Really Rural Japan

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Really Rural Japan

Welcome to Really Rural Japan. This is a space for sharing and promoting the places and things that we love in rural Japan.

From hikes to traditional crafts, festivals to farming. Let's shed a little more light on the best places in Japan.

13/06/2024

A Family Run Business:

On a recent tour, my family came to pick me up afterwards in Magome. We got to have a little photo session too. We are a family of three, soon to be family of four, and my four year old son and wonderful wife make my life here as a guide, busy, balanced, healthy and happy!

Thank you to every one of our guests who supports our small, family run guiding business out here in the Japanese countryside!

For your tours, get in touch on the website!

07/05/2024

Milestone Reached:

50 only 5 Star reviews on TripAdvisor!

After just over one year in business, Really Rural Japan has been extremely fortunate to have loving guests willing to repay the hard work we put into our tours with glowing reviews!

Thank you so much!!!!

06/05/2024

The Torii Pass on the Nakasendo:

Today during a tour on the Torii Pass of the Nakasendo, we bumped into a local craftsman cutting an Oroku Gushi comb by hand from Minebari trees from the nearby forest! These combs have a long history and an uncertain future, but the locals are doing all that they can to protect the traditions and keep the future bright.

29/04/2024

Private Tours on the Nakasendo and in the Kiso and Ina Valleys:

With a busy spring season more than half way through, I finally have made the time for a post! A huge thanks to all of my guests who help me make my dream of being a local guide in rural Japan a reality. Thanks to you I am supporting my family out here and, as my little business grows, I hope to create jobs so that more families can live out here happily in the Japanese countryside and do rewarding work like me.

Our tours are always simple, beautiful and full of passion and detail. At present there are very few English speaking guides out here and we hope to activate a positive change out here so that more local guides help to stimulate this shrinking rural population and economy.

13/03/2024

The Benefits of a Local Guide!

Sometimes the trip that you want and the weather forecast that you crave don’t align. This week Tuesday was one such event! Heavy rain poured down in southern Kiso, but further north, the precipitation came down as dry snow and the forest was about as beautiful as you can imagine. Seeing the forecast, I quickly changed the plan for my Aussie guests. We hiked on an ancient pilgrimage path known as the Ontake Kodo. We still got wet, but a shorter hike in snowy conditions was a whole lot better than a long hike in torrential rain!

06/03/2024

The Seinaiji Kaido in winter:

Today as I arrived at the top of the Nashino Pass of the Seinaji Kaido, I heard an almighty crash. My first thought was that I had awoken a sleepy bear that had broken a branch as it ran away from me. But a few seconds later, another crunching tree snapping sound.

It turns out that the ice attached to the pine trees today was heavy enough to rip huge branches of the trees. Not just the noise, but the sheer pace at which the great arms of the forest were hurtling to the ground was really quite remarkable! Every 5-10 seconds another roar!

The Seinaiji Kaido once linked Tsumago of the Nakasendo in the Kiso Valley with Iida in the Ina Valley. I wonder if this same phenomenon could be heard in the Edo period by travelers on the ancient roads.

05/03/2024

Our commitment to sustainability:

One of the things I often hear from my guests visiting Japan is their shock at the amount of plastic that Japan wastes on its food and drink. This is a hygiene obsessed, gift giving culture and so many companies struggle to wrap their heads around the idea of plastic free service. I was also surprised to hear that other travel agencies in the area are perpetuating the problem.

We encourage and source as environmentally friendly lunches and food for our tours as we can. Recently a restaurant that we use has started offering plastic free bamboo leaf bento. It is delicious and perfect for a hike! I am so glad to be part of this change and can’t wait to share more of these bentos with our guests!

31/01/2024

Nakasendo Guidebook Now For Sale!!!

Really Rural Japan has a big announcement to make! For the last two years and two months I have been slavishly working weekends and late night while running a full time job creating a guidebook to the Nakasendo!

It will be available on Amazon all around the world both on kindle and in paperback form from tomorrow (Feb 1)! Look for the title “Hiking the Nakasendo - The Samurai Road of the Kiso Valley and Beyond”.

It’s full of hiking guides, maps, photos, travel advice, and loads, loads more!

