Included:
JMGA certified guide (2 days)
Route planning & safety management
Local transportation on Day 2 (taxi + ropeway)
Not Included:
Accommodation
Meals
Personal equipment
Travel insurance
Minimum Guests
2 Person
Activate Day
1 Nights/ 2 Days
Fully Inclusive
Touring with Guides and entrance fees
Included Meals
Breakfasts: 1 , Lunches: 0 , Dinners: 0
Activies
Entrance fees for all mentioned sights and attractions
Accommodation
1 nights in 4 star accommodation
Guide
English-speaking guide services as per the itineraryImportant Notes：
Ropeway operation may be affected by weather conditions
Itinerary may be modified or shortened for safety reasons
Participants must follow the guide’s instructions at all times
Participant Requirements：
Basic fitness required
No technical climbing skills needed
Suitable for beginners to intermediate hikers
Equipment：
Hiking shoes
Layered clothing
Rain gear
Small backpack
Water & snacks
Guide & Safety
Guided by a certified professional from the Japan Mountain Guides Association (JMGA)
Route planning, pace control, and safety management included
Flexible itinerary depending on weather, ropeway operation, and participant condition
Disclaimer：
Mountain activities involve inherent risks including but not limited to weather changes, falls, and natural hazards. By joining this tour, participants acknowledge these risks and agree to follow the guide’s instructions. The operator reserves the right to modify or cancel the itinerary for safety reasons.
Tour Timeline
If you need to increase or reduce the number of travellers, please contact us for customised arrangements.
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Wife's cage lodging → Horse cage lodging
Zhongshan Road was an important post road connecting Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period in Japan, with a total length of approximately 533 kilometers and 69 stations along the way. These homesteads are distributed in multiple modern cities, mainly located in the Kanto and central regions, covering the following prefectures and counties:
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Saitama Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
The best preserved representative accommodation and its city location
Marunosuke: located in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture
Wife Cage Residence: located in Minami Kiso cho, Nagano Prefecture (part of Kiso County)
Narai Inoue: located in Uematsu cho, Kiso gun, Nagano Prefecture
Okawa Inn: located in Okawa City, Saitama Prefecture
Kumagaya Inn: located in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture
Honjo Inn: located in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture
Karuizawa Inn: located in Karuizawa cho, Kitasaku gun, Nagano Prefecture
These homestays are now mostly tourist attractions, some of which have been designated as "important traditional building preservation areas", such as the wife cage homestay (first recognized in 1976) and the horse cage homestay
- None
- Own arrangement
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Central Alps Hiking（Qianqianfu → Yueshuiji → Muqiaoju Yue (round-trip)）
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Japanese: Tateyama Kurobe アルプンルート) is a mountain sightseeing road within the Central Mountain National Park in Japan, connecting Tateyama Station in Tateyama cho, Toyama Prefecture and Fanzawa Station in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture. It was opened on June 1, 1971. The total length of the route is about 37.2 kilometers, with a maximum height difference of 1975 meters. It requires transfer to transportation such as cable cars, plateau buses, and trams. It operates from mid April to mid November every year
- None
Accommodation
We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.
Tour Price
From AU$ 1,080 pp
Based on a private tour for 2 people including accommodation, local transportation and guided sightseeing/activities. Price may vary depending on the itinerary, travel date, number of travellers and selected hotel category.
Price includes：
Price Excludes:
- International flights
- The meals not mentioned in the trip plan
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance, and repatriation insurance
- Optional excursions, activities, and optional tours
- Reservations marked as "reserved by traveler" are reservations that the traveler is responsible for directly.These items are not reserved or supported by kimkim and are included in the trip plan just for completeness.
- Any charges due at the hotel include local city taxes
Clients Reviews
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We had an absolutely amazing trip!!! Every detail was meticulously planned by Ben. From our great drivers and guides to having the last seat of the bullet train reserved for our extra luggage. I never would have thought of doing that but it was a huge help since we bought a lot of souvenirs! Peter was our guide in Tokyo and Mt Fuji and he took the most beautiful photos of my daughter and I. It was so nice to be in the pictures instead of behind the camera and I am so thankful for those memories.We ate at several local restaurants that were fantastic and we were the only tourists there. I would never have found these places without my guides Peter and Takizawa.Peter and Takizawa went above and beyond my expectations as guides and Ben was so accommodating to my teenage daughters many requests and planned everything out so perfectly. The drivers were always on time and let me know their plate numbers and names on WhatsApp. They always offered to carry our luggage and were very polite. The cars were always clean and they drove safely. I was so happy that I didn't have to drive in that insane traffic!I could never have planned this on my own and I am so happy that I chose Three Bears Travel!
