Eight Days, Onsen Country: Nagano, Gunma and Nikko

Name: Eight Days, Onsen Country: Nagano, Gunma and Nikko
Brand: Haven Japan
SKU: eight-days-onsen-country-nagano-gunma-nikko
Availability: InStock

A journey through the hot spring country of the mountains: a castle, the snow monkeys, the great bath towns of Gunma, and the shrines of Nikko.

8 DaysSuggested Length

¥640,000Price From

Overview

Mountains, rivers and hot springs

North of Tokyo the mountains hold some of Japan's oldest hot spring towns. This journey moves through them by Alphard, one inn after another, each bath different from the last.

Matsumoto and its black castle, the monkeys bathing at Jigokudani, the steaming heart of Kusatsu, the river baths of Takaragawa, then two nights in Nikko to close in the cedars.

A small counter restaurant on a Tokyo side street

The wooden channels of the Yubatake hot spring field in Kusatsu

Kegon Falls plunging into the gorge at Nikko

The red Shinkyo Bridge over the Daiya river in Nikko

Tokyo Skytree rising above the Sumida river

A lane of stalls in the Tsukiji Outer Market

Eight days of hot spring towns, north of Tokyo

By car from one inn to the next: Matsumoto and its black castle, the snow monkeys of Jigokudani, Kusatsu, the river baths of Takaragawa, then two nights in Nikko.

The journey ends in Nikko, with the drive back to Tokyo or straight on to Narita or Haneda airport. Days can be added or removed under each destination.

Why Travel With Haven Japan?

Private days shaped entirely around your pace, with a guide on the days you choose.

Ryokans, boutique hotels and design-forward properties.

A deeply knowledgeable, English-speaking guide on every day you choose.

Private transfers door to door, to and from the airport included.

Round-the-clock support from our Japan-based team.

Eight Days, Onsen Country: Nagano, Gunma and Nikko

Highlights

Matsumoto CastleA black castle from the sixteenth century, against the Alps.

The snow monkeysWild macaques in their hot spring at Jigokudani.

The cedars of TogakushiAn avenue of ancient cedars leading to a mountain shrine.

The Shiga Kogen roadOne of the highest roads in Japan, over the volcanic plateau.

Kusatsu's YubatakeThe Yubatake, where the town's hot water steams through wooden channels.

The baths of TakaragawaOpen-air baths along a mountain river.

Two nights in NikkoToshogu, Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls, without rushing.

The Itinerary

8 Days, One Route

The map stays with you as the days unfold — tap a stop to jump ahead.

This is the order we recommend, the one that works best on the ground, but nothing here is fixed. Add or remove days with the + and − under each destination (up to 4 days in one place), or change the destinations and their order in our builder, with this itinerary already selected. The price follows your version: we quote it when you send it to us.

1 DAY

3 DAYS

TOKYO · ARRIVAL

Day 01 | A First Evening in Tokyo

Your private driver takes you from the airport to your hotel by Alphard, with time to settle in. Then a first, unhurried evening in the city: the side streets of Ebisu and dinner at a small counter nearby. A late landing simply means rest.

Your Experiences

1 of 39

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYOPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

Your Hotels

1 of 6

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

TOKYO → MATSUMOTO

Day 02 | A Black Castle

About three hours by Alphard to Matsumoto and its castle, one of the few in Japan still original, black against the Alps. Then on to Yudanaka, about an hour and a half, and a ryokan with its own hot spring.

Your Experiences

1 of 3

✓ Included Katana Signature Engraving in Nagano

MATSUMOTOKatana Signature Engraving in Nagano

Your Hotels

KAMIKOCHI, MATSUMOTO

NAGANO · JIGOKUDANI

Day 03 | Monkeys and Cedars

A thirty-minute walk through the forest to Jigokudani, where the snow monkeys bathe in their own hot spring. In the afternoon, the shrines of Togakushi, reached along an avenue of cedars several centuries old.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Nagano yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

SHIBU ONSEN, YAMANOUCHI

YUDANAKA → KUSATSU

Day 04 | Over the Plateau

Over the Shiga Kogen plateau on one of the highest roads in Japan, past volcanic ponds and stands of birch. Down to Kusatsu, where the Yubatake steams through wooden channels in the middle of town, and a ryokan for the night.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Kusatsu yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