Making this book has been the hardest thing I have ever done! It has been a huge journey and has made me into an extremely knowledgeable local guide (if I say so myself) and taught me so much about the area and about myself.

If you can, please show some love and buy the book that I spent so long making and make the Nakasendo your next hiking adventure in Japan!

21/01/2024

Finally a real snow day on the Nakasendo this year!

23/11/2023

The Yogawa Path:

The route from Tsumago to Nojiri on the Nakasendo is surely one of the highlights of the area. It’s an interesting hike. Half forest and half rural hamlet. It is definitely one of the best ways to see the idyllic landscapes of the Japanese countryside!

Really Rural Japan are local guides here who offer guided trips on a day by day basis and support independent travelers who are interested in doing semi guided trips! If you only self guide, you never learn much about the area. So why not have a guide for a day or two and let us help you to better understand the place you are visiting!

20/11/2023

The Japanese Central Alps and the Senjojiki Cirque:

With the cold weather upon us, Japan’s dry autumn and winter air gives the absolute best visibility. These are the views from the Senjojiki Cirque in the Japanese Central Alps. Usually, in the humid summers, Fuji can’t be seen, even on the clearest of days because of the moisture in the air.

However, these shots were taken just a few days ago during a one day tour of Komagane City. The tour included a silk factory tour, an incredible temple, and a trip up to the central alps!

For private tours of the area and the Central Alps, please check out our website!

24/10/2023

Kiso Valley and Ina Valley hiking tours.

What a crazy month it’s been so far! I have never had so few days off in my life. It is all thanks to the guests who have a hired me as a guide, the local shops and businesses for their warmth and delicious food, and the local tourism bureaus for their help and support! None of it would be possible without them!

I am off to Osaka today for a few days to represent my local area of the Ina Valley and Kiso Valley at the Visit Japan Travel Mart, the biggest international tourism event in Japan. After that I have another non stop month before the long barren winter months begin!

#木曽谷 #伊那谷 #中山道 #長野県

02/10/2023

JTB Nodule Magazine Feature:

Last week I was featured in Japan’s biggest travel agency’s (JTB) travel magazine, Nodule.

There was a full 8 page spread all about my tours and the Nakasendo in the Kiso Valley. I was lucky enough to be featured Ina few other pages of the magazine too!

This kind of publicity is great as I try to push Really Rural Japan to the next level!

If you are considering a hiking trip on the Nakasendo in the Kiso Valley, please get in touch! There a extremely few local English speaking guides here of which I am one.

So if you’re looking for a hiking trip in the Japanese countryside and want to keep 100% of your dollars spent circulating in the local economy rather than having it extracted elsewhere, please consider Really Rural Japan!

#長野県
#中山道
#木曽谷
#馬籠宿
#妻籠宿
#田舎観光

30/09/2023

A month above the clouds and a big announcement:

For the month of September, Really Rural Japan were taking time out of guiding in their local Kiso Valley and Ina Valley, to guide trips on the iconic Mount Fuji.

Now the inside story and the big news is that until now, my Japanese countryside guiding operation has been my side gig. But, thanks to my wonderful rural Japan loving customers, my bookings for autumn went crazy and I had no way to keep a full time job too. I spent September saving up a little bit of money on Mount Fuji and getting more and more practice on the bigger mountains with as I now make Really Rural Japan my full time job.

Though bookings have been great, there are still dates in autumn available, so get in touch for your local tour of the Nakasendo and the surrounding countryside and support local families and rural entrepreneurs.

30/08/2023

Customized tours of the Japanese countryside!

Thanks to this very kind and thoughtful couple from Mumbai for visiting both the Kiso Valley and Ina Valley on their customized journey through the Japanese countryside.

They enjoyed two days of hiking, as well as soba cooking and a tour of a local silk producer.

Thanks for the great review!!!

#駒ヶ根市
#伊那紬
#長野県
#中山道
#御嶽古道
#そば打ち体験
#伊那谷
#木曽谷

10/08/2023

The Year of the Dragon.

This is my own original new year’s wreath design for 2024, the year of the dragon. On sale soon!

