowing flexibility and comfort throughout the expedition.
The Bullet Train Experience: While your luggage will often travel separately through private transfer services, we intentionally use Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains for the experience and because it is the most convenient and efficient way to move through parts of the country.
Seamless Logistics: We handle the complicated coordination so the transitions feel effortless for you.
06What Kind Of Accommodations Can I Expect?
Thoughtfully Curated: Every accommodation is chosen for comfort, authenticity, and how it deepens your connection to Japan.
The Variety: Throughout the journey we stay in historic ryokans, mountain onsen retreats, boutique Kyoto properties, and carefully selected premium hotels.
Part Of The Experience: On this expedition, where you stay becomes part of the adventure itself.
07Can Dietary Restrictions Be Accommodated?
Advance Notice Matters: Japan can be more challenging than other destinations when it comes to highly specific dietary restrictions.
Common Requests: Vegetarian, gluten-sensitive, and many allergy-related requests can often be supported with advance notice.
Open Communication: The earlier we know your needs, the better we can coordinate with our local partners.
08What Should I Pack For This Journey?
Travel Light: Japan rewards lighter luggage, especially while moving between destinations throughout the trip.
The Essentials: Comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing, a light rain shell, and casual evening attire are highly recommended.
Preparation Support: After booking, we provide a detailed packing guide built specifically for this itinerary.
09Will I Have Wi-Fi or Cell Service?
Excellent Connectivity: Cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo offer excellent Wi-Fi and reliable cell service.
Remote Areas: Mountain regions such as Koyasan or areas near Jigokudani may occasionally have weaker service.
Disconnect A Little: Part of the beauty of this journey is occasionally stepping away from constant connectivity.
10Can I Join This Trip As A Solo Traveler?
Absolutely: Many of our guests join expeditions independently.
Private Option: A single supplement is available for travelers wanting guaranteed private accommodations throughout the journey.
The Group Dynamic: Small group travel often creates strong friendships quickly, and solo travelers regularly become some of the most connected members of the group.
11What Weather Should I Expect?
Spring Variability: Japan in spring offers beautiful weather, though temperatures can vary significantly depending on region.
The Range: Expect mild days in Kyoto and Tokyo, cooler mountain temperatures in Nagano and Koyasan, and occasional spring rain.
Layering Is Key: We recommend preparing for both warm afternoons and chilly mornings throughout the expedition.
12Is Japan Safe For Travelers?
Extremely Safe: Japan consistently ranks among the safest travel destinations in the world.
Exceptional Infrastructure: Public transportation, cleanliness, healthcare access, and overall public safety standards are exceptionally high.
Full Support: Throughout the expedition, both your World Untouched leader and local Japanese guide handle every major logistical detail.
13Is This Trip Good For Photography?
An Extraordinary Destination: Japan offers one of the most visually diverse travel experiences anywhere in the world.
The Subjects: Cherry blossoms, snow monkeys, temples, bamboo forests, geisha districts, Mount Fuji, street photography, and incredible culinary experiences.
All Skill Levels Welcome: Whether you shoot casually on a phone or travel with professional camera gear, Japan rewards curiosity behind the lens.
START YOUR JOURNEY
Let’s plan
something
extraordinary.
Every unforgettable expedition begins with a conversation. Whether you’re ready to join of our journeys or simply exploring possibilities, we’d love to hear what’s calling you to the wild.