The Mystery of Japan

We have graded this holiday Sightseeing / 4. Whilst much of the walking will be easier than grade 4, to fully enjoy the holiday you need to be happy with grade 4 walks. Countryside walking makes up most of our day on the Kumano Kodo, and two half days of the Nakasendo Way. Within the cities there will be plenty of walking in parks and gardens, but you should also bear in mind that the visits to Mount Koya and the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto will involve a certain amount of walking.

This Grade 4 moderate holiday includes full and half day walks at a moderate pace over hilly terrain and is likely to include an element of sightseeing as well. Half day walking will probably include about 3 hours of walking, with full days having around 5 hours. Expect ascents and descents of up to about 600m. See the 'Proposed Itinerary' section for more information.

This holiday is a mixture of sightseeing and walking, although as most of the sightseeing is done on foot it is a very active holiday. 

Please note: This itinerary has been planned to be busy and full-packed so that you make the most of your time and experience as much as possible. There will be some free time during the tour for you to explore on your own or relax, and details will be confirmed locally by your RWH leader and the local guide.

All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.

A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.

When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day. Allow about £30 per meal for dinners not included in Kyoto.

Japanese Yen. Japan is very much a cash based society. Credit and debit cards can however be used in most areas visited on our itinerary.

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY or ¥). Even in this day and age, cash is definitely better for Japan.  Where credit cards are accepted, they might limit acceptance to certain cards or certain times.  Most restaurants, especially in cities, now take credit cards. Department stores and major shops should take plastic, especially food departments.  Moreover, you can now use almost all credit or debit cards in ATMs in Japanese banks, so cash is easy to get. Crime rates in Japan are very low, so carrying cash around is safe, though normal precautions should be taken. The bottom line is therefore carry some Yen, have a credit card to use for shopping and a debit card for use in an ATM if necessary.

Tipping is alien to Japanese culture so there is no need to tip in Japanese restaurants or if you take a taxi anywhere. However in common with many other areas of the world it is appropriate to tip your tour guide or driver if s/he has stayed with you for more than a day. We recommend the equivalent of £3 per person per day for the guide and £2 per person per day for the driver, though we must emphasise that this is entirely voluntary and should be seen as a thank you for a job well done.

Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.

Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.

We fly with British Airways from London Gatwick to Osaka and back from Tokyo. Within Japan we travel by coach and by rail. Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately ten days before departure. As we travel between six hotels, and you will have to handle your own baggage; please try to travel reasonably light. You should be able to lift and carry your own luggage. At some hotels, the coach may have to stop some distance short of the hotel entrance. Also, within some of the hotels, there may be some long walks between the rooms and lobby area, which may include steps. Your luggage should be kept to a maximum of 20kg (44lbs).

If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.

Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.

If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.

Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details. 

Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.

For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.

To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.

It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country.

Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.

General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware.

For entry into Japan a passport is required which should be valid for the length of your stay. Your passport might be required when checking in to hotels and when changing money, so carry it with you on these occasions. It is also an excellent idea to memorise your passport number for the form filling. No visas are required for UK nationals.

We include all breakfasts whilst in Japan, nine dinners and five lunches. Dinners will be a mixture of Japanese table d’hote or buffet, often with a western option. Vegetarians (though not pescatarians) and especially vegans can sometimes struggle in Japan, but we will endeavour to make sure you get tasty food and do not go hungry. On four evenings in Kyoto dinner is not included. For one of these evenings we strongly recommend buying a bento box for the bullet train journey back from Hiroshima. On the other three nights you a free to choose your own restaurant or follow your tour leader. There is so much more to Japanese food than sushi and California rolls! There’s teppanyaki where the food is cooked in front of you on a huge iron griddle, yakitori where chicken is barbequed on skewers, okonomi stuffed pancakes, tempura, a great variety of noodles… to whet your appetite have a look at www.japancentre.com/en/pages/156-30-must-try-japanese-foods.

Several of the walks will be along stone or cobbled paths which can be slippery in wet weather. We therefore recommend taking a lightweight pair of walking boots which you might also find the most comfortable option for walking around the cities.

We recommend that you either wear your walking boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the holiday programme.

Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.

If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:

• Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and trousers
• Lightweight quick-drying trousers
• Walking T-shirt/shirts
• Walking socks
• Fleece or jumper
• Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and sun block
• Warm hat and gloves (if appropriate)
• Swimwear (if appropriate)
• Day sack (this should be able to carry all you would need for the day's activity)
• Day sack liner
• Water bottle - at least 1 litre capacity (more than 1 bottle may be required)
• Basic first aid kit
• Lunchbox
• Walking poles (should you find them useful)
• Sit mat

This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.

Twice on the trip you will need to pack a small overnight bag for 2 nights, so please bear this in mind.

Documents and Information to take with you:

• Passport (make sure it's yours and valid)
• Your travel tickets or e-ticket itinerary
• Any visa or electronic travel authorisation (if required)
• Holiday money
• Credit or debit cards (and separate details of who to call if lost)
• Car parking ticket and car park directions (if prebooked)
• Coach or rail travel tickets (if prebooked)
• Your holiday Booking Confirmation document
• Your travel insurance details
• Alternative form of identification (such as a driving licence)
• Photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport
• A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if relevant
• Details of any medical condition or allergy your holiday leader should know about

An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.

We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.

The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet Guide to Japan are pretty good.  If you want a good glimpse of modern Japan city life, you could do worse than watch Lost in Translation!  

For historical and cultural background you can try Dogs and Demons: The Fall of Modern Japan by Alex Kerr and Kyoto: A Cultural and Literary History.

In terms of fiction, one of the best known modern Japanese novelists is Haruki Murakami. His magical realist novel Kafka on the Shore might not be to everyone’s taste, but has been critically acclaimed. Slightly less weird, and a lot shorter, is Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto which mixes cooking, love, death and florists. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami has a good glimpse of life in modern Japan, including food and drink. For lighter reads there is a thriving genre of Japanese crime novels. Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama is a great police novel, which also has much about the Japanese media and their relationship with the police, and is fascinating with lots about life in Japan. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino also has fascinating insights into Japanese thinking, speech, life… and death. Salvation of a Saint by the same author is an unusual crime novel, since you witness the murder at the start and know whodunnit, with more insights into modern Japan.

Maps and guidebooks relating to the areas you will be walking in may be bought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk

Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:

• Weather2 - www.myweather2.com
• BBC Weather - www.bbc.co.uk/weather

Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.

For further advice please visit:

• The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) travel health website at www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
• The NHS 'Fit for travel' website at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
• The Foreign Office Travel Advice Website at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
• Or a local travel health clinic.

You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.

You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. We do not insist that you insure with us but we require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.

Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.

See our brochure or website for further advice regarding holiday insurance.

Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.

Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.

The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.

Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.

We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.

Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.

We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.

Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements. 

Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.  

As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.