Itinerary
Highlights
~ Walk under Cherry Blossoms AND through 20-meter-high Snow Walls in the same trip.
~ An overnight stay in the Murodo Highlands (2,450m) gives us exclusive sunset and sunrise views that day-trippers miss.
~ Visit the sacred Togakushi Shrine and walk the historic Shionomichi Salt Road.
~ We handle the complex cable cars, ropeways, and buses of the Tateyama Route.
~ Stay in cozy lodges and enjoy the warmth of Japanese hospitality
Day 1 Arrival Tokyo – Nagano
Welcome to Tokyo! Upon arrival, meet your trip facilitator at Haneda Airport before making your way to Tokyo Station by airport bus. You may also choose to meet the group directly at Tokyo Station.
Board our Shinkansen to Nagano station where our local guide awaits. Depending on the blooming season, we will make our first stop at a scenic cherry blossom spot for a walk (possibly the serene shores of Lake Nojiri).
Later that afternoon, check into our cosy mountain lodge and enjoy a hearty welcome dinner.
Meal: Dinner
Stay: Local Mountain Lodge
Note: The lodge is a communal stay with a mixture of tatami and bunk beds. Each room will be segregated by gender and can accommodate 3 to 4 hikers. Toilets are in the common area, and the shower facility is local Japanese style – open concept.
Day 2 The Old Train Line & The Alps
Explore the Shionomichi (Salt Road) trail in Hakuba. This is not just any walk; it follows the route of an old, abandoned train line that sits right at the base of the majestic Hakuba Mountain Range. Imagine walking through a tunnel of green forest, emerging onto old railway bridges with panoramic views of the snowy alpine peaks towering directly above you. Experience the history of the region while surrounded by the vibrant green of new spring growth.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Local Mountain Lodge
Note: The lodge is a communal stay with a mixture of tatami and bunk beds. Each room will be segregated by gender and can accommodate 3 to 4 hikers. Toilets are in the common area, and the shower facility is local Japanese style – open concept.
Day 3 The Sacred Forest & Hidden Shrine
Explore the mystical forests right around Pinokio Lodge and venture toward the holy grounds of Togakushi.
Walk through towering cedar trees (some over 400 years old) to reach the tranquil Miller Pond, where the water reflects the sky like a mirror. Our main destination is the Okusha Shrine, the inner sanctuary of Togakushi. This is one of Japan’s most spiritual spots.
Keep our eyes peeled for more late-blooming cherry blossoms in the surrounding valleys for that “Pink & Green” picture.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Local Mountain Lodge
Note: The lodge is a communal stay with a mixture of tatami and bunk beds. Each room will be segregated by gender and can accommodate 3 to 4 hikers. Toilets are in the common area, and the shower facility is local Japanese style – open concept.
Day 4 Journey to the White World
Drive to the Omachi Ougisawa station. From here, ascend the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route using a mesmerising mix of underground buses, giant cable cars, and a breathtaking ropeway that hangs high above the valleys (each change of transport offering a better view than the last).
As we climb, watch the green grass fade to brown, and then to pure, blinding white. We will arrive at Murodo – a winter wonderland.
Head out to walk the famous Snow Corridor (Yuki-no-Otani). These walls can reach up to 20 meters high (the height of a 6-story building)! It is an awe-inspiring, almost surreal experience to walk through this canyon of snow.
Check into the Raichoso Onsen Lodge (over 2,400m high). Soak in the open-air hot springs as the sun sets, painting the entire white landscape in shades of orange and purple. This is the advantage of staying overnight – we get the mountains to ourselves as the day-trippers leave.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Mountain Lodge in Murodo Tateyama
Day 5 Descend and Leave for Tokyo
Wake up early for an opportunity to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the Sea of Japan from the rooftop of Japan. The way the first light hits the snow-capped peaks is magical.
Before we leave for Nagano Station, take an easy, relaxed morning walk on the snowfields around Murodo, enjoying the crisp air and the vast, silent white landscape one last time.
