Shogun Trail

A Level 1 tour with little or no walking and suitable for anyone who prefers not to walk. Read more on tour levels below.
Tour accommodation is in hotels and Japanese inns. The maximum group size for this tour is 14 persons.

The Shogun Trail, a 12 day, 11 night tour, starts in the heart of modern Japan, Tokyo, and travels some 900 kilometres west to Kyushu. Along route we visit places associated with William Adams (1564 - 1620), enjoy some of the famous sights of Japan in a grand experience of both the urban and rural landscape. Adams, depicted as John Blackthorne in Clavell's epic novel Shogun, was the first Englishman to arrive on Japan's shores.

Clavell's semi-fictional hero led an adventurous life and, in reality, Adams' was no less so. Shipwrecked, he and his crewmates gained the trust of the great Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and were allowed to live in freedom in Japan, barred only from returning to their homeland. Adams was given the status of samurai and made a direct retainer of the Shogun, a position of tremendous honour and prestige.

Adams was also an intermediary between the Shogun's court and the Dutch and English traders, for which he had to travel constantly between the capital and the furthest reaches of western Japan. Adams did this on foot and by boat. We do it in comfort using Japan's fabulous public transport system, one feature that makes this tour special. We use the train (super-fast, fast, not-so-fast, and downright slow), ferry, bus, mini-bus, street-tram, taxi, 'pirate' ship and, for those who wish to, 'Shank's Mare', that is, on foot.

Tour Information
Itinerary
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Tour Levels

A guided tour of the heart of downtown Tokyo takes in the site of Adam's townhouse, the remains of Edo castle, the powerful business district and more of modern Japan. We visit the nearby ancient capital of Kamakura and its justly famous giant Buddha statue. For the enthusiastic, a walk along an old and atmospheric highway. For the more leisurely, a free travel pass to the varied, and sometimes eccentric, transport around elegant Hakone near Mount Fuji. Next, Japan's cultural capital, Kyoto, followed by Hiroshima, a surprisingly vibrant and interesting city. On our way to the island of Kyushu, we stop off at the twin cities of Shimonoseki and Moji. Little-known outside Japan but deserving a visit, if for nothing else, the amazing fish market and its backdrop of the narrow Kanmon Straits, plied continuously by shipping. Next, the multi-cultural and distinct city of Nagasaki before arriving in Hirado, reached by taking a ferry through the scenic 'Ninety-nine Islands'. Hirado, still a quaint fishing port, was the site of the first Dutch and English trading houses and the town contains many reminders of the age of great medieval explorers. A poignant tombstone on a hillside overlooking the town is the grave of William Adams. The last night is spent in Fukuoka, Japan's 'Gateway to Asia' and home to some of the friendliest people in the country.

Price: US$4,684, includes local travel, accommodation, baggage transfers, most meals, etc. Single person supplement US$280. See Itinerary for details and Tour Dates for scheduled tours and their availability.

Start in Tokyo, finish 12 days later in Fukuoka.

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and to book this tour.

This itinerary is ground only, beginning in Tokyo and ending in Fukuoka. Arrangements for extra time in Japan before or after the trip are possible. Travellers will be given instruction in English and Japanese for getting to the meeting point in Tokyo.

Meals provided in the tour are noted in the itinerary below. Japanese cuisine is as varied as it is high in quality. Your guide will advise you how you may best enjoy meals not provided in the tour. Lunch can be found from ¥1,000. If you wish, your guide is also available to join you in dinner (when not included) and introduce you to some of the best cuisine in Japan. Expect to pay between ¥2,500-3,500 per head, excluding alcohol.

On Day 2 the main baggage will be shipped in advance overnight. On these days all items you require for overnight will need to be carried by you and your daypack should be sufficiently big enough to accommodate these items.

Day 1.

Evening meeting at 18:00, subject to arrival schedules, at our hotel, a few minutes' walk from Tokyo Station.

Dinner provided.

Day 2.

Stroll around downtown Tokyo, site of Adams' townhouse in Edo (original name of Tokyo), and visit the grounds of Edo Castle, now the Imperial Palace. The afternoon is free to explore Tokyo on your own, or please join the guide on a foray into Tokyo: a visit to a museum perhaps, or maybe a walk around the downtown area, or a river cruise. Main luggage sent by express courier to the Japanese inn in Ito.

Dinner provided.

Day 3.

Breakfast provided. Travel by local train to Hemi, where Adams had his country estate, and visit the memorials to Adams and his family. Train to historic Kamakura for a leisurely, two-hour walk taking in a 'money laundering' Shinto shrine and the famous Great Buddha. Travel by train to Ito for the Japanese inn.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 4.

