Tailor-made Vacation · Japan
Undiscovered Japan Tour – Shirakawa-go, Tottori & Noto
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At a glance
Most first trips to Japan follow the Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka route. This one deliberately goes elsewhere.
Over ten days, you travel through western and central Japan, beginning and ending in Osaka but spending most of the trip in smaller cities, mountain towns and coastal regions. Kanazawa introduces you to samurai history and local craft before the route continues through the Noto Peninsula and into Shirakawa-go, where steep-roofed gassho-zukuri farmhouses sit among the mountains.
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Takayama gives you another side of rural Japan, with preserved streets and local sake breweries, before the trip heads west to Tottori. Here, the landscape changes completely. The Tottori Sand Dunes run along the Sea of Japan, while the nearby Uradome Coast can be explored from the water.
From there, continue to Matsue and Izumo, including one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, before reaching Kurashiki and its historic canal district. Himeji provides the final major stop, with time to visit its UNESCO-listed castle before returning to Osaka.
The accommodation is part of the experience too. Several nights can be spent in ryokans, where dinner, bathing and the room itself give you a much closer introduction to traditional Japanese hospitality than a conventional city hotel.
This itinerary works particularly well if you have already seen Japan’s headline cities, or if your priority is to get beyond them from the outset. It covers a lot of ground, but the reward is a much broader view of the country than the classic first-time route.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Day 1: Arrive in Osaka
Arrive in Osaka, where a private transfer will take you from the airport to your hotel.
Keep the first evening easy. Dotonbori is a good introduction to the city, particularly if you want to start with food rather than sightseeing. Try takoyaki or okonomiyaki, walk along the canal and get your first look at Osaka after dark before returning to the hotel.
Day 2: Kanazawa – Art, Gardens, and Craftsmanship
Travel north to Kanazawa, a city that became wealthy under the powerful Maeda clan and remains particularly well known for its gardens and traditional crafts.
Visit Kenroku-en before exploring the Nagamachi Samurai District, where earthen walls and former samurai residences survive close to the center of the city. Later, take part in a private gold-leaf workshop. Kanazawa produces the overwhelming majority of Japan’s gold leaf.
Stay overnight in Kanazawa.
Day 3: Noto Peninsula – Untouched Coastal Beauty
Leave Kanazawa for the Noto Peninsula, where the route turns toward the Sea of Japan.
Spend the day around Wajima, historically one of the peninsula’s main centers for lacquerware production. Meet a local craftsperson and learn how Wajima-nuri lacquerware is made, a process involving numerous stages and specialist skills.
Tonight, stay at a ryokan on the peninsula. Dinner is kaiseki-style, with seafood playing a major role in a region surrounded by the sea.
Day 4: Shirakawa-go – Mountain Village Charm
Travel inland to Shirakawa-go, the mountain village famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Their steep thatched roofs were developed to cope with the heavy snowfall of this part of Japan, and some of the houses are several hundred years old.
Rather than rushing through for a photograph, spend time walking through the village and understanding how these homes were built and used.
Continue to Takayama for the night and check into a ryokan, where you can use the onsen before dinner.
Day 5: Takayama – Sake and Tradition
Discover Takayama’s old town, known for its beautifully preserved Edo-period streets.
Visit local sake breweries for tastings and learn about the art of brewing. Enjoy a farm-to-table dinner featuring Hida beef, a regional specialty. Relax in your ryokan’s hot spring baths before a peaceful night’s rest.
Day 6: Tottori – Sand Dunes and Coastal Adventure
Today brings one of the biggest changes of scenery on the trip.
The Tottori Sand Dunes extend along the Sea of Japan and rise dramatically immediately behind the coast. Walk across them, or try sandboarding if you want something more active.
Then continue to the Uradome Coast, where cliffs and small islands line the shoreline. Depending on conditions, explore by kayak or boat before spending the night in Tottori.
Day 7: Matsue and Izumo – Spiritual Heritage
Travel to Matsue, the “City of Water,” and visit Matsue Castle, one of Japan’s few remaining original castles.
Continue to Izumo Taisha, one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, steeped in mythology. Enjoy a guided experience to learn about ancient rituals and traditions.
Stay in a boutique hotel near Lake Shinji.
Day 8: Kurashiki – The Canals of Old Japan
Journey to Kurashiki, a charming town known for its preserved Edo-period canal district. Explore its art museums and quaint streets lined with traditional shops and cafes. Take a leisurely boat ride along the canals and enjoy dinner in a historic townhouse.
Day 9: Himeji – Japan’s Most Iconic Castle
Continue east to Himeji for one of the great surviving landmarks of feudal Japan.
Himeji Castle is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s best-preserved original castles. Rather than simply viewing it from outside, go through the defensive gates and into the wooden keep, where steep staircases lead through the castle’s successive floors.
Afterward, visit neighboring Koko-en Garden before continuing to Osaka for the final night of the trip.
Day 10: Farewell from Osaka
Spend your last morning exploring Osaka at your own pace, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or visiting the impressive Osaka Castle.
A private transfer takes you to Kansai International Airport for your departure, concluding your journey through Hidden Japan.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
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