3 days/ 2 nights tour in 2026
with
two dinners and two breakfasts
Tour dates in 2026:
October 25/26/27,
November 8/9/10,
November 13/14/15,
November 24/25/26
…choose one of these 4 options.
Walk the paths of history
Step back in time as you traverse the ancient trails of Central Japan. In autumn, the forest converts into a canopy of gold and vibrant red momiji. As you emerge from the forest, the rural landscapes of Ena and Nakatsugawa unfold before you — a tapestry of harvested fields under a vast, indigo sky. Once connecting remote mountain villages, these paths now offer a peaceful escape. Our pace is intentionally slow, designed for those who want to breathe deeply, capture the perfect photograph, and truly connect with the landscape. Along the way, a rare encounter with local kabuki awaits — still rehearsed and performed by the community today. This is #DeepJapan at its most serene: quiet, timeless, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Stay at traditional house
OMUSUBI, a carefully maintained Japanese home that holds an Airbnb "Superhost" distinction. Here, quality craftsmanship meets comfort: experience the premium futons and the elegance of Japanese architecture, bolstered by modern, spotless amenities. Where the town meets nature, nestled against a verdant tea plantation with Mt Ena in close sight, the house invites you to trade the city’s hum for the whisper of mountain air. It’s more than a stay; it’s a chance to inhabit the “satoyama” lifestyle.
A seat at the table
At night, you are a guest of the house. Share authentic, home-cooked feasts prepared with ingredients harvested from the very soil you walked upon that day. This is a rare invitation into the lives of the Gifu people—a community defined by warmth, pride, and a deep-rooted connection to the land.
#DEEPJAPAN: THE AUTUMN EDITION
Your Journey, Your Way
A Bespoke Pace
Whether you seek a vigorous mountain challenge or a meditative retreat, our itinerary adapts to you. Use our core plan as your compass, but feel free to inform us in advance what is usually your rhythm. As much as possible, time permitting, we will try to prepare accordingly.
Curated Experiences
Elevate your journey with our hand-picked add-ons. From a private sake tasting led by master brewers to the meditative brushstrokes of a calligraphy masterclass, we can tailor the details to suit your passions. Simply let us know your preferences early on, and we will handle the rest.
Stress-Free Exploration
Leave the logistics to us. We provide private, comfortable transportation for all excursions, ensuring participants of the tour remain warm and dry regardless of the weather. Forget the schedules of public transit; instead, lose yourself in the breathtaking autumn scenery through the window of your private shuttle.
Peace of Mind
Travel with confidence. Our local hosts are experts in these mountains, prioritising your safety and comfort at every turn. We monitor the trails daily so you can focus entirely on the crisp air and the rustle of the turning leaves.
Intimate Groups, Authentic Connections
By limiting our groups to just five guests, we protect the quiet dignity of the villages we visit and ensure you receive personalised attention. This is a journey of “quality over quantity”, designed for meaningful interaction and lasting memories.
Ultimate Privacy
For those seeking an exclusive escape with family or colleagues, our private tour option allows you to reserve the entire experience for your group. Enjoy the undivided attention of our hosts and the luxury of a customised itinerary, tailored exclusively to your inner circle.
DAY 1: Hinoki & Hearthside Hospitality
A Seamless Welcome
Your journey begins the moment you step off the train at JR Nakatsugawa station or JR Ena station (see Access for logistics tips). Our team will assist with your luggage during your journey, leaving you free to enjoy the ride into the mountains.
Backstage at the Kabuki
Step into a world of hidden artistry. Unlike the grand stages of Tokyo, Gifu’s Ji-Kabuki (local kabuki) belongs to the people. You’ll be granted backstage access to a beautifully restored theater, where the air is still sweet with the scent of fresh hinoki cedar. Stand upon the same floorboards that have felt the weight of actors young and old, and discover the secrets behind the masks and costumes. Cherished here for over 300 years, tradition continues with adult actors training children for their annual performance.
Memories of a Bygone Era
If time allows, our journey would continue to a local museum that feels like a time capsule. Here, the “living memory” of Gifu is preserved in the form of arts objects, letters, and farming equipment from the Edo and Showa periods. It is a poignant, quiet space that allows you to feel the soul of rural Japan.