IN FRONT OF THE YUBATAKE, KUSATSU

KUSATSU → TAKARAGAWA

Day 05 | Baths Along the River

Through the mountains of Gunma to Takaragawa Onsen, where the open-air baths run along a mountain river. The rest of the day is unhurried: the bath, a walk by the water, and dinner at the inn.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Minakami yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

TAKARAGAWA ONSEN, MINAKAMI

TAKARAGAWA → NIKKO

Day 06 | Shrines in the Cedars

By Alphard to Nikko, about two and a half hours. The carved gates of Toshogu, the shrine of the Tokugawa shoguns, then the red Shinkyo bridge and the riverside path of Kanmangafuchi, lined with stone statues.

Overnight in Nikko.

Your Experiences

✓ Included A samurai in armour with a bow and a quiver of arrows

NIKKOSamurai Archery in Nikko

Your Hotels

LAKE CHUZENJI, NIKKO

NIKKO · LAKE CHUZENJI

Day 07 | Lake, Falls and Marsh

Up the bends of the Irohazaka road to Lake Chuzenji. Kegon Falls from the foot of the gorge, the Ryuzu Falls and their tea house, and the high marsh of Senjogahara, then a last hot spring bath in the evening.

Overnight in Nikko.

Your Experiences

✓ Included A samurai in armour with a bow and a quiver of arrows

NIKKOSamurai Archery in Nikko

Your Hotels

LAKE CHUZENJI, NIKKO

NIKKO → TOKYO

Day 08 | A Last Morning, Then Home

A slow morning in Nikko, a last walk to the Shinkyo bridge or along the river. Then by Alphard to Tokyo, or straight to Narita or Haneda airport, about two and a half hours, with your luggage in the car all the way.

Day trip from Tokyo. Same stay tonight.

Your Experiences

✓ Included A samurai in armour with a bow and a quiver of arrows

NIKKOSamurai Archery in Nikko

Your Hotels

LAKE CHUZENJI, NIKKO

Where You'll Stay

Choose Your Stay in Every Destination

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

A serene retreat in Setagaya blending minimalist Japanese design with an open-air onsen, a short ride from Shibuya's energy.

ROPPONGI, TOKYO

Occupying the top nine floors of Tokyo Midtown, roughly 250 metres above the street, with some of the highest hotel views anywhere in the city.

MARUNOUCHI, TOKYO

Facing the Imperial Palace gardens across the moat, with the brand's signature in-room technology and a rooftop restaurant looking straight down Hibiya-dori.

SHINJUKU, TOKYO

Perched on the top 14 floors of the Shinjuku Park Tower, with the New York Bar's skyline views made famous by Lost in Translation, and a wood-panelled calm throughout.

NIHONBASHI, TOKYO

Set on the top floors of a Nihonbashi tower, with sweeping views over the city and Mount Fuji on a clear day, and three Michelin-starred restaurants downstairs.

OTEMACHI, TOKYO

Occupying the top six floors of Otemachi Tower, with a 30-metre atrium lobby and vast rooms built around a minimalist, washi-paper calm above the city.

LAKE CHUZENJI, NIKKO

A luxury hotel on the shore of Lake Chuzenji, inside Nikko National Park, with rooms facing the lake and Mount Nantai and the first hot spring bath of the Ritz-Carlton brand.

KAMIKOCHI, MATSUMOTO

A mountain resort hotel in the Kamikochi valley, with the red triangular roof and log-cabin style it has kept since it opened in 1933.

IN FRONT OF THE YUBATAKE, KUSATSU

A historic hot spring inn founded in the mid-Edo period, standing directly in front of the Yubatake.

TAKARAGAWA ONSEN, MINAKAMI

The only ryokan at the secluded hot spring of Takaragawa Onsen, at the upper reaches of the Tone River, with open-air baths along the water.

SHIBU ONSEN, YAMANOUCHI

A historic inn at Shibu Onsen, close to the Jigokudani snow monkeys, built around a four-storey wooden hall from 1936.

