March 22nd - April 2nd 2027

Japan in Blossom

TO BOOK: Contact Intrepid at TailormadeUK@intrepidtravel.com / 0330 808 7326.

If you phone please ask for the Tailor Made team. Intrepid booking agents work Monday-Friday during business hours and are based in the United Kingdom.

Join a small group of like-minded Sole Sisters (solo women travelers aged 45+) on this life-changing adventure.

Join your Sole Sisters on a journey through Japan during the peak of blossom season on an adventure that blends ancient tradition with modern wonder.

Ramble the samurai streets of historic Hagi and cycle through blooming rural villages and landscapes.

Step into timeless Kyoto, where golden temples, crimson torii gates, and geisha-lined lanes await.

From the peaceful gardens and hot springs of Hakone to the poignant beauty of Hiroshima, the charm of Miyajima Island, and Tokyo’s bustling food scene, every stop on this once in a lifetime adventure offers a glimpse into Japan’s soul.

You'll plan for your adventure with the support of your Sole Sisters in a dedicated trip WhatsApp group.

Prices for this adventure are as follows:

GBP: £4,340
EUR: €5,060
CAD: $8,020
USD: $5,800

Prices are based on a twin shared room. The following is the additional charge for a single supplement room.
 
GBP: £395
EUR: €445
CAD: $670
USD: $500

Deposit due at booking time.

GBP: £200
EUR: €400
CAD: $400
USD: $400

Full payment is due 70 days before departure - January 11, 2027.

Flights and transport to starting point and home again are are not included.

TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1 - Tokyo (March 22nd)

Arrive in Tokyo, meet your Sole Sisters and local guide.

Included:

Welcome dinner

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel showcasing local character whenever possible.

Hotel is Ichi Hotel Shin Okachimachi or similar.

DAY 2 - Hakone (March 23rd)

This morning, we will travel to Hakone, a scenic hot spring town nestled in the foothills of Mt. Fuji.

You will have free time to explore as you wish, perhaps visiting the iconic Red Torii Gate rising from the waters of Lake Ashi, or wander the tranquil paths of Hakone Shrine, or immerse yourself in art and nature at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, where modern sculptures blend beautifully with mountain views.

Of course, you could also do what Hakone is most famous for—soak and unwind in one of its many onsens.

In the evening, seek out a cozy local restaurant and sample Kuro-tamago—the region’s famous black eggs, boiled in the volcanic hot springs of Owakudani—best enjoyed with a refreshing local beer.

Included:

Hakone – Onsen experience

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Hotel is Wisterian Life Club Forest of Verde or similar.

Day 3 - Hakone (March 24th)

This morning, we'll hop on a boat across Lake Ashinoko, then ride the Hakone Ropeway cable car to the top of a mountain.

Enjoy spectacular views, and maybe even catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji in the distance.

Your afternoon is free to continue exploring Hakone’. You might visit the bubbling sulphur springs of Owakudani or the serene Hakone Jinja Shrine. Or perhaps take a walk through the rolling hills of the Sengokuhara grasslands, a rare and beautiful ecosystem.

Art lovers will enjoy the collections at the Hakone Open-Air Museum and the Pola Museum of Art— featuring works by Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Gallé.

Included:

Hakone Cable car ride
Lake Ashinoko boat cruise

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Wisterian Life Club Forest of Verde or similar.

Day 4 -Takayama (March 27th)

Today we'll ride a local train, then board a shinkansen bound for Takayama — a charming Edo-period town nestled in the Japanese Alps, known for its traditional inns, sake breweries, and the Hida Folk Village.

Your first stop is the Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum where traditional thatched-roof farm houses have been relocated to preserve Japan’s rural heritage.

Here, you’ll discover the ingenious techniques used to build homes that could endure harsh alpine winters and months of isolation when snow closed the roads.

Each house serves as its own small museum, filled with everyday objects and tools that tell the story of mountain life in centuries past.

Included:

Hida Folk Village visit

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Hotel Wing International Hida Takayama or similar.

Day 5 - Takayama (March 26th)

We will start the day by visiting the lively markets of Gifu Prefecture, held for over 600 years and famous for their high-altitude vegetables.

Look out for regional specialties like leaf-wrapped miso, pickled vegetables, Genkotsu ame (soybean candy), preserved fish, spices, and the marshmallow-like treat owara tamaten.

Our local guide will point out local favourites and offer tasting suggestions as you wander through the market.

Next, we'll stop by a local sake brewery to sample the region’s renowned brew, made with pure mountain water.

