Oku Japan

Shoguns and Samurai tour through Japan. Read more

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Trip start
November 1, 2025
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Day 2
Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 9:23 PM
🌙 59 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Japan Minato 35.658833, 139.75175535°39’32” N 139°45’6” E
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Flight to Tokyo
November 2 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 59 °F
Today we departed Portland at 7am and arrived in Tokyo at 5:30 pm the following day. Much more drastic than “falling back” an hour for DST.

Gandalf and Miniwaps were a hit with the stewardesses. They stopped by many times to learn about our friends and what a joy it is to travel with them.

We have two days to acclimate before our tour begins on the fourth

5462 steps 2.3mi.Read more
That’s very well time landing [Robbie]
11/2/25Reply
Travelerwill enjoy the trip with .
11/2/25Reply
Can't wait to follow a long!! [Paulette Hardy]
11/2/25Reply
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Day 3
Monday, November 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM
🌙 52 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Japan Minato 35.658821, 139.75175535°39’32” N 139°45’6” E
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1st full day in Tokyo
November 3 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 52 °F
The day started with a breakfast smorgasbord like I’ve never seen. All fresh ingredients. Salad bar, pastry bar, miso soup, grilled fish, pork sausage and bacon, 3 different egg preparations, fresh fruit and so much more.

We then strolled around the nearby parks. Visited sacred shrines, temples and mausoleums.

Enjoyed a 6 course Edo lunch which was amazing to look at and a taste sensation.

10771 steps 3.8 miRead more
Good luck!!! [Paulette]
11/3/25Reply
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Day 4
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
☁️ 59 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Japan Minato 35.658821, 139.75175535°39’32” N 139°45’6” E
Day 2, Tokyo
November 4 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
Today we joined the masses at Shibuya Crossing. World’s busiest crossing with up to 3000 people crossing at the same time. We crossed a few times then walked around the shopping district. Had another great lunch in a fun restaurant. As we entered we had to take our shoes off then sat at tables where the floor was recessed and your legs hung down.

After lunch and walking just one block off the main street we were in the red light district and love motels. Creepy signs with blue eyed women.

Our tour meets up tonight and tomorrow is our first day of a 14 day tour.

7661 steps 3.1 miRead more
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Day 5
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 9:09 PM
☁️ 57 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Japan Minato 35.658817, 139.75178535°39’32” N 139°45’6” E
1
November 5th, Tokyo
November 5 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
Today was the first day of our tour. We are on a tour led by Oku Japan “travel off the beaten path” Shoguns and Samurai. Today was spent walking 6+miles with multiple subway rides to see two shogun sites and other places. It was interesting to see these sites in the middle of the city. A patch of historic significance surrounded by modern day living.

Tomorrow we leave Tokyo and venture off the beaten path.

15448 steps 6 miRead more
Wow [Robbie]
11/5/25Reply
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Day 6
Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
⛅ 50 °F
Altitude: 2,057 ft
Japan Yamanouchi 36.7383, 138.41998336°44’18” N 138°25’12” E
Nov 6th-Obuse and Yudanaka Hot Spring
November 6 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Today we rode the bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano then other trains and taxis to our inn in Yudanaka.

Today thru Nov 9th we are traveling out of our day packs and our luggage was forwarded to our lodging where we will be on the 9th. The inns provide a Yukata and slippers for us to wear.

We visited a sake brewery in Obuse and then had a tasting and purchasing 😉.

Yudanaka Hot Springs is where the Japanese macaques “snow monkeys “ reside.

13354 steps 5.4 miRead more
TravelerDid you get to go into a hot spring there?
11/6/25Reply
TravelerYes, our Inn had segregated soaking. It was very nice and hot. Great way to start the day.
11/6/25Reply
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Day 7
Friday, November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
🌙 39 °F
Altitude: 3,127 ft
Japan Shiojiri 35.964928, 137.81080635°57’54” N 137°48’39” E
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1 1
Nov 7th-Matsumoto and Narai Post Town.
November 7 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 39 °F
Today was multiple trains to Matsumoto and a visit to the Matsumoto Castle. The castle was the seat of Matsumoto Domain under the Edo Period Tokugawa shogunate and dates back to the 16th century.

