We are in Tokyo! In preparation for a brand new Small Group tour coming October 2025, I have embarked on a short but jam packed trip to Japan. This has tour has been in demand from our adventure travel community for a long time now and while I have not launched it online as yet, I am excited to share an exclusive sneak peak with you!
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 14 million residents as of 2023 and the second-most-populated capital in the world! On our first morning in Tokyo we stretched our legs and explored the area nearby our hotel which is 15 minutes by train from the centre and hub of Tokyo.
We met our guide Ricardo (not Japanese but Italian!) who has lived in Tokyo for 17 years. Ricardo explained that there are 2 religions in Japan. Shinto and Buddhism. We visited two Shinto Shrines. The first was the Meiji Shrine in Shibuya. This is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. The shrine does not contain the emperor’s grave, which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto where we will visit later on our trip.
The second was Togo Shrine which is a picturesque shrine that is an oasis of calm in the bustling Harajuku youth fashion district of Tokyo. It was established towards the end of the Second World War to worship the spirit of one of Japan’s most celebrated admirals, Heihachiro Togo.
After this fascinating stop, we continued our private tour with a visit to a street dating back to 1927 lined with Izakaya, which are like pubs that are casual drinking establishments that also serve a variety of small dishes, such as yakitori, other grilled food, salads and other finger food. It was just fabulous! Here we enjoyed our first Japanese meal which was delicious before negotiating the rail system back to our hotel.
On our second day, after breakfast, we met our tour guide Umi and the group of fellow travellers who would travel with us for the coming week. Our first stop was Oishi Park on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi. The park is known for its peaceful walking paths and gardens, and the view of Mount Fuji was absolutely magnificent.
Next, we visited Oshino Hakkai, a small village in the Five Lake region. The village has eight crystal-clear ponds fed by snowmelt from the nearby mountains and is surrounded by traditional thatched-roof farmhouses. It felt like stepping back in time! So far, Tokyo has been full of moments where old meets new! For lunch, we enjoyed some delicious shrimp dumplings—another wonderful Japanese delicacy and the perfect way to settle into culture.
More to come!
– Lyn