
Kayak and Hike the Japanese Wilderness
- Japan
- 7 nights
Paddle the tropical coastline of the volcanic Izu Peninsula and take on a section of the sacred Mt Fuji pilgrimage trail
What's Included?
- Maximum group size: 10Join small n’ sociable groups of like-minded, active and outdoorsy people – designed to be solo-friendly
From…excluding flights
Highlights
Kayak past Hagachizaki Bay, home to a troop of over 300 wild Japanese macaque monkeys
Bed down in traditional 'ryokans'; don your robe, roll out your futon and hop in a steaming ‘onsen’
Hit the backstreets of Tokyo in search of hidden ‘izakaya’ for the ultimate foodie dive bar experience
Itinerary
Day 1
Touch down in Tokyo
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Welcome to Tokyo, sensory overload coming your way! You’ll meet up with the group at the hotel in Asakusa before heading out for some dinner. Lined with street food stalls and backstreet ‘izakayas’, this district is a great place to hang out and get to know your fellow crew.
Day 2
To the sea
Kayaking5hrs · 15kmRyokanTwin or triple shareAll meals includedShow Day 2 detailHide detail
A quick transfer to the central station to start your three-hour train journey to the coast, whizzing past Mt Fuji and the rolling tea terraces that surround it. Arriving on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula late morning, you’ll set up your kayaks and hit the water as you paddle from Stumekizaki to the white sand beach of Shirahama. You'll spend the night in the fishing town of Shimoda at a small local 'ryokan', time for your first Japanese set meal and futon slumber.
Day 3
Yumigahama via 'Surfers Paradise'
Kayaking4hrs · 14kmRyokanTwin or triple shareAll meals includedShow Day 3 detailHide detail
Early start today for those who fancy visiting the local fish market and grabbing breakfast there - the regional speciality is ‘Kinmedai’ (Red Bream) and is served fresh off the boat in the on-site restaurant. Jumping back in your kayak you’ll make your way around the peninsula past Kisami Ohama beach, a famous local surf spot. The landscape starts to get more wild today, you’ll paddle past craggy rocks and isolated beaches and weave your way through dramatic sea caves stopping for a swim or snorkel before checking into the ryokan in Yumigahama.
Day 4
To the remote west coast
Kayaking5hrs · 18kmRyokanTwin or triple shareAll meals includedShow Day 4 detailHide detail
The challenge today is to pass around the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula as you paddle from Yumigahama all the way to the remote village of Koura, along the way passing shrines and the Irozaki Cape lighthouse. There’s a small section that can feel more exposed to the sea conditions but you’ll have the assistance of your expert guide to get you around safely.
Day 5
Monkey Bay
Kayaking5hrs · 15kmRyokanTwin or triple shareAll meals includedShow Day 5 detailHide detail
Final day in the kayak today as you explore one of the most beautiful stretches of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Conditions allowing, you’ll paddle past the towering red cliffs of Hagachizaki Bay, under the watchful eye of the hundreds of monkeys who call it home. Once back on shore, you'll hop on the bus back to Shimoda for a saké celebration dinner and another futon slumber.
Day 6
Hike the seven waterfalls of Kawazu
Hiking2hrs · 6km · 230m up · 100m downRyokanTwin or triple shareAll meals includedShow Day 6 detailHide detail
This morning it's time to lace up your hiking boots and head deep into the Amagi highlands. You’ll follow an ancient track that winds through native beech forest and farmland until you get to the seven waterfalls of Kawazu. In the afternoon you'll say goodbye to the Izu Peninsula, taking the scenic four-hour journey on local transport to Fuji-Kawaguchiko, a lakeside town which serves as the gateway to your Mt. Fuji adventure tomorrow.
Day 7
Fuji Pilgrimage Trail
Hiking6hrs · 15km · 1000m up · 1000m downHotelTwin or triple shareAll meals includedShow Day 7 detailHide detail
A full day of hiking today as you take on a section of the Mt Fuji pilgrimage trail. Passing through sacred forest and past numerous shrines and temples the aim is to get to the Fuji 5th Station (2300m). This point is often used as the base camp for hikers summiting Mt Fuji (3776m), the highest mountain in Japan and a right of passage for many. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see the mountain in full, the Fuji Five Lakes as well as the towers of Tokyo far in the distance, but the towering volcano has its own weather system and conditions can be changeable. There'll be time to take it all in before dragging your tired legs back to the big city for a final farewell feast and perhaps a celebratory trip to Shibuya for the night owls.
Day 8
Goodbye Japan
Breakfast includedShow Day 8 detailHide detail
Back to the airport for your flight home. Or of course, opt to stay on for some extra time in Tokyo, there's no risk of you running out of things to do here in a hurry.
Practical Stuff
Getting There
- Nearest airport
- Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)
- Pick up
- Tokyo Airport (Haneda or Narita)
Arrive anytime on Day 1 - Drop off
- Tokyo Airport (Haneda or Narita)
Depart anytime on Day 8
What is and isn't Included?
What's included
Expert, English-speaking local kayaking and hiking guides
2 nights in a Tokyo hotel, 5 nights in a traditional Japanese guest house 'ryokan'
All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
Airport transfers and train to and from the coast
All your sea kayaking equipment
National park permits and fees
What's not included
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
Where You'll Stay
Private room upgrades are not available on this trip due to the nature of the accommodation.
What You'll Eat
Japan is home to deliciously fresh and varied cuisine and a bowl of steamed rice is included in most typical Japanese meals. Side dishes are called 'okazu' and are served with miso soup. Meals tend to be fish heavy and are often served with saké. Str…
Optional Extras
Accommodation Alternatives
- Optional Private Room Upgrade - Only available on Days 1, 6 & 7
- …
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation
- Pre-trip accommodation in Tokyo (Single)
- …
- Pre-trip accommodation in Tokyo (Twin/Double)
- …
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room upgrade is available only for Days 1, 6 & 7 on this trip, in Tokyo and Kawaguchiko. Please see Optional Extras for the price and add this as a request at the time of booking.
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
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Before You Travel
What to Pack

Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.
FAQs
What will I need to carry with me?
Your main overnight bag will be transported daily to the next overnight spot so you will only need to carry what you need for that day. While kayaking it's recommended that you store everything in a dry bag, 10 litres in size should probably do for your daily items. While hiking, a small daypack will suffice to carry water and an extra layer.
What do I do about drinking water?
The tap water in Japan is safe to drink so please bring a refillable bottle with you, it will be well used.
Can I leave my excess luggage somewhere?
You will be able to store your bags at the ryokan you stay in on Day 2 and Day 7 so should only take what you really need on the activities with you. Ask you guide at the start of the trip for more information.
How much should I tip?
Tipping isn't customary in Japan and is not expected – in fact, it will sometimes be considered impolite. As a general rule you should not leave a tip in Japan, with a few notable exceptions - one being tour guides. If you feel that your tour leader has provided an excelllent service over the course of your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. Your host suggest 500-1000JPY per person per day as a guidline.
Can I book on my own?
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Who is running the trip?
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
What is the official travel advice?
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
What vaccinations do I need?
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
How are the trips priced?
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
Why are your adventures only for adults?
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
Who else will be on my trip?
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
What's the carbon footprint for this trip?
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 385kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
- A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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