#藁細工 #龍年 #しめ縄リース

30/07/2023

The Senjojiki Cirque

If the summer heat of Japan is all too much for you, why not consider getting away from it in the alpine mountains of the Central Alps. The gorgeous Senjojiki Cirque is covered with rare alpine flowers and is accessible by Komagane Ropeway so it can be enjoyed by hikers and non-hikers alike. After a hike, Mars Whiskey distillery is nearby for a drink and Kozenji Temple is a fantastic spot!

Guided Tours Available on the website!

24/07/2023

Private guided hikes in the Kiso and Ina Valley.

Thanks to Samer and Tania from NY! They only had one day in the area and are fast walkers, so we went all the way from Nakatsugawa to Tsumago in one day to see as much as possible of ancient Japan!

For your customized hiking trip in Japan get in touch!

#中山道 #岐阜県 #長野県 #木曽路 #妻籠宿 #馬籠宿 #落合宿 #中津川宿 #中馬街道 #清内路街道 #昼神温泉

08/07/2023

‘s new YouTube video is now up and it features yours truly.

In the video, I teach my friend Aki how to make a pair of waraji sandals and we go hiking.

I can’t think Aki enough for featuring me in one of his videos! We have been friends about 3 years now. When we first met, we were living in neighboring villages. His channel was just getting started and, in all honesty, I thought he was a dreamer and a YouTube career was never going to work out. Three years later he is traveling the world, earning as he goes, regularly getting hundreds of thousands of views on his videos. Good job man!!!

It goes to show the power of single minded determination and having a vision.

Anyway please check it out as well as ‘s other videos!

Great guy!

02/07/2023

Straw Crane (藁鶴)

#藁細工 #伝統工芸 #田舎暮らし #伊那谷 #長野県 #しめ縄飾り

28/06/2023

A Three Day Private Tour on the Nakasendo:

Thanks to Frances for this wonderful review! We had a blast hiking ancient trails, snacking on the foragables, and swimming in the river!

#中山道 #長野県 #木曽路 #木曽谷 #妻籠宿 #馬籠宿 #野尻宿 #薮原宿 #奈良井宿

25/06/2023

Flexible, Customizable Private Hiking Tours on the Nakasendo:

These two were fast hikers with only one day to spend on the Nakasendo. That’s why we decided to extend the most popular hike (Magome to Tsumago) with a few extra beautiful kilometers from Ochiai Juku. Somehow, with an early start, we managed to look around 4 post towns of the ancient road before the day was over.

They were the most inquisitive and gentle guests I could wish for as a guide, making friends with the owners of the several shops and restaurants we visited on the way.

16/06/2023

Private 4 Day Nakasendo Hiking Tour:

Thanks so much to all of the guests I have had the pleasure of guiding so far! And thank you too for the kind reviews! So far 100% have been 5 stars!

#長野県 #中山道 #木曽路 #田舎

13/06/2023

My large sized turtle and crane designs are pretty much complete. The crane measures around 50cm and the turtle around 40cm. I am nearly ready to begin to sell!

#藁細工 #藁亀 #藁鶴 #鶴亀

06/06/2023

Privately Guided Nakasendo Hiking Tour Review:

A bit thank you to John and Joanne who were great company and tremendous fun!

#長野県 #中山道 #木曽路 #木曽路歩き #中山道歩き

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平谷村

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I have been making excuses for myself. At least one day in two should start with a run and an ice cold swim. This one inspires an impromptu limerick: There once was a Briton from Britain, Who forgot the first line he had written, He scratched on his head, For the words that he’d said, But he couldn’t remember them so the last line wouldn’t rhyme. What a shame. Mic drop. Glastonbury festival you have been great. Where are my royalties? #平谷村 #hiraya #nagano #iceswimming #japan #deepjapan #ruraljapan #wimhofmethod #minamishinshu #南信州 #伊那谷 #inavalley

Today I joined the community in sunflower seed production. This old machine used to split the rice from the husks all over Japan. It would be better if connected to a bicycle. #ricefarming #sunflower #oldmachines #japan #ruraljapan #minamishinshu #南信州 #長野県 #平谷村 #ひまわり #itwouldbebetterifconnectedtoabicycle

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