Stroll to the nearby site where Adams constructed galleon ships for the Shogun. Train to Odawara with luggage, which we leave at our hotel. Complimentary all-day pass to the idiosyncratic, but easily followed, local transport system of Hakone. Those who wish to walk follow a section of the old Tokaido Highway over the Hakone pass (the highest and hardest according to Edo-period folk tales) with the guide. Those not wishing to walk go on ahead by public transport to explore the restaurants, hot springs, art museums, views and more. The walkers catch up later. Return to Odawara hotel.

Breakfast provided.

Day 5.

Transfer by Shinkansen Bullet Train to Kyoto with luggage. Guided tour to Nijo Castle, the Shogun's palace in the old capital. Nijo has the kind of sumptuous setting in which the Shogun would have held audiences with Adams. Then followed by free time to explore. The guide will advise how to make the most of your time.

Dinner provided.

Day 6.

Early morning Bullet Train transfer with luggage to Hiroshima. Luggage left at hotel accommodation near the station. Guided visit to the A-Bomb Memorial Museum, Peace Park and Miyajima and its a shrine that, unusually, juts into the sea. Free time late afternoon and evening to explore the city.

Dinner provided.

Day 7.

Bullet Train to Kokura for Shimonoseki and Moji. Guided one-hour walk around historic Moji and under the Kanmon Straits to Shimonoseki, where we meet up with non-walkers who arrived by ferry. For those interested, time is available for a non-guided tour to Ganryu Island in the Straits. Miyamoto Musashi, the author of The Book of Five Rings, fought and won his famous sword fight here. Lunch may be taken in a fish market with one of the best settings in the world, adjacent to the sea straits between Honshu and Kyushu. Return to Kokura for Bullet and express trains transfer to Nagasaki, arriving early evening. Hotel accommodation for two nights.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 8.

Guided visit to Dejima, site of the Dutch Trading Mission during Japan's self-imposed seclusion that lasted until the 1850's. Dejima is being recreated and gives an excellent idea of life as it was for the traders. Followed by guided visits to the original China Town and Glover Park, site of Meiji period (1867-1912) foreign residences, The Park has fine views over Nagasaki Harbour one of the best harbour vistas in Japan. Free time from midday to explore the city.

Breakfast provided.

Day 9.

Free time until midday, when we catch a local train with luggage to Sasebo for a ferry transfer to Hirado. A sixty-minute journey takes us through the fabled 'Ninety Nine Islands'. Hotel with hot spring baths for two nights.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 10.

An all-day tour by minibus of Hirado and Ikitsuki Islands, visiting the remote and unspoilt countryside of the 'Hidden Christians', once outlawed under pain of death. Here it is sometimes possible to catch a rare sight of ospreys as they soar over towering basalt cliffs. There may be some time for a quick swim, so bring your swimming costume and towel. Along the way we visit a small, interesting museum dedicated to the long-gone whaling industry and local lifestyle.

Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 11.

The morning is spent exploring Hirado town and soaking up its charms. A guided tour offers fascinating insights into the way things were here in the early 1600s and highlights events and places associated with William Adams. The frustrations Adams felt; his acrimonious relationship with the commander of the long-awaited English trading mission; the trade voyages he undertook to Okinawa and beyond; the mystery of his home and private life in Hirado; his death in Hirado; and the controversy surrounding his tomb. All this while visiting the residence of the local daimyo (feudal lord), the church commemorating Saint Francis Xavier, who preached here in the 16th century, the sites of the old trading houses along the waterfront and the foreigners' cemetery with the grave of William Adams. Transfer with luggage by minibus and train to Fukuoka. Hotel accommodation. Fukuoka is a lively city with excellent shopping for which there will be time in the early evening.

Breakfast provided.

Day 12.

Tour ends after breakfast. Fukuoka Airport, an important regional airport, has international and domestic connecting flights. Walk Japan can provide advice on onward travel arrangements when you make your booking.

Breakfast provided.

This itinerary is subject to change.

Please see Tour Dates for scheduled tours and their availability. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and to receive the booking form.

The following travel tips are intended to be helpful advice for the Shogun Trail tour. In addition, please refer to your own past experiences and make adjustments or amendments as necessary. If you require any further advice please contact us.