Living the Satoyama Life
As the autumn sun begins to dip, we arrive at your sanctuary for the next two nights—a meticulously maintained traditional Japanese home in Nakatsugawa, famous for its chestnuts and proximity to hot springs and charming medieval samurai era Magome on old #Nakasendo road. After a warm welcome and orientation from your “SuperHost”, you are free to unwind. Watch the light fade over the tea plantations or find a quiet corner in the house to read or admire the craftsmanship of the traditional woodwork.
The Evening Hearth
Dinner is more than a meal; it is a community celebration. Gather on the patio to learn the art of grilling Gohei-mochi—savory, nutty rice skewers—over an open flame. You might find yourself sharing a drink served by a local Shinto priest, who brings a unique warmth and perspective to the evening’s conversation. Inside, a feast of “mountain soul food” awaits. Savor crispy tempura made from the day's harvest and local specialties prepared with love by the community. Autumn is harvest season for persimmons and chestnuts, and they are exquisite in this part of Central Japan. As the crisp mountain air settles outside, retreat to the comfort of your traditional room, let the silence of the countryside lull you to sleep, and experience the profound rest that only rural Gifu can provide.
DAY 2: Ancient Trails & Heritage – The Heart of the Countryside
Autumnal Awakenings
Start your morning slowly with a leisurely breakfast and the scent of woodsmoke in the air. Whether you choose a quiet stroll around the guesthouse or a scenic drive through Ena, you’ll find yourself immersed in a landscape of koyo (autumn colours). The rice paddies stand bare after harvest under an endless indigo sky.
The Timeless Road
Step into a living museum at Magome-juku. As you walk the stone-paved Nakasendo Road, the scent of roasting chestnuts fills the air. This beautifully preserved village, framed by the fiery reds and oranges of autumn maples, offers the perfect opportunity to find that one-of-a-kind souvenir or enjoy a final cup of tea in a Edo-era tea house with wagashi sweets, oyaki steamed buns with a choice of fillings, or another local delicacy.
Along the way, we’ll follow the rhythm of the day—perhaps stopping to pay respects at a moss-covered forest shrine or visiting a local artisan shop tucked away in the foothills. Your guide will clearly communicate the meeting point at each stop so that everyone has time to enjoy yet things run on an agreed schedule.
Shrines & Seasonal Colours and Flavours
After a bespoke lunch—tailored to your preference for either a quick local bite or a formal multi-course feast—we visit a secluded Shinto shrine.Your guide will know where red momiji or yellow gingko leaves are particularly beautiful that week at shrine or temple precincts. Yet this isn't a tourist stop; it's a living spiritual site. Watching your hosts perform their daily rituals offers a profound look at the connection between the people of Gifu and the land they inhabit.
The Community Table Returns
Evening brings you back to the warmth of the guesthouse. Tonight, a new team of local residents takes over the kitchen to share a different selection of family recipes. With the “bartender-priest” returning to pour local sake and share stories by the fire, you aren't just visiting Gifu—you are being welcomed into its inner circle.
DAY 3: Choosing Your Own Adventure
After a slow breakfast and a final look at the mist rising over the tea fields, the choice of how to conclude your journey is yours. Whether you crave the high-altitude drama of a samurai fortress or the quiet castle ruins perched just off #Nakasendo, the final day is designed to be your highlight. Autumn colours will provide the perfect background for whichever route you take.
A Morning of Possibility
Choose between two of Japan’s most evocative castle sites. Naegi Castle was a marvel of architecture built directly into towering natural stones—now offering the most spectacular view in the region from high altitude. Alternatively, Iwamura Castle offers a poetic look at the samurai past, where you can explore a quaint town famous for its sake, carpentry, castella cake or sake-infused sweets, and local crafts.
Ghosts of the Samurai
Choose between two of Japan’s most evocative castle sites. Naegi Castle was a marvel of architecture built directly into towering natural stones—now offering the most spectacular view in the region from high altitude. Alternatively, Iwamura Castle offers a poetic look at the samurai past, where you can explore a quaint town famous for its sake, carpentry, castella cake or sake-infused sweets, and local crafts.
