At a Glance
Venture into Kyoto's countryside for a rural adventure that shows off Kyoto's unspoilt Japanese landscapes and beautiful natural scenes in every season. Discover the myriad charms on the outskirts of Kyoto, stay at a traditional Japanese farmhouse amidst the pastoral mountain settings and enjoy a variety of seasonal tastes from forest game. This is a unique opportunity to experience the authentic countryside life of Japan.
From Kyoto Station, take a train journey (35mins) to the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, where the mountain-dweller lifestyle from ancient Japan still exists and people live in harmony with the rich nature and fields. Over 3-days-2-nights, you'll cycle along the rice fields and small villages and visit local workshops to learn about craftsmanships preserved for generation. You'll walk the old pilgrimage trail in Kambayashi surrounded ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 2 nights farmhouse accommodation
- WASHI paper making experience
- All train tickets
- Breakfast at the sea of cloud experience. Weather dependent
- Guided countryside cycling tour
- Guided old pilgrimage trail trekking and forest walking
- Enjoy country style home-cooking with ingredients prepared from local fresh produce. 2x breakfasts, 2x lunches, 2x dinners
Itinerary
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Note: To have the best experience, we recommended you prepare a small bag for the 3 night trip. You can store your luggage in Kyoto. Make your own way to Kyoto Station and take a train journey to Yagi station in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture. An English-speaking guide will meet you at the station. After biking fitting, your countryside cycling tour begins. Nestled between mountains and situated in the Ōi River basin, Yagi has a collection of small villages. Enjoy beautiful scenery of Arashiyama and Oigawa river, which is upper part of Hozugawa river in Arashiyama. You will cycle on country road along the rice fields, through small villages and stop by a local shrine. You have an opportunity to visit one or two local craftsman's studios, e.g. traditional dyeing paper maker, and wooden craft maker. Then back to a train ride to Ayabe station and transfer to a farmhouse, where you'll stay for two nights. Your warm host will welcome you to their charming farmhouse, a hidden gem nestled in the mountains of rural Kyoto. A traditional kayabuki thatched farmhouse. The farmhouse is furnished with two iroris, open charcoal fireplaces and many other traditional artefacts. There are several communal areas for eating, drinking tea, reading or simply enjoying the view across the valley. Staying here, you'll have chance to experience first hand cooking and eating around an irori. Cook rice in a kamado, a special pot that sits over a wood-burning oven. End your day sipping local sake around the glowing embers. Relax and soak in a Japanese style stone bath heated by a wood-burning boiler. Dinner ingredients will be provided so you can cook yourself on the traditional irori charcoal grill. |
Ayabe Farmhouse (Private toilet, shared bath)
Dinner |
Walking distance: approx. 6 km, 4 - 6 hours Your guide will meet you at the farmhouse and take you to enjoy a outdoor breakfast while watching the Sea of Clouds (Only available late Autumn and winter). Ayabe is known for its dense fog. During late autumn and winter, it is possible to see the mountains surrounded in the famous Sea of Clouds. While the fog is strictly weather-dependent and unlikely to appear in spring, the sunrise view of Ayabe’s lush forest is still well worth the trip. After breakfast, your guide will take you to the old pilgrimage trail in Kambayashi Forest. Kambayashi is home to a unique hiking course which once served as the main road leading up to Komyoji temple. Ascetic monks would walk along this rugged path and cross the Niomon Gate, now regarded as a national treasure. On this path, you can see the flower of horse chestnut in May as well as red and yellow leaves of the ginkgo trees in Autumn. The deeper part of the forest is home to a variety of centuries-old trees. The most notable among them is a horse chestnut tree which is over 2,000 years old. A light lunch will be provided on the hike, either as a packed meal or a stop at a local restaurant. Return to your accommodation after the hike and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy another cozy dinner around an irori. |
Ayabe Farmhouse (Private toilet, shared bath)Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
After breakfast at your accommodation, set out on another hike through the beautiful forests of Ayabe with a local guide. Many of the trees in this area are over 1,000 years old. A light lunch will be provided on the hike, either as a packed meal or a stop at a local restaurant. After the walk, your guide will take you to Kurotani where the residents have been making Washi Paper using a traditional hand-crafting techniques that have been passed down for 800 years. You will learn about the history of Japanese washi paper making and get to try your hand at making several sheets of paper. You may have the chance to see actual craftsmen at work. A driver will take you from Washi Paper Workshop to the Farmhouse to pick up luggage, then to Ayabe station to catch your afternoon train back to Kyoto city. Train tickets included. Upon arrival in Kyoto, make your own way to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. A light lunch will be provided on the hike, either as a packed meal or a stop at a local restaurant. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchDates & Prices
Daily departure on request. Please contact us to book if you have a group of more than 12 people.
More Info
- The departure point Kyoto
- The finishing point is Kyoto
Day 1: Guided countryside cycling
Day 2: Guided breakfast at the sea of cloud. Guided Old Pilgrimage Trail walk, walking distance: approx. 6 km, 4 - 6 hours
Day 3: Guided forest walk and village walk; Sake bottle label making using WASHI paper experience. Return to Kyoto
Japan's weather and climate features four distinct seasons.
Spring is from March to May. It's perhaps one of the very best times to visit Japan as temperatures are pleasantly warm without being too hot, with daytime temperatures ranging between 21°C to 26°C. The country is ablaze with beautiful white and pink cherry blossom and plenty festivals to enjoy.
Summer is from June to August and the country experiences a three to four-week rainy season. It is hot and humid during this time and temperatures are often in the high 30’s. If you plan on visiting Japan during the summer weather, northern areas such as Hokkaido or the mountains of Tohoku or Chubu are the most comfortable places to escape the heat.
Autumn is from September to November and is characterised by light breezes and cooler temperatures of around 8-10°C. It is also a wonderful time to visit Japan. The country turns into a haven of red and scarlet leaves which contrast strikingly against the deep blue clear skies and almost as impressive as the stunning cherry blossoms.
Winter is from December to February. It is a magical time to visit as the landscape is turned white with snow. It's the perfect time to go skiing or check out the hot springs, especially venture to the ski slopes of Hokkaido or Nagano. It's Okinawa is a great place to visit during the winter as it is not quite as cold as the rest of Japan’s weather.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