Add-On Experiences

Shape Your Journey by Adding the Experiences That Move You

No ready-made experiences are listed yet in Nagano, Kusatsu, Minakami. We arrange private experiences there on request.

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYO, JAPANPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

A private tea ceremony in Tokyo hosted by an Urasenke tea master: taste koicha and usucha with sweets and learn the thinking behind the ceremony.

✓ Included Toyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making

TOKYO, JAPANToyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making

Walk Toyosu Market with a master sushi chef, visit the wholesaler he buys from, then learn to make Edomae nigiri at his restaurant.

✓ Included Omotesando Architecture Walk

TOKYO, JAPANOmotesando Architecture Walk

Walk Omotesando and Harajuku with an architecture expert and see how western Tokyo went from rice fields to skyscrapers.

✓ Included Geisha Entertainment in Asakusa

TOKYO, JAPANGeisha Entertainment in Asakusa

Dine at a ryotei in Asakusa's old entertainment district with geisha and rare male hokan entertainers.

✓ Included Katana Signature Engraving in Nagano

MATSUMOTO, JAPANKatana Signature Engraving in Nagano

Try meikiri, the engraving of a swordsmith's signature on a katana tang, with a master swordsmith.

✓ Included A samurai in armour with a bow and a quiver of arrows

NIKKO, JAPANSamurai Archery in Nikko

Learn the etiquette of Ogasawara-style kyudo or try mounted yabusame in Nikko, with a tour of Toshogu Shrine.

✓ Included Matured Sushi and Sake Pairing

TOKYO, JAPANMatured Sushi and Sake Pairing

A fully private dining session at a two-Michelin-star sushi restaurant in Futako-tamagawa: matured sushi made in front of you, paired with four sakes.

✓ Included Kintsugi in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANKintsugi in Minami-Aoyama

Practise kintsugi in a Minami-Aoyama gallery space: mend a vessel with lacquer and gold or silver powder and take it home the same day.

✓ Included Noh Masks and a Private Stage Session

TOKYO, JAPANNoh Masks and a Private Stage Session

On a Noh family's private stage in Tokyo, meet the head of the family, see his collection of masks and costumes, and watch two shimai dances.

✓ Included Shamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANShamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka

A shamisen master performs and guides you in playing, in a private tatami room at a long-established Akasaka restaurant, followed by a seasonal lunch.

✓ Included Ikebana Lesson in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANIkebana Lesson in Akasaka

A private ikebana lesson with a master-rank instructor in an Akasaka school headquarters designed by Kenzo Tange: make two arrangements.

✓ Included Incense Blending in Ginza

TOKYO, JAPANIncense Blending in Ginza

Blend your own incense pouch from over a dozen fragrance ingredients at a 440-year-old incense shop in Ginza, and take seasonal incense home.

✓ Included Sumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANSumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama

Learn classical Edo Rimpa ink-painting in a private Minami-Aoyama atelier, reproduce a masterpiece by hand and take your painting home as decor.

✓ Included Private Zazen at an Asakusa Temple

TOKYO, JAPANPrivate Zazen at an Asakusa Temple

Sit zazen at an Asakusa Zen temple founded in 1611, guided by a monk and the head priest, then take matcha and sweets.

✓ Included Chopstick Making in Kuramae

TOKYO, JAPANChopstick Making in Kuramae

Make your own chopsticks in a Kuramae workshop with a century of Edo woodworking history: choose a fine wood, shave it and finish it with oil.

✓ Included Yukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making

TOKYO, JAPANYukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making

In a 100-year-old Japanese residence in Ueno-Sakuragi, learn to wear a yukata, make a matching mizuhiki accessory and keep both.

✓ Included Ukiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANUkiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop

Colour a Hokusai Mount Fuji motif with a brush in a Nihonbashi gallery, guided by a kataezome artist.

✓ Included Pure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa

TOKYO, JAPANPure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa

Spend a day as an apprentice in Asakusa: shape your own bangle from 99.9% pure silver with a silversmith whose family has worked silver for twelve generations.