Why not deepen your connection to Gifu? Join us for a culinary workshop, where you’ll learn the secret of an autumn dish with the true taste of Gifu in the fall. Alternatively, enjoy a private tour of a sake brewery with a tasting. For the spiritually curious, a pilgrimage to a sacred shrine with a Shugendō priest provides a rare window into Japan’s mountain-worship traditions - especially when wearing his traditional mountain attire.
Seamless Farewells
We ensure your transition back to the modern world is as smooth as your stay. Your private driver will escort you directly to the station, where the Limited Express “Wide View” Shinano awaits to whisk you toward Nagoya or Nagano, with transfers available from Shinano limited express to Shinkansen superexpress to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. You’ll leave not just with photos of red momiji leaves, but with the quiet strength of the mountains of #DeepJapan in your soul.
TERMS&CONDITIONS
Tour Dates & Pricing Core Itinerary:
2-Night / 3-Day Tour staying at OMUSUBI Guesthouse Available Dates (2026):
October 25–27 | November 8–10 | November 13–15 | November 24–26
Booking Deadline: August 31, 2026
| Number of participants | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 5 participants | 340,000 |
| 4 participants | 410,000 |
| 3 participants | 490,000 |
| 2 participants | 680,000 |
| 1 participant | 1,340,000 |
The final price per guest is determined by the total number of confirmed participants, as outlined above. If the final group size differs from your initial booking, any overpayment will be refunded via bank transfer on Day 1. A smaller group size resulting from cancellations will not lead to a higher price for the remaining participants.
Payment schedule
To ensure the tour is prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail, a payment of 50% of the tour fee is required at the time of application, to be settled within one calendar week of the invoice date. This includes a non-refundable deposit of 100,000 JPY per person. The remaining 50% balance is due by Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Itinerary delivery
Once this initial payment is confirmed, your comprehensive, customised itinerary will be shared with you within two calendar weeks.
If you wish to book the entire tour exclusively for your party
For those who prefer an entirely intimate setting, this tour may be arranged for your exclusive use. A private arrangement is offered at a rate equivalent to four participants—a total of 1,640,000 JPY—with a non-refundable deposit of 500,000 JPY, due within 7 calendar days of the invoice date. Should a cancellation occur, this non-refundable deposit will be retained and applied toward any cancellation fees due.
Upon receipt of the non-refundable deposit, the tour will be closed to further bookings, and we will proceed with arrangements for a private group of up to four guests in total.
For guests who wish to book the entire tour exclusively for five or more guests, availability and pricing will be reviewed upon request. Early inquiries are warmly encouraged.
Cancellation policy
We offer highly customised experiences in rural Japan, involving individual arrangements with local hosts, experts, and artisans. As commitments to these partners are made immediately upon booking, the non-refundable deposit of 100,000 JPY is retained in all cases. Any advance payments beyond this non-refundable deposit will be applied toward the cancellation fees below, with any remaining balance refunded promptly. Optional experiences added to the core programme may be subject to distinct cancellation conditions.
Cancellation fees are on the following timeline (calculated in Japan Standard Time):
- Up to 31 days before the tour start date: non-refundable deposit only
- 30 to 8 days before the tour start date: 40% of total fee
- 7 to 5 days before the tour start date: 60% of total fee
- 4 to 3 days before the tour start date: 80% of total fee
- 2 days or fewer before the tour start date, or no-show: 100% of total fee
Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended and assumed to have been taken out by all participants. Absence of comprehensive travel insurance or under-insurance shall under no circumstances lead to liability for the organising company.
Force Majeure
In the rare event that the tour must be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control—including natural disasters, severe weather events, or other extraordinary occurrences recognised under Japanese law—all amounts paid will be returned to you in full. We will communicate any such situation with care and transparency, and where possible, explore alternative arrangements in your interest.
Children and family bookings
This tour is designed for adults. Children under 15 are welcome only when the tour is booked exclusively for your family. For any participating children, passport details and, where applicable, additional identification will be requested at an early stage, simply to ensure seamless arrangements and peace of mind for all involved.
Payment methods
All prices are quoted in Japanese Yen (JPY). Payments may be made by credit card or bank transfer (international or Japanese domestic). For bank transfers, associated banking charges are to be borne by the participant, ensuring the full amount in JPY is received in our account. Itinerary & delivery A detailed itinerary—including specific locations, venues, and timings—will be shared with all participants within two calendar weeks of formal confirmation that the initial deposit has been received. Until that time, the Itinerary Outline provided serves as the definitive reference for tour content, for all guests regardless of whether they book directly or via a travel concierge.