We then travelled by train to the
Kiso Valley and the small town of Narai, an example of a post-town on the ancient Nakasendo Trail between Kyoto and Tokyo.
There are many well-preserved houses and former inns.

8918 steps 3.7 miRead more
Fantastic! [Paulette]
11/7/25Reply
Traveler Funny!
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Traveler The food is so amazing!
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Day 8
Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
☁️ 55 °F
Altitude: 1,486 ft
Japan Nakatsugawa 35.509304, 137.57511935°30’33” N 137°34’30” E
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Nov 8th-Tsumago and Magome Post Towns
November 8 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
Another hearty breakfast and train rides deeper into the mountains. Fall colors are wonderful. Tsumago is another of the post-towns on the Nakasendo Trail, Tsumago has been preserved by strict self-imposed rules that prohibit the sale, rental or destruction of the handsome houses. It’s a living museum, but one which is still inhabited by the local residents.

9900 steps 4.2 miRead more
To cool [Robbie]
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Day 9
Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 7:47 PM
☁️ 54 °F
Altitude: 1,959 ft
Japan Takayama 36.139828, 137.2614936°8’23” N 137°15’41” E
1 1
Nov 9th-Transfer to Takayama
November 9 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
Spent the day on trains and buses getting to Takayama. It was a good day to travel as it rained continuously. Our luggage that was shipped from Tokyo was waiting at our ryokan.

Takayama was formally an enclave for skilled carpenters working for
the imperial courts in Kyoto and Nara. It has retained much of its traditional architecture and is
well known for its crafts, particularly yew-wood carving, shunkei lacquerware, pottery and
furniture.

1653 steps .71 miRead more
Traveler Google translate- a friend to the traveler
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Traveler Wow!
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Day 10
Monday, November 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
☁️ 41 °F
Altitude: 1,959 ft
Japan Takayama 36.139824, 137.26150536°8’23” N 137°15’41” E
Nov 10th-Takayama
November 10 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F
Today was a rainy day walking and shopping the historic district of Takayama. Enjoyed a sushi lunch recommended by a friend who did this trip last year. After a cool, wet day the onsen was very enjoyable. We then treated ourselves to a shiatsu massage. The therapists came to our room and promptly got to work. We are both ready for tomorrow’s journey with the day pack as our main luggage is being forwarded to Kyoto.

8262 steps 3.1 miRead more
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Day 11
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
⛅ 43 °F
Altitude: 1,608 ft
Japan Shirakawa 36.258228, 136.9059636°15’30” N 136°54’21” E
Nov 11-Shirakawa-go
November 11 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F
This morning we had “western style“ breakfast and I sure missed my Japanese breakfast. We then travelled to the bus station, stashed our packs and walked around the town for a few more hours. Lunch was at a small ramen shop.

After lunch, we transferred to the village of Ogimachi in the Shirakawa-go area north-west of Takayama. The village is home to a large number of gassho-zukuri houses, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. These large wooden houses have steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snow, and the term gassho-zukuri refers to the shape of praying hands formed by the roofs. Inside, the houses could accommodate large extended families of up to sixty people.

We are staying in one of the houses.

10751 steps, 4.1 miRead more
TravelerCool history!
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Day 12
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
☁️ 52 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
Japan Kyoto 35.0089, 135.76953135°0’32” N 135°46’10” E
1
Nov 12-Transfer to Kyoto
November 12 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
The house we stayed in last night was very rustic and the food was very tasty. We were provided heating pads for our futons as there was minimal heat. Sorta like van camping on a chilly night.

After breakfast we had a 1 hr bus ride to Kanazawa. We then had 4 hrs on our own to visit sites and eat lunch. We had sushi at the Omicho Market, which is a big open air market with fresh vegetables, seafood and a multitude of other things.

We then rode the bullet train to Kyoto. Subways to our motel where we are looking forward to sleeping in a bed.

