Custom Hike, Bike, & Walking Adventures in Japan!

From mountain trails to quiet farm towns - solo or with family, fully guided or mostly independent. Walk, hike, bike, or just explore. Fully flexible - built around your schedule and interests - anywhere in Japan off the Golden Route, and crafted just for you.

Add Rural Japan to Your Trip ››

Flexibility
Cultural Activities
Walk, Hike, Bike
Your fitness levels
Meals to fit your appetite
Seasonal Highlights
Festivals and Special Events

Start / End Anywhere
Kanto Region
Kansai Region
Northern Kyoto
Japan Sea Coast
Kyushu & Nearby Islands
Shikoku

For those looking to explore a different region, cover more ground over a wider range of multiple regions, or maybe you just want something that starts a bit closer to the rest of your itinerary.

Past Private Custom Trips ↓

Custom trips can be by bicycle, walking on paved paths, hiking in mountain trails, or any combination. Let us know more about your requirements and wishes, and we will research and put together sample itineraries to chose from.

We always try to work within your budget to find the most interesting, most unique Japan adventure available, and offering a range of add-on options to chose from.

Our goal is to put great adventures off the Golden Route within reach of anyone.

One Month Across Japan ››

Learn More ››

This was an ambitious journey covering thousands of kilometers and climbing thousands of meters - passing through large cities, small islands, and mountain villages.

With no set plan, only a general sense of direction, the itinerary changed daily with the mood, ensuring that every day was exactly what was needed.

March ~ November
30 Days
fit to budget
3 ppl
Work Up A Sweat

10 Days Kanazawa & Noto ››

Learn More ››

The focus was on family, and taking it slow, spending time getting to know a single region.

This was a supported self-guided trip starting in Shirakawago, passing through Kanazawa, and Wajima.

NOTE: This was a custom trip made before the 2024 Noto Earthquake.

March ~ November
10 Days
Fit to budget
4 ppl
Relax & Ride

5 Days Biwako & Wakasa Coast ››

Learn More ››

A little bit of lake, a little bit of mountain, and a little bit of National Seashore. A little up, a little down, and a little rain.

This was short a bike-packing adventure for father and son repeat visitors who wanted to start and end in Kyoto.

March ~ November
5 Days
Fit to budget
2 ppl
Work Up A Sweat

4 Day Izu Peninsula Bike ››

Coming Soon

March ~ November
4 Days
Budget Travelers
2 ppl
Relax & Ride

6 Day Northern Kyushu ››

Coming Soon

March ~ November
6 Days
Fit to budget
5 ppl
Work Up A Sweat

5 Day Wakayama & Kumano Bike ››

Coming Soon

March ~ November
5 Days
Budget Travelers
2 ppl
Work Up A Sweat

Difficulty

Being a custom trip, this can be as easy or as challenging as you'd like.
We want rural Japan to be accessible to everyone, so there are options for all abilities:

Relaxed days with short rides or walks
Slow wandering with plenty of time to soak it in
Full-day walks or bike rides at an easy pace
Longer rides with hills for those who want a workout
Even tougher challenges for serious cyclists

Price Estimates

A custom trip does not have a one-size-fits-all price - it depends on many factors.
We aim to keep it reasonable and flexible so anyone can enjoy a unique rural Japan adventure.

Key factors include:

Group size - families and groups usually lower the per-person cost
Accommodation - from farm inns and family-run lodges to ryokan or hotels
Location & dates - distance from our base and peak seasons affect cost
Trip length - longer trips often average out cheaper per day
Level of support - from fully self-guided to fully guided

Please contact us with more details and we will do our best to either build an itinerary that fits your needs, or point you in the right direction if we are unable to serve you directly.

Dates & Availability

Custom means flexible. There are no fixed dates or seasons - just the best options for when you're here. Want snow? Come to our base in the Snow Country where it's deep. Prefer dry roads and clear trails? We'll find it.

Each region has its own seasonal highlights, and we'll build your trip around what's best at that time.

Let us know your travel dates, and we'll suggest something that fits.

Is a One Life Japan Trip for You?

The majority of our bike, hike, and walking trips focus around a small farming village in Northern Nagano. We focus on local, environmentally friendly, active, and challenging activities. We share with you our love of the Japan countryside .

If you... have already seen your share of crowded temples and city streets, and if you're ready to get off the train or bus and move your body through some potentially challenging terrain - where people are focused on their everyday life instead of selling souvenirs to tourists - then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you.... are willing to spend a night in a local's home or a family-run inn, where the owner is too busy with hunting or the rice harvest to fix a rip in the beat-