Miriam P.
May 02, 2026
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I worked with Ben for a number of months to personalize a very special trip to Japan. He could not have been more accommodating, and he answered every question in a timely manner. He made wonderful suggestions, and we weren’t disappointed anywhere along the line. We had three different guides, Ursula, Sorata, and Pitt - each lovely and knowledgeable. We enjoyed spending our days with them very much. Everything promised was delivered, and even more. Ben even arranged for a birthday cake for me - a delightful surprise. Our time in Japan was filled with wonderful memories, beautiful experiences, and gracious interactions. We can’t wait to come back!
Karen K.
May 02, 2026
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We had such a memorable time in Japan. Ben really understood what my family's interests were and chose fantastic locations and experiences for a first trip to Japan. Our guid in Tokyo, Yoko was very knowledgeable and efficient at zigzagging us all over the city.In Kyoto, Ursula was amazing and was able to sneak in a few extra stops to maximize the sakuras at their peak. She was also helpful in giving us some tips on where to go in Osaka.
Lauren M.
Apr 26, 2026
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THANK YOU for the trip – it was SO well planned, and clearly a LOT of thought went into it. We are so grateful, and we are now big Three Bears Travel fans! We travel a LOT, to all kinds of crazy places! It is unrealistic to travel across the world and expect things to NOT go wrong. What matters, and why we work with travel professionals like you, is to have support and back up when things DO go wrong – THAT is what matters! Three Bears Travel seamlessly fixed an issue on our travels, and they are THE BEST, and you can travel worry-free! Our planner Ben was remarkable - attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, and our guides Roy, H and Piter were exceptional. 10/10, DO recommend! Thank you, team Three Bears Travel, for an amazing experience and incredible 'whatever it takes' service!
John F.
Apr 23, 2026
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My wife and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this July and I knew early on that a family of four trip to experience Japan for the first time together would be a once in a lifetime event. I knew well enough that I would not be able to plan and execute such an important trip myself so I feel so grateful that I stumbled upon Three Bears Travel and hit the ground running. Ben was my wonderful trip planner and from the first interaction, he was so extremely helpful and patient with my 1,000s of questions and itinerary changes. I wanted this Japan trip to be something that would be relatively stress free for me and my wife but also contain a variety of activities and experiences that our entire family would enjoy. Working with Ben to plan the entire trip was such a breeze. I felt completely at ease and comfortable with Ben's recommendations and suggestions. Every part of the trip was designed and planned wonderfully. From the meticulous selection of amazing hotels across the spectrum of Japanese styles (ryokan, onsens, apartment-style, mountain resorts) to all the fun hands-on activities for adults and kids alike (sushi-making, samurai museums, sumo shows, etc), this was a trip that none of us will ever forget. And I would be remiss without mentioning our incredible tour guides, Peter and Ursula. Peter was so on task and schedule with us during our Tokyo days and he was so patient and gracious with our children throughout the tours. I can't count how many times he and I would be carrying my napping daughter still in her stroller up and down various train station steps over multiple stations and transfers. He never failed to take care of our every need in this unfamiliar place. We had zero stress with Peter around that allowed us to soak up the joy of the experience 100%. Ursula was our amazing tour guide (and pseudo member of the family) in Kyoto/Osaka. Our family hit it off with Ursula right from the get go and she was always so flexible with our minor changes in scheduling and events as we did our best to adapt to our children's energy levels and attention spans. The extremely hot weather in Japan also put added pressure on everyone but both Ursula and Peter were always ready to lend a hand and make sure we all stayed healthy and happy throughout. This trip was planned as perfectly as I could have imagined and I owe Ben/Peter/Ursula/Kimkim a huge thank you on behalf of my entire family. The next time we want to take another adventurous trip, I would not hesitate for one second to work with Three Bears Travel again. I also highly recommend to anyone who wants to plan a milestone trip like ours without the hassle and stress. Thank you again Three Bears Travel team! Until we meet again!
Eric, Wanee, Easton, and Esther
Mar 10, 2026
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Everything went off just as planned, and we were all pleased. Our guides were all great and went out of their way to see that we saw more, especially when they found out that we were not interested in the more highly crowded places. They patiently answered our questions and saw to our needs. Ben, our specialist, could not have been more attentive to our frequent questions and concerns. He was able to change events based on our interests even as the date of our departure approached. The only thing I would have changed is deleted some of the more crowd-impacted locales such as Nikko and put in more off the beaten path trips like our monastery stay in Minobu and the marvelous animated Festival Float museum in Takayama that our guide added in when he picked up on our interest. We learned and enjoyed much more in the less crowded venues, but this is Japan where it is truly hard to avoid the hoards of tourists. Overall, it was a wonderful trip. This is the second time Ben has helped us with a trip, and I will certainly turn to him again for any future trips.
