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Tour details - Akita & Northern Iwate Culture of Forests

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Highlights:

  • Enjoy uplifting day hikes in the northern Tōhoku wilderness, including a forested gorge with rushing cascades and alpine meadows replete with colourful wildflowers

  • Discover the fascinating regional culture including the original Japanese bushcraft tradition, and its relationship with the rich forest environment

  • Explore the rich regional craft traditions including woodcraft, lacquerware, ceramics, bamboo and wickercraft.

  • Learn about the amazing prehistoric Jōmon culture, and their connection with the cultural traditions of Tōhoku and Japan

  • Experience a variety of rustic regional foods, including a hands-on demonstration of northern Tōhoku’s ancient mixed-grain cuisine

The northern Tōhoku region is among the least populated areas of Japan, and is blessed with beautiful natural and rural scenery. The wild environment and long cold winters have developed a resilient culture rich in traditions, including crafts, food and folklore. This tour provides you with a taste of Akita and northern Iwate’s unique traditions, with a particular emphasis on crafts, and their fascinating relationship with the region’s forested environments since prehistoric times. You will experience the beautiful wilderness of northern Akita in their early summer splendour through easy to moderate-grade day-hikes. A visit to one of northern Tōhoku’s numerous archaeological sites will reveal clues to how the cultural traditions of the region, and Japan as a whole, have developed in harmony with nature since prehistoric times.

 

MAIN DESTINATIONS COVERED: Kakunodate, rural areas of central-northern Akita Prefecture, Odate, Ninohe area (Iwate Prefecture)

 

TOUR LENGTH: 10 days (9 nights)

 

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS: 6

 

SEASON: late-June to late July, early October to late October

 

BOOKINGS CLOSE: 120 days before agreed departure date

 

START LOCATION: JR Shinjuku Station, Tokyo [MAP]

 

END LOCATION: JR Morioka Station, Iwate Prefecture [MAP]

 

FITNESS LEVEL: high

 

CULTURAL TOLERANCE: moderate (must be able to sleep on traditional futon bedding on 3 nights)

 

COST: from AUD $3100/person (6 persons) to $5100/person (2 persons) including ALL ground transport, accommodation, meals, tour guiding, fees and charges

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