Then we'll continue to Zenkoji Temple, where we’ll learn to make incense.

The afternoon is free to explore the town at your own pace.

Included:

Breakfast

Market visit
Sake brewery tasting
Incense making in Zenkoji Temple

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Hotel Wing International Hida Takayama or similar.

Day 6 - Hiroshima (March 27)

Today we will travel by express train and shinkansen to Hiroshima.

While in town we'll visit the Hiroshima Peace Park and the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and Peace Memorial Museum - both of which stand as powerful reminders of the day in August 1945 when Hiroshima became the site of the world’s first wartime atomic bombing.

Located just metres from the blast’s epicentre, the dome’s preserved structure remains an enduring symbol of peace.

The surrounding memorial park is home to museums, monuments, and tributes dedicated to the victims and to the hope for a nuclear-free world. This evening, join your leader for dinner and try one of Hiroshima’s signature dishes — okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake layered with egg, cabbage, noodles, and your choice of meat or seafood.

Included:

Visit Peace Park & A-Bomb Dome
Visit Peace Museum

Breakfast
Okonomiyaki Dinner

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Hotel Mystays Hiroshima Peace Park or similar.

Day 7 - Hiroshima (March 26th)

Today, we’ll travel to the nearby island of Miyajima, famous for its iconic floating torii gate rising from the sea.

Well enjoy a Ramble on this peaceful island with some Sole Sisters choosing to hike to the top of Mt. Misen while others take the cable car for breathtaking 360-degree views of the Inland Sea.

Later, we'll return to Hiroshima, where the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.

You might visit the striking Hiroshima Castle, originally built in the 1590s or unwind at Shukkeien Garden, a tranquil oasis of ponds, teahouses, and waterfalls.

Included:

Visit Miyajima Island

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Hotel Mystays Hiroshima Peace Park or similar

Day 8 - Hagi (March 29th)

This morning we travel to Hagi which is a coastal city known for its spring cherry blossoms and forested slopes of Mt Shizuki.

Together we'll discover the Hagi Castle Ruins. Then, join a walking tour around the Samurai District.

You can Ramble through samurai and merchant on the roads where the feudal lord’s processions passed.

In the evening we'll meet our homestay family, enjoy a home-cooked meal and sleep on traditional futons gaining a rare inisght into rural life in Japan.

Included:

Dinner - home cooked homestay meal

Hagi Castle and Samurai district walking tour

Accommodation in homestay.

Day 9 - Hagi (March 30th)

We will start our day by enjoying local life in Hagi with our homestay host. We can Ramble in their garden, visit a neighborhood market, or simply stroll the nearby streets.

In the afternoon, we'll enjoy a cycling tour through Hagi’s countryside and along its scenic coastline. We will stop at a local sake brewery to meet one of Japan’s few female brewers — a trailblazer who’s carrying on her family’s craft and breaking long-held traditions.

Then we'll pedal through rice fields and coastal paths, soaking up the quiet beauty of rural Japan.

Included:

Countryside cycling tour
Female sake brewer visit
Homestay local experiences

The cycling tour will be about 3 hours including stops. If you are hesitant about cycling, you may choose an electric bike.

Accommodation is homestay.

Day 10 - Kyoto (March 31st)

Today we will travel to Kyoto — the Capital of Tranquility and Peace.

This elegant city was the heart of Japan’s imperial culture for over a thousand years, and today it’s home to over 2,000 temples, shrines, and gardens.

In the evening our guide will take us on a sunset walk through the atmospheric Gion District, where you might spot a Geisha or Maiko gracefully making their way to an evening appointment.

Later, we'll find cozy local restaurant and enjoy Kyoto’s celebrated cuisine — perhaps delicate sushi or melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef.

Included:

Breakfast

Gion District walk

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Accommodation comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Toji or similar.

Day 11 - Kyoto (April 1st)

We'll begin our day at Kyoto’s famous Kinkakuji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion that shimmers above its tranquil pond.

Then, we'll make our way to Fushimi Inari to Ramble beneath its endless red torii gates — or, if we're feeling energetic, hike to the top for sweeping city views.

The afternoon is yours to explore — maybe wander Kyoto’s charming streets, relax in a quiet garden, or pick up a few last souvenirs.

In the evening, we'll gather for a farewell dinner.

Included:

Farewell Dinner

Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Visit Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Comfortable accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, featuring private amenities and showcasing local character whenever possible.

Accommodation at Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Toji or similar.

Day 11 - Kyoto (April 2st)

There are no activities planned for the day and you’re free to depart the hotel at any time before check out. 