Susan
Mar 05, 2026
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Both of our guides were good. One we were with shortly and was a more focused day of getting to many places. He did a good job of coming up with some additional day of options and a great lunch rec. Young we had for 4 days and we really liked her. She was a bit soft spoken /quiet but very nice and knowledgeable and we found if we asked lots of questions we got lots of history and current info about not only the places she took us but also modern Japan life. Really enhanced our trip to learn about the history, shrines and temples. Getting around by train /bus was great for us and she had to work harder than if we had driver to navigate public transport for sure. Hotels were all nice. It was great. The only note is to warn guides we will want lots of restaurant recs (as where we’ll be is not always areas they’ve eaten. We had good luck using tablelog and AI ) and the food at the Hakone onsen was not very good. But we went out for great meals nearby.
Debbie J.
Mar 01, 2026
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We just returned from our anniversary trip to Japan, and I can say with complete confidence that booking through KimKim was one of the best travel decisions we’ve ever made. In fact, this is our third trip using KimKim. From the very first planning email to the final farewell in Osaka, the entire experience was seamless, personal, and unforgettable.Ben, our travel specialist, was phenomenal. He helped us build the perfect itinerary—listening to everything we wanted, adding thoughtful suggestions, and tweaking the schedule along the way to fit our style. Thanks to him, our trip struck the perfect balance of culture, food, adventure, relaxation, and those “wow” moments we’ll be talking about for years.And then there were our guides: Peter and Ursula.These two were an absolute gift to our journey.Peter, our Tokyo & Hakone guide, made navigating Japan’s transportation system feel effortless. He taught us subway skills worthy of a Mario Bros. level-up, showed us how to experience Shibuya Crossing like locals, and gave us incredible historical context at temples and shrines. He even congratulated me on my sumo match at the lunch show (yes… I stepped into the ring and no, my training was not focused enough 😂).Ursula, our guide through Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, was equally fantastic. From sake tastings in Fushimi to zen moments at the Golden Pavilion, she blended humor, storytelling, and deep cultural knowledge in a way that made every day feel like traveling with a friend. She helped us navigate the language barrier, made sure we didn’t get lost on trains, and offered endless tips to help us blend in better than we probably deserved. Both guides were great to pack in as much adventure each day while still leaving us with free time to roam and explore on our own.Every single day was packed with memorable highlights, many of which KimKim helped coordinate:✨ Sushi-making with a 4th-generation master (we are now “certified” Nigiri makers and have enough footage for a full-length documentary).✨ A tea ceremony and learning to whisk our own matcha at a university.✨ Visiting a capybara at a café—one of Emily’s bucket list items.✨ Riding the bullet train to Kyoto with snacks in hand and Mt. Fuji peeking through the clouds.✨ Walking through Arashiyama’s bamboo forest and a rickshaw ride through its historic streets.✨ A full cultural immersion day in Fushimi Inari, weaving through the famous vermilion torii gates.✨ A relaxing soak and stay in Hakone with incredible views of Mt. Fuji.✨ Exploring Osaka Castle and ending our trip at the Umeda Sky Building with panoramic nighttime views.And beyond the excursions, the guides helped us handle everything—from ordering meals to using the Suica card. They answered every question, solved every hiccup, and made us feel completely supported the entire way.KimKim didn’t just plan a trip—they helped create a collection of memories that feel like a chapter from our own personal, globe-trotting storybook.If you’re considering a trip to Japan—especially if it’s a special occasion—book with KimKim. Ask for Ben, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get Peter and Ursula too. They helped make our anniversary adventure everything we dreamed of…and then some.Arigatou gozaimasu, KimKim team.We’re already thinking about following the green light to our next chapter.—Ray & Emily
Ray & Emily
Feb 22, 2026
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We wanted a customised trip instead of a standard tour group, and Three Bears Travel delivered exactly that. Norman took the time to understand what we liked and built an itinerary around food, shopping, and local experiences. It felt personal and flexible, not like a cookie cutter package.
Tom Harris
Feb 01, 2026
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A huge thank you to Louise and Three Bear Travel for crafting such a fantastic Japan itinerary! Every moment was well thought out - whether it was the serene temples of Kyoto, the bustling streets of Tokyo, or the delicious food tours. The guides were knowledgeable, and the accommodations were excellent. We couldn’t have asked for a better travel experience!
Emily Carter
Feb 01, 2026
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