Clothing:

During the summer temperatures can fluctuate from cool in the evenings to hot during the day. Accordingly, it is advisable to bring a variety of layers ranging from t-shirts to a top with long sleeves and perhaps a lightweight sweater air conditioning can sometimes be overly cool. Shorts are acceptable in Japan for both men and women; please bring comfortable walking shoes suitable for around town sneakers, sandals, etc. The sun's rays can be strong and we recommend a sun hat, sun screen, etc. A lightweight, packable style waterproof and a compact, foldable umbrella should suffice for any inclement weather. (Note, any 24-hour store, which are found almost everywhere in Japan, sells cheap umbrellas and rain capes). Some individuals find Japanese pillows uncomfortable and you may like to bring your own inflatable pillow. Yukata, evening gowns for sleeping in, are provided at each lodging. However, we recommend leggings, a top, etc. to wear underneath. This will provide a degree of modesty and help ward off any cold air. Laundrette facilities are available on Days 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11.

Please bring a small bag to contain overnight items. We will be sending overnight our main luggage on Day 2 to Ito retaining only what we need for the last night in Tokyo.

Food and drink.

While travelling during the day it is not usually necessary to carry more than water, a snack and personal needs. Shops, vending machines and kiosks, which are found in most places we visit, provide for many immediate needs including drinks, snacks, cosmetics and clothing. Lunch will be taken in local restaurants.

Food in our lodgings is usually Japanese style. Western-style restaurants, though, can often be found in the vicinity. Tap water is nearly always drinkable your guide will advise.

Medicines and cosmetics.

Some medicines and cosmetics with which you are familiar may not be available in Japan, although similar medicines and cosmetics are usually available. Prescription medicines in Japan may differ from foreign medicines in minor, but possibly unacceptable, ways. If you require a specific medicine or cosmetic, either for health or comfort, please bring sufficient quantities with you.

Access to cash.

Exchanging cash or travellers' cheques in major currencies is possible in most towns that we visit. However, changing foreign currency at a bank can be a time-consuming exercise. Instead, we recommend alternatives including arriving in Japan with some Japanese currency, using credit cards, and withdrawing cash from ATMs.

Japan is still a society based on cash payments. Given that the crime rate is quite low, there is not a great deal of risk in carrying around relatively large amounts of cash. Credit cards payments are sometimes possible, but do not rely on it as credt cards are not universally acceptable in Japan, particularly in rural areas. ATMs at Japanese post offices, which are ubiquitous in Japan, and Seven-Eleven stores provide cash against the following credit cards - Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club International, PLUS, Maestro, Cirrus and JCB. Most Japanese bank ATMs, though, do not accept debit cards or provide access to foreign bank accounts.

International telephoning, cell phones and the internet:

Making international telephone calls and using the internet outside of major urban areas can be difficult or impossible. Please bring a telephone charge card issued by your local telephone company, such as AT&T, BT and Telstar. These can be used almost anywhere.

The Japanese cell, or mobile, phone system uses a specialized CDMA technology which is incompatible with most overseas systems. Some G3, Blackberry smartphones and iPhones operate in Japan, however, please confirm with your provider whether your phone set will work. If your phone does not work in Japan you may like to rent a cell phone from providers such as NTT Docomo, Cellhire, Mobalrental, Worldroam, Vodafone, etc.

Internet access is available, either in or near our lodgings, on Days 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11.

For any more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The following is an indication of what level of activity to expect on our tours. The itineraries for all our tours provide specific details of each day's walking.

Please note that one person's expectations of what is easy or hard can be very different. Whilst age, physical ability and fitness are factors in deciding what a person is capable of, often a seemingly less fit person completes our tours with no problem. Another factor to consider is the weather, which can affect people differently.

Since 1992 we have taken many thousands of people of many nationalities, all ages and abilities on tour in Japan. We have good experience and knowledge about what most, if not all, people can achieve so please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further information and advice related to your abilities.

Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs and walk less than 1 km a day. Travel will be almost entirely by public transport, taxi and private hire bus.

Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to 5 km a day on mainly even ground.

Participants must be in reasonable health, mobile and able to participate in 4~6 hours of walking at a moderate 2kph to 4kph pace. The terrain is mainly even ground, with occasional short but steep climbs.

Participants must be in reasonable health, mobile and able to participate in 4~6 hours of walking at a 2 kph to 4 kph pace. The terrain includes more uneven ground than Level 2 with some short, occasionally longer, steep climbs.

Participants must be in good health, mobile and used to a reasonably active lifestyle. Walking may require up to six hours of moderate-paced activity per day, at a 2 kph to 4 kph pace over varied terrain. Ascents and descents can sometimes be steep, necessitating the use of arms for support.

Participants must be in good health, have a good level of physical fitness and used to an active lifestyle. Walking may require up to eight hours of moderate-paced activity per day, at a 2 kph to 4kph pace over varied, mountainous terrain including some long ascents and descents.