Start & Finish

Start in Tokyo and finish in Kyoto.

12 days & 11 nights

Includes 9 nights of hotel accommodation in a private twin shared room and 2 homestays. Single room supplements are available.

Meals included are 4 breakfasts and 5 dinners.

Included transportation in the destination includes boat, public bus, cable car, ferry, metro and bullet train.


Small Group of Women 45+

Travel with your Sole Sisters (solo (Ish women 45+), a knowledgeable local guide, and a Sole Sister Ramblers host.

Enjoy an intimately sized group - minimum of 9 and maximum 15 travelers (+ local guide & SSR host).

Get to know each other and prepare for the trip in a dedicated trip WhatsApp Group.

Locally Led

Benefit from a knowledgeable local guide who will add a deeper layer to your discoveries.

The local guide will be available throughout the trip, alerting you about the hard-to-find spots, recommending restaurants, and suggesting other unique local experiences, as well as helping you troubleshoot any problems that may arise.

Safety

Intrepid trips adhere to comprehensive health and safety policies and the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols for tour operators.

Additionally, our local guides undergo health and safety training and have access to 24/7 support in case of an emergency.

EXCLUSIONS

International flights, required visas, services not mentioned in the itinerary, late check outs, meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, tips for guide, personal insurance, personal expenditures and optional activities,

Testimonials - Sole Sister Travel adventures

What a wonderful experience this trip was. I was pleased that everyone was encouraged to go at their own pace and stop at will.

That gave me a chance to socialize when I felt like it or to just walk on my own, admiring the scenery, being present and doing some soul searching. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do something different and uplifting.

Jennifer 🇬🇧

I didn't know what to expect on this journey. I had never considered doing something like this before I joined Sole Sisters.

However, this group made me feel safe stepping outside of my comfort zone. This pilgrimage exceeded all of my expectations as it relates to my trail-mates, lodging, food and our beloved guide.

This trip taught me to be brave enough to push my boundaries and explore big world out there waiting to be explored with my Sole Sisters!

Carolyn 🇺🇸

This was an excellent goal for me immediately post retirement. The training kept me focused & fit and perhaps more importantly it’s confirmed I could do even more physically challenging activities than I thought I could.

Sylvia 🇨🇦

FAQs

Rambler Question:

"I was wondering if most women take this trip solo as part of the organized trip or if they tend to travel in groups of friends. I'm just curious about the group dynamics!"

Answer:

Our trips are specifically designed for solo (ish) travelers, and most women who sign up do not know anyone else on the adventure before they arrive.

To help build connections, we host a pre-trip WhatsApp group. In this group we will facilitate introductions, arrange travel plans, and discuss training and preparation.

Intrepid travel experiences offer a chance to explore beyond the typical attractions, allowing you to discover hidden gems you might otherwise overlook.

Your local guide will recommend the best restaurants and sights on this adventure.

It's also comforting to know that all trip participants will be like-minded women close to your age. This commonality means you will likely share many interests and may form lasting friendships.

It's also wonderful to know you can stay in touch after your adventure through the Sole Sister Rambler community.

Intrepid and their local guides collaborate with local restaurants and hotels to ensure that travelers enjoy delicious meals showcasing regional cuisines.

Not all meals are included in the trip price, providing maximum flexibility in choosing where, what, and with whom to eat. This arrangement also allows for various budgeting options.

Most nights, the group will dine at a restaurant the guide recommends.

Vegetarians and vegans may encounter limited menu options in Galicia, particularly outside of the major cities. Typically, the available choices consist of basic items such as salads, rice, soups, bread, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and eggs.

Your local guide will be on hand to assist you in finding menu items that meet your dietary restrictions. However, there may be times when individuals with specific dietary needs will need to shop for their own food in local markets.

Vegans and those following a gluten-free diet will need to supplement their meals with items from local markets. Supermarkets and local markets are generally accessible most days.

Please inform the booking agent of any dietary restrictions or food allergies before your departure.

Rambler question:

"Are we stopping for lunch, or will we find snacks along the way? Do we need to pack our own food, or does that change from day to day?"

Answer:

There are many trailside cafés along this Camino route, so you will rarely be far from a place offering specialty coffees, fresh juices, local dishes, and snacks.

Each day, our local guide will recommend a lovely lunch spot for the group, featuring tried-and-true cafés.

Of course, Ramblers are free to explore their own options, and there are plenty to choose from!

You'll find numerous bakeries, snack bars, local food vendors, and farm stands, making it easy to grab a bite on the go. Therefore, you do not need to pack snacks or extra water unless you have a specialized diet.