✓ Included A forge fire with glowing coals and a smith's tongs and tools, as used to forge a small katana

TOKYO, JAPANSmall Katana Forging in Ome

Forge a small katana from tamahagane steel with a husband-and-wife team of bladesmiths on the edge of Tokyo.

✓ Included A soba master rolling out noodle dough

TOKYO, JAPANSoba Noodle Making Workshop

Roll and cut soba by hand the way it was made four centuries ago, taught by a leading soba master.

✓ Included Shojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk

TOKYO, JAPANShojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk

Learn Buddhist vegetarian cooking from a temple monk in Akasaka, then eat your meal in the temple's main hall.

✓ Included Kabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor

TOKYO, JAPANKabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor

Learn kabuki acting and training techniques from a professional actor, at a prestigious traditional restaurant with a kaiseki meal.

✓ Included Sake Brewery Tour in Ome

TOKYO, JAPANSake Brewery Tour in Ome

Tour a brewery with over 300 years of history in the hills of western Tokyo and taste five sakes with paired snacks.

✓ Included Mount Mitake Shrine Hike

TOKYO, JAPANMount Mitake Shrine Hike

A guided day hike up Mount Mitake in western Tokyo to the 'Shrine in the Sky', with lunch at a temple lodging.

✓ Included Nihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANNihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama

Paint in the classical Rimpa tradition with a nihon-ga artist, using brush and, if you wish, gold and silver leaf.

✓ Included Kumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno

TOKYO, JAPANKumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno

A private tour, limited to six guests a day, of a 360-year-old kumihimo silk-braiding workshop in Ueno, then make a braided accessory with master artisans.

✓ Included Edo Woodblock Printing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Woodblock Printing Workshop

Print ukiyo-e patterns on washi paper at a woodblock workshop with 160 years of history, and turn them into a bamboo-handled fan.

✓ Included Edo Glass Cutting Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Glass Cutting Workshop

Cut a pattern into an 8-ounce cup of two-colour Edo overlay glass with a seasoned glassmaker.

✓ Included Edo Paper Lantern Making

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Paper Lantern Making

Paint your own Edo paper lantern at a shop that has been in business for over a hundred years, and take it home.

✓ Included Edo Komon Tenugui Dyeing

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Komon Tenugui Dyeing

Stencil-dye a tenugui hand towel at a studio that has kept the Edo komon tradition alive for over a century.

✓ Included Maki-e Lacquerware Decoration

TOKYO, JAPANMaki-e Lacquerware Decoration

Decorate a piece of lacquerware with maki-e metallic powder at the main store of a century-old lacquerware shop in Nihonbashi.

✓ Included Mizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping

TOKYO, JAPANMizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping

In a Yoyogi studio, learn basic mizuhiki knots with an artist and practise wrapping with handmade tesuki-washi paper, including gift envelopes.

✓ Included Japanese Scent Making in Kudan

TOKYO, JAPANJapanese Scent Making in Kudan

Blend your own natural fragrance from Japanese plants with a scenting designer at a historic house in Kudan.

✓ Included Bonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum

TOKYO, JAPANBonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum

Tour a garden of over a thousand bonsai, shape a tree yourself, and finish with tea ceremony.

✓ Included Katana Polishing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANKatana Polishing Workshop

Polish a real katana on a whetstone with one of Japan's professional katana polishers in Setagaya.

✓ Included Beer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu

TOKYO, JAPANBeer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu

Go behind the story of one of Japan's best-loved beers at a brewery museum in Ebisu, with a tasting and food pairings.

✓ Included Japanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANJapanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka

Watch a private nihon-buyo performance and learn its movements from a master instructor, followed by kaiseki.

✓ Included Kanji Calligraphy with a Master

TOKYO, JAPANKanji Calligraphy with a Master

Learn kanji calligraphy at a ceramics shop in Yanaka from a calligrapher who draws on a background in psychology.

✓ Included Bean Paste Flower Wagashi Class

TOKYO, JAPANBean Paste Flower Wagashi Class

Make modern wagashi flowers from sweet bean paste, free of dairy and gluten, and enjoy them with tea.

✓ Included Dyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier

TOKYO, JAPANDyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier

Cut, dye and layer silk and lace into a flower in the atelier of a renowned couture flower artist.

