This document provides an itinerary and photos for a small group tour of Japan titled "Japan's 'Alps, Ancient Roads & Beyond'" running from May 23rd to June 9th 2022. The tour highlights include visits to major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, rural areas showcasing traditional architecture like Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, natural areas in the Japanese Alps like Kamikochi, and famous sites like Matsumoto Castle and Fushimi Inari Shrine. The photos give a glimpse into the cultural, architectural, natural, and culinary experiences visitors can expect on the tour.

1. Welcome to Experience
Japan’s “Alps, Ancient
Roads & Beyond”Small
Group Tour
23rd May – 9th June 2022
Photos courtesy: Jan Hutton,
Margaret Armstrong.
All photos © Kiku Consulting 2021

2. Tokyo Sky Tree - 634 metres

3. Old home on the way to Yanaka Ginza..Tokyo

4. Beautiful Hamarikyu Gardens - Tokyo

5. Tokyo Tower
Well known
Tokyo
Landmark

6. Seafood Vendor – Ameyoko Markets -- Tokyo

7. Cleaners waiting to board the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station
On board the Shinkansen (Ordindary Class)

8. Shinkansens at Tokyo Station

9. Magome - 43rd Post Station on the Nakasendo Route between Kyoto and Tokyo

10. The beautiful Post Town of Magome

11. Tsumago –
42nd Post Station
on the
Nakasendo
Route between
Kyoto and
Tokyo

12. Tsumago Post Station

13. Tsumago Post Station

14. Tsumago Post Station

15. Narai – “The Town of 1000 houses”

16. Chozenji Temple & grounds - Narai

17. Interior of Chozenji Temple - Narai

18. Beautiful Origami
work – Little Paper
Shop in Matsumoto

19. Daio Wasabi Farm - Matsumoto

20. Matsumoto Castle

21. Marionette
Clock in the
Shape of a
Tenmari Ball
Matsumoto

22. Shibu Onsen – Japan Alps

23. Shibu Onsen – Japan Alps

24. Macaque Mother and Baby – Jigokudani “Hell Valley” Japan Alps

25. Macaque
Monkeys
Enjoying the
Hot Springs at
Jigokudani
“Hell Valley”
Japan Alps

26. Taisho Pond
Entranceway
to Kamikochi
Japan Alps

27. Kamikochi – Japan Alps

28. Commencement of walk around Taisho Pond at Kamikochi – Japan Alps

29. Azusa River – approach to Kappa Bridge - Kamikochi

30. Kamikochi

31. Kappa Bridge – Kamikochi – Japan Alps

32. Old streets of Takayama

33. Best Hamburgers in Japan – Centre 4 Takayama

34. This beautiful Ginkyo
Tree in Takayama is 1200
years old! It stands at a
height of 28 metres and 10
metres in Diameter.

35. Takayama “Kaikan” Float Museum

36. Takayama “Kaikan” Float Museum

37. Hida-no-Sato….Takayama

38. UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawa-go

39. “Gasho” House – UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawa-go

40. Paper making – UNESCO World Heritage Gokayama

41. Beautiful Kenrokuen Gardens - Kanazawa

42. Kenrokuen Gardens - Kanazawa

43. Working with Gold Leaf - Kanazawa

44. Cake with Gold Leaf - Kanazawa

45. The pine covered sand bar of Amanohashidate – it is ranked amongst Japan’s
three most scenic views

46. Chair lift to
Kasamatsu Park for
views over
Amanohashidate
Sandbar.

47. The traditional way to view Amanohashidate Sandbar is to turn your back towards the bay, bend
over and look at it from between your legs. The name Amanohashidate means “Bridge to Heaven”

48. History of INE – regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan

49. Traditional Funaya houses in the beautiful fishing village of INE

50. Close-up of traditional Funaya houses of INE

51. Traditional
Funaya
Houses of
INE

52. Fishing village of INE

53. Garden Bridge in the grounds of Heien Shrine…Kyoto

54. UNESCO World Heritage Kinkaku-ji “Golden Pavilion” - Kyoto

55. Famous Bamboo
Groves at
Arashiyama -
Kyoto

56. Kimono Show at Nishijin Textiles - Kyoto

57. KIBUNE – 45 minutes from Kyoto
Beautiful Kibune – located in the mountains outside Kyoto and famous for Kawadoko Dining

58. Guardian Fox
at Fushimi-
Inari - Kyoto

59. Part of the 4km
avenue of torii gates
called
“Senbon Torii”
(Thousands of Torii
Gates) at Fushimi
Inari
Kyoto.

60. Entertainment by Geiko & Maiko – Tomikiku Tea House - Kyoto

61. S A Y O N A R A