We'll start our journey in Tokyo and end in Kyoto.

You will be accompanied by a local Intrepid tour leader and a Sole Sister Ramblers host.

The local tour leader’s role is to ensure a hassle-free adventure while introducing you to excellent restaurants, sharing insights about the local culture, and acting as a translator when needed. This guide is also responsible for your safety and will serve as an experienced liaison if you encounter any problems.

Intrepid local leaders do more than just show you the destination; they help you connect with the soul of the place. You can expect them to have a broad understanding of the locations visited, including their historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects.

The Sole Sister host promote a welcoming reminding us that . . . everywhere is within Rambling distance with Sole Sisters."

Accommodations are two twin beds with double occupancy in local guest houses and small local hotels.

Ramblers can also purchase a single occupancy add-on. If you pay for a single occupancy, you will have a single room throughout.

All rooms will have en-suite bathrooms and all essential amenities.

There are no arrival or departure transfers for this adventure. The group will meet in Tokyo, Japan on the day the trip begins.

Tokyo has two main international airports: Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT). Haneda is closer to the city center, making it the more convenient option for quick access to central Tokyo. Narita is farther out but well connected by express trains and buses.

You can ask Intrepid to help you plan travel and chat about options in the dedicated trip WhatsApp Group.

When you book, Intrepid will ask for a deposit and the final balance will be due 90 days before departure.

You will have access to a personal Intrepid portal, which you can log in to and pay money off when you feel like it before the final balance is due.

Intrepid will send a payment link, but if you prefer to pay directly to them via an in-person agent, you can choose to do that instead.

Intrepid Travel is focused on balancing purpose with profit. In 2018, they formalized this commitment by becoming a certified B Corporation.

Certified B Corporations prioritize their employees, strive for a more inclusive supply chain, and elevate corporate social responsibility. This certification signifies their dedication to creating benefits for everyone.

Intrepid's official pledge is to utilize travel as a force for good in the world.

The following is not included in the price: international flights, required visas, services not mentioned in the itinerary, late check-out at hotels, meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, drinks with included lunches and dinners, tips for leaders, guide and driver, expenditure of personal nature, personal insurance and optional activities.

To travel internationally, you will need a valid passport. Most countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months, so be sure to check its expiry date before your trip.

Intrepid will need your passport information to prepare for your journey, so the details on your booking must match your passport exactly. Please ensure that you provide accurate information.

We also recommend that you carry a copy of the photo page of your passport while traveling and leave an additional copy at home with family or friends.

You are responsible for checking and addressing visa requirements from your country of origin.

Cancellation By You

The cancellation terms below will apply if you cancel some or all portions of your booking before the trip departs.  

A cancellation will only be effective once an Intrepid sales representative has received written confirmation from you that you wish to cancel.

Intrepid will apply the deposit and all other payments for the trip we received from you toward the cancellation fees that were outlined to you when you book. Be sure to review these when you book and ask for clarification if required.

If you cancel your booking and the amount you have already paid does not cover the cancellation fees, you must pay the difference between the amount you have paid and the cancellation fee applied. 

By accepting the Booking Conditions when you booked, you authorized Intrepid to automatically charge the payment card you used to secure the booking.

If you cancel a private co-branded departure such as a Sole Sister Ramblers X Intrepid adventure the following also applies:

(a) 70 days or more before departure, we will hold your deposit amount as a credit you can use towards a future trip;

(b) 69 days or fewer before departure, we charge a cancellation fee of 100% of the total booking cost; 

Any Deposit Credit you are entitled to may not be applied to the same or similar travel dates.

If you leave a trip for any reason after it has started, Intrepid is not required to provide any refunds for unused services.

If you fail to join the trip, join it after it has begun, or leave before it ends, no refunds will be issued.

These cancellation terms are in addition to any fees that may be charged by accommodation providers, travel agents, or third-party tour and transport operators.

If one or more members of a party cancel, it may result in an increase in the per-person price for those who continue to travel, and you will be responsible for paying this increase.

Please be sure to discuss Intrepid's full cancellation policy and ensure you understand when you book your adventure with the Intrepid team!

Intrepid is committed to ensuring that all its trips are safe for everyone involved, including travelers, local leaders, and the communities they visit.

Their health and safety policies align with recommendations from the World Health Organization and the World Travel & Tourism Council's Safe Travel protocols for tour operators.

Each itinerary undergoes a thorough risk assessment and audit, and both leaders and suppliers complete extensive health and safety training.

Questions? We'd love to chat!

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