✓ Included Mount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch

TOKYO, JAPANMount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch

Hike sacred Mount Takao with a certified guide, then eat shojin cuisine made from local vegetables.

✓ Included Kiso-Hirasawa Lacquerware Workshop Walk

KISO, JAPANKiso-Hirasawa Lacquerware Workshop Walk

Walk through a 400-year-old lacquerware town and meet the artisans, including a restoration workshop closed to the public.

✓ Included Magome to Tsumago Nakasendo Trek

KISO, JAPANMagome to Tsumago Nakasendo Trek

Walk the Magome-Tsumago stretch of the Nakasendo, the old mountain road between Edo and Kyoto, with vehicle support.

Reviews

Hear From Travellers Who Have Journeyed
With Haven Japan

4.9·Based on 487 guest reviews

“Our guide Joshua was amazing, loved his job, and it showed as he toured with us. We loved our day, and all we experienced.”

Dori E.19 Oct 2026

Top Rated Certificateverified by Trustindex Read our guest reviews

Inclusions

Private guide on the guided days, in English or French
Private transfers by Toyota Alphard or equivalent, and wherever the road is not the best way, a private car, a taxi or reserved Shinkansen seats, all arranged for you
Entrance fees and activities listed in the itinerary
Accommodation chosen to your taste and booked for you
A local SIM card with unlimited data, if you would like one
Luggage forwarding between hotels, if you would like it
Round-the-clock support from our Japan-based team

Pricing

2027

Prices in JPY, per person, for two travelling together, with accommodation included. Every Haven journey is quoted individually, once we know your dates, party size and preferences.

One team plans and books your whole journey, so you have a single person to speak to from the first call to the last morning. Your quote sets out everything that is included, day by day.

¥0Price From

¥0Deposit From

Questions About This Journey

How many days is Eight Days, Onsen Country: Nagano, Gunma and Nikko and where does it go?

Eight Days, Onsen Country: Nagano, Gunma and Nikko runs 8 days and visits Tokyo, Matsumoto, Nagano, Kusatsu, Minakami and Nikko. The day-by-day route, with a map, is shown above.

Is this journey private, and can it be changed?

Yes. Every Haven journey is private, just you and your party, and tailor-made. This route is an example of how a journey can unfold: tell us your dates, interests and pace and we will adapt the days, the places and the stays.

How much does it cost?

Prices start from ¥640,000 (see the pricing section above). The final price depends on your dates, the hotels you choose, the experiences you add and the size of your group, so we confirm an exact quote after your enquiry.

What is included?

The inclusions are listed in the pricing section above. Unless stated there, entrance fees and meals are not included, and our guides are happy to recommend restaurants. An all-inclusive package is available for a custom Japan journey.

Where do we stay?

You choose your stay in each destination from the hotels and ryokan shown on the page. If you prefer another property, tell us and we will look at it.

When should I book?

Japan is a country where travellers plan well ahead, so we recommend contacting us about 6 months before your ideal departure date, especially for spring and autumn. Last-minute requests may be possible with some limits.

What languages do your guides speak?

Our tours are conducted in English, French and Japanese. If you need another language, tell us in advance and we will do our best to arrange it.

How do I pay?

We accept payment in Japanese yen and major international credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

What is the cancellation policy?

If we receive your cancellation 91 days or more before the first day of service, only the deposit is kept. It is 50% of the price 61 to 90 days before, and 100% 60 days or less before. Cancellations are made by email to contact@havenjapan.com. The full policy is in clause 5 of our Terms and Conditions.

Can I add experiences such as a tea ceremony or an onsen stay?

Yes. The experiences section above lists what you can add, from tea ceremonies and craft workshops to private onsen. Each day can also include free time to explore on your own.

Begin Your Journey

What you've just explored is a starting point, the beginning of a journey that's entirely yours to shape from here. Every detail can move: your pace, your interests, your Japan.

Make an
Enquiry

Send us the itinerary as you have shaped it, with your dates and who is travelling. A first call and a short exchange by email are free. When we design your full proposal, a fee of ¥30,000 applies, and it is deducted from your deposit when you book.