12339 steps, 4.7 milesRead more
Who does the dishes??😂 [Paulette]
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Day 13
Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 9:19 PM
☁️ 54 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
Japan Kyoto 35.008892, 135.76953135°0’32” N 135°46’10” E
1 1 1 2
Nov 13-Kyoto
November 13 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
The first half of the day We visited the famous Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, originally built by the Ashikaga Shogun in the 14th century as a place of
contemplation and rest. From there, we visited Ryoan-ji with its famous rock garden of raked gravel and fifteen moss-covered boulders. It is not possible to see all fifteen boulders at once from any place in the garden. It is said that if you can see all fifteen, you have achieved
enlightenment – though this is just one interpretation; the original meaning of the composition
remains a mystery.

Afternoon was spent getting a foot massage and wandering the area around the motel.

15278 steps, 5.8 miRead more
Wow! This temple is exquisite! [Wendy]
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Great photo of you two 💕 [Wendy]
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Looks like an ancient dragon-are the poles supporting the tree? [Wendy]
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Day 14
Friday, November 14, 2025 at 9:41 PM
🌙 52 °F
Altitude: 131 ft
Japan Kyoto 35.008911, 135.76960835°0’32” N 135°46’11” E
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Nov 14-Nara
November 14 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 52 °F
The ancient city of Nara, which preceded Kyoto as Japan’s capital from 710 to 784, is one hour
south of Kyoto by train. We visited Todai-ji temple, with its bronze statue of Buddha. The temple
is said to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Next, we visited the old merchant district of
Nara-machi with its narrow streets, shops, cafes and restaurants.

Nara is also known for the shika (deer) that have been living in the area for centuries. The public feeds them a special cracker and the deer are aggressive once they see crackers in hand.

13854 steps, 5.1 miRead more
Traveler I love all the mascots
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If you make some Bruce when you get home let me know!! I'll come find you! [Paulette]
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Day 15
Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
🌙 45 °F
Altitude: 2,740 ft
Japan Kōya 34.211353, 135.59425434°12’41” N 135°35’39” E
Nov 15-Mount Koya
November 15 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 45 °F
We traveled first to Osaka by local train then along the scenic Nankai Railway Line to Mount Koya, a
bowl-shaped valley filled with stands of cedar trees 900 metres up in the mountains of the Kii
Peninsula. Since the 9th century, when the priest Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi) founded the
first temple and the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Mount Koya has been a place of religious devotion and ceremony. Today there are more than 100 monasteries, many of which have Shukubo temple lodgings. We stayed in one of the elegant temples, run by the monks, and dined on Shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). We walked through the vast Okuno-in cemetery, with thousands (200,000) of graves and memorials to feudal lords and other past luminaries.

7927 steps, 3.2 miRead more
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Day 16
Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
🌙 54 °F
Altitude: 46 ft
Japan Osaka 34.666782, 135.49621634°40’0” N 135°29’46” E
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Nov16-Transfer to Osaka
November 16 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 54 °F
After joining the monks for morning services followed by breakfast, we visited a couple temples in Mount Koya.

Kongobuji temple is the head temple of 3,600 Koyasan branch temples and 10 million members, formed with the Kobo Daishi Kukai’s mausoleum at Okunoin as the center of faith. It was originally constructed in 1593, burned down and reconstructed in 1863.

We then rode the trains back to Osaka and mass humanity. Our farewell dinner was at a restaurant that was open for our group only.

Tomorrow we fly to Hawaii to relax on the beach and recuperate from jet lag.

13901 steps, 5.4 miRead more
Love seeing you two!!! [Paulette]
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This busy piece of art and building would take frank two years to paint , I think! [Paulette]
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Day 17
Monday, November 17, 2025 at 10:06 AM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 115 ft
United States Honolulu 21.333345, -157.92412321°20’0” N 157°55’27” W
1 1 1
Nov 17-Osaka and end of trip
November 17 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Started with breakfast at 0830 and landed in Honolulu at 0900 on the same day!

We had a wonderful trip, guide and group. Getting out of the cities and into the smaller towns made this trip very enjoyable.

Now time to relax in Kona for a week and divide the jet lag into two segments.Read more
Japanese are silly sometimes [Paulette]
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Traveler First class - wow!!
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Traveler Well Yea!!
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Trip end
November 17, 2025