Inclusive of:
- two nights' accommodation at OMUSUBI Guesthouse
- simple self-service breakfasts and freshly prepared, elaborate dinners
- lunches and dinners as explicitly indicated in the itinerary outline (excluding beverages)
- an English-speaking guide or coordinator for up to 9 consecutive hours per day
- a private vehicle with a local driver for up to 8 consecutive hours per day
- all entrance fees, museum tickets, and participation fees as specified in the itinerary
Excluding:
- shinkansen or local express rail tickets to and from JR Ena or JR Nakatsugawa station
- travel and medical insurance
- meals or snacks not explicitly listed as included
- personal expenses such as souvenirs or incidentals
- luggage forwarding, storage fees, or porter's services
Changes and substitutions by the operator
Our journeys are individually curated and depend on the availability of specific local experts and master artisans. While we strive to operate the itinerary exactly as planned, unforeseen events such as a host’s sudden illness or unexpected venue closure may require adjustments. In these rare circumstances, we reserve the right to modify the itinerary or substitute a local expert with an alternative experience of equal standard and value. We will always communicate any changes transparently, ensuring the exceptional quality of your overall journey is fully maintained.
Luggage
As this is an authentic guesthouse experience rooted in local life rather than hotel-level service, guests are kindly asked to handle their own luggage at the guesthouse. The driver may assist on occasion, though this cannot be guaranteed. Up to two medium-to-large suitcases per person may be accommodated in the vehicle.
Weather
The rhythm of the programmeme is guided by local conditions, with thoughtful adjustments made as needed in response to weather reports and official guidance. In the event of heavy rain or thunderstorms, certain activities may need to be adapted or rescheduled.
Governing law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of Japan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below are the expanded details regarding our payment schedules, deadlines, and cancellation policies.
Q: When is the absolute last day I can book this tour?
A: The formal booking deadline for all autumn tour dates is August 31, 2026. Because these rural experiences require deep, advance coordination with local artisans and hosts, we cannot accept bookings after this date.
Q: How much do I need to pay upfront, and when is it due?
A:・Standard bookings: a payment of 50% of your total tour fee is required at the time of application and must be settled within one calendar week (7 days) of your invoice date. This includes a built-in, non-refundable deposit of 100,000 JPY per person.
・Private tour bookings: If you wish to book the entire tour exclusively for your party, a flat non-refundable deposit of 500,000 JPY is due within 7 calendar days of your invoice date.
Q: When is my final balance payment due?
A: The remaining 50% balance of your tour fee must be paid in full by Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Q: What happens to my price if our group size changes?
A:・If your group grows: your final price per guest drops as more participants join the tour. If you initially paid a higher rate and the group grows, any overpayment will be calculated and refunded directly to you via bank transfer on Day 1 of the tour.
・If someone in your group cancels: a smaller group size resulting from someone else's cancellation will never result in a higher price for the remaining participants.
Q: What is the exact cancellation fee schedule?
A: Because we instantly commit funds to our local rural partners upon booking, the 100,000 JPY per-person deposit is strictly non-refundable in all cases. Any additional funds you have paid beyond this deposit will be refunded or applied to cancellation fees based on the following timeline (calculated in Japan Standard Time):
- 31 or more days before the tour start date: charged the non-refundable deposit only.
- 30 to 8 days before the tour start date: charged 40% of the total tour fee.
- 7 to 5 days before the tour start date: charged 60% of the total tour fee.
- 4 to 3 days before the tour start date: charged 80% of the total tour fee.
- 2 days or fewer before the tour start date (or no-show): charged 100% of the total tour fee.
Please note: we highly recommend that all travellers purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering medical emergencies as well as cancellations.
To Book the Tour:
Option 1: Scan the QR code to complete the registration form.
Option 2: Email us at info@ruraljapan.co.jp regarding the ”Autumn Journey into #DeepJapan”.
Connect with RURAL JAPAN team
via WhatsApp / Telegram
Whatapp: +81 70 4325 2279
Telegram: +81 70 4325 2279
Produced by:
Produced by: Rural Japan Co.,Ltd
Gifu Prefecture travel agency registration no.: 398