Japan
Cities & Alps
From the major cities to the mountains, local connections, soaking in onsens, private tours with artisans, bullet train rides, and multi-course traditional meals, you won’t want to miss this.
Experience Japan like you never thought possible.
Dates: October 11-21, 2024
Included in the trip:
In-country transportation to all hosted destinations + airport transfer
All group activities, classes, & admission fees
Lodging for the duration of the trip (double-occupancy)
Most meals, as laid out in the itinerary
Local guiding, connections, and expertise
Group photographer & post-trip gallery, allowing you to live in the moment
A balance of city and nature experiences
Built-in, unplanned time for rest and solo adventuring
TOTAL TRIP COST: $5600
*This trip is physically active. Each day, travelers may walk up to 8 miles for group activities. In the Alps, travelers will be expected to hike about 10 miles total, with about 2500 feet of elevation gain, split into two days on rocky, sometimes slippery, flat, uphill, and downhill natural terrain. Travelers will need to pack appropriate shoes, layers, and gear to stay dry, warm, and safe.
Our Itinerary
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Meet your guides, the group, and enjoy dinner together before getting settled in at the hotel.
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Today we’ll explore our own neighborhood, a local fave, with vintage and vinyl shops, high quality lattes, and more. Here, you’ll find those amazing one-of-a-kind souvenirs you can’t wait to take home. Afterwards we will visit the working studio of a renowned artist. Spend the evening exploring on your own or with your new friends.
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From our local neighborhood, we’ll head out to get hands on and learn how to make sushi from a local chef in her home studio. Keep the creative energy going as we get up close and personal with kintsugi by making our own! After a day of exciting adventures, you'll have the option to enjoy some solo time before reconvening with your new travel companions for a delicious final dinner in the bustling Shinjuku district — where the salarymen go for shmoozing — followed by a lively and fun night of karaoke, a rite-of-passage for anyone who visits Tokyo. Don’t stay up too late though! Day 3 is an early start.
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Grab a bento box and hop onto the bullet train for a trip into the mountains! Wander a small town with a castle built in the 1500s, then head up to our ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) for the evening. Spend the evening dining with the group.
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Make our way into Chubu Sangaku National Park, our entrance point into the Northern Japanese Alps. Take a short hike into the mountains and stay at a family owned lodge that has been passed down for generations. Enjoy an intimate dinner with the group.
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Head up the mountain for a day-hike, and take in the glory of being surrounded by snowy peaks at the top of a magnificent valley. Stay in a traditional Japanese mountain hut for the night, most commonly used by mountaineers, backpackers passing through. Dine with the group for dinner.
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Return to the lodge in the valley to relax, soak our achy muscles, and feast like family.
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Today begins with taking a train ride South to Kyoto. Upon arrival, we will check-in to our boutique hotel, where you can relax and unwind or do a little solo exploration of the city's famous shrines, temples, and historic architecture.
Later in the evening, we’ve arranged a special surprise guest performer to join us for dinner. You will have the opportunity to connect with them as they provide an unforgettable experience.
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Take in historic Kyoto through its temples, shrines and gardens, with a private, guided tour. Learn the history of how buddhism and shintoism shape current day Japan, get crafty with a guided art lesson, and taste a specialty cuisine. Take some time to explore on your own in the evening and dine in one of Kyoto’s many incredible restaurants.
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Savor our last day in Kyoto as we visit a monastery of tea with a historic private tea ceremony, and connect with a gold leaf artisan. Share a bittersweet final dinner as a group, reflecting on an incredible 10 days.
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Say your goodbyes to the group before we depart the hotel. Airport transfer included.
What our Travelers are Saying
Frequently Asked
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Adults over the age of 21 are welcome on MBTC trips. We invite all conscious travelers to join us. We center women solo travelers, and do our best to seek out women artisans, guides and history. We also provide physically active experiences, but we don’t do “adventure travel.” You’ll walk several miles through cities, and hike on uneven terrain in various weather conditions. If you’re ready to take on the challenge with our support (and snacks!) you’re ready to join us. By signing up, travelers are consenting to, and assuming their own risk to navigate these experiences.
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All travelers are responsible for their own documentation, and entry requirements for each destination. COVID-19 and destination-mandated vaccinations are required for every traveler.
All travelers must also purchase and provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance.
Finally, you can expect a trip packet approximately 30 days prior to the trip. Please read through thoroughly for important information, what to pack, and customary cultural information.
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We aim to build connections on our group trips with travelers of shared values. That’s why we screen for conscious travelers, those who want to explore with empathy and openness. That means:
You are a responsible visitor. You respect the history, the locals and the experience of our fellow travelers. You accept cultural differences with grace and gratitude.
You embrace new experiences. You show up ready to explore, try new food, and attempt a phrase or two in a new language. You are ready for the unexpected.
You’re a conscious traveler if you want to learn about the political scene from the locals while you taste a foreign flavor.
You’re a conscious traveler if you want to reduce your single use plastics while you push yourself to make it to the summit.
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MBT is committed to:
Working with local businesses, from our tour guides to accommodations and activities.
We challenge our travelers to create less waste, and conserve resources in hotels, and through responsible souvenirs.
We educate our travelers about nature and local ecosystems, and inspire them to respect and protect the world’s natural beauties.
We utilize public transportation or walking when possible to lower our group transportation emissions.
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For group trips, a cancellation occurring up to 45 days before the trip start date may be partially refundable. The $1000 booking deposit is non-refundable. If a cancellation occurs within 45 days of the trip start date, payments will not be returned. See our terms for more details.
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Our trips inspire women to connect with themselves, each other and the world around us. We bring together a keen attention to the practical details with special moments for indulgence, so you can enjoy the present. We create connections to people and places you’d otherwise never meet. And most of all, we’re here so you can embrace each new experience and live more boldly.
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Travelers flying solo will be matched up with another traveler as their roommate for the trip. Each country’s customs vary, but we generally plan for 2 to a room, with minor exceptions. We work to put like-minded folks together, and will be there for you every step of the way if something comes up.
For those who want a single supplement, please reach out for pricing and availability.