Begin our descent back to Omachi, returning to Nagano Station by approximately 1:00 PM to catch our Shinkansen to Tokyo Station, where the trip ends.
Meal: Breakfast
Inclusions
~ 4 nights accommodation in a mixture of mountain lodges with hot spring;
~ 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners;
~ one-way airport bus from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station;
~ two-way Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station;
~ transportation as per itinerary;
~ entrance tickets as per itinerary;
~ service of a English-speaking local guide;
~ supported by a bilingual (English/Mandarin-speaking) Travel Wander Trip Facilitator.
Exclusions
~ flights to Tokyo, Japan;
~ visa arrangement (if required);
~ personal travel insurance (highly recommended);
~ expenditure of personal effects;
~ anything not specified in the trip inclusion and itinerary.
Price
Twin/Multi-share Occupancy: SGD 2,798 per person
Early Bird Discount: SGD 50 per person (book by 15-OCT-2026)
< WBWG Rate Applicable >
Important Notes
~ A deposit, SGD 300 is required at the time of booking. Deposit paid is non-refundable unless trip is withdrawn or cancelled by Travel Wander.
~ Full or balance payment is 60 days prior to departure.
~ Only book your air ticket to Tokyo Haneda when you have been informed to do so.
~ This trip requires minimum of 7 hikers to depart and the maximum group size is 10 hikers.
~ Should you require a visa to enter Japan, it is your responsibility to obtain such document before departure. Check your entry requirement and apply for your visa HERE if you require.
For cyclists who are travelling alone and have opted for twin-share occupancy, Travel Wander will do our utmost to pair you with another cyclist of the same gender to share the room. If this is not possible, cyclists are required to top up the difference for a single room. Should you choose not to go on this trip, there is no refund of the deposit paid.
~ As you prepare for the hiking vacation, we recommend one hour of exercise 2 times per week (this can be hiking, running or walking). At least once a week, you should hike for at least 10 KM. Attempt some hiking routes with elevation.
~ Every effort is made to ensure the trip and included experiences take place during the ideal time or period of the year, however certain sights are subject to weather conditions and seasonal variations that are not within the control of Travel Wander. Although you may get to see and/or experience, we cannot guarantee the sightings.
~ Provision of meals during the trip showcases the local authenticity, cuisine and food culture of the places we are visiting. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to Travel Wander at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options. We cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Travel Wander is not liable for failure to accommodate or fulfil such requests. Meal supplementary charges may be imposed to meet your dietary needs.
~ Trip grading is an indication of the difficulty of the activities included. Preparation and engaging in regular exercise to maintain good physical condition and active lifestyle prior to the trip will be most beneficial in ensuring you have full enjoyment of the trip. We are glad to discuss your concerns and answer your queries.
~ Our utmost priority is always the safety of the hikers. Therefore, the inclusion of the itinerary may be altered due to (not limited to) bad weather, local conditions, accommodation bookout, the skill levels of the hikers and/or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes necessary, and there will be no refund should you decide to discontinue the trip.
~ Because hiking requires a certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for hikers with chronic and/or acute diseases. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Hikers must ensure they are medically and physically able to hike.
~ If the hiker presents difficulty in completing the day’s hike, we strongly discourage the hiker from continuing for the day with top priority on the safety of the hiker and team in mind. The hiker can fast-track the hike by using public transportation (where available) or booking a private transfer at the hiker’s own expense. There is no refund on this portion of the trip.
~ Hiker may choose to terminate the hike early during any time of the planned hiking day or make it a rest day and fast track to the next accommodation by making use of public transportation (where available) or booking a private transfer at the hiker’s own expense. Should the hiker wish to partake in other activities or sightseeing on the rest day, it will be at the hiker’s own expense. There is no refund on this portion of the trip.
~ Purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See HERE for details.
~ By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to Travel Wander’s Booking Conditions and Other Important Information: Cancellation and Amendment, Modes of Payment, Privacy Policy, Indemnity Policy, and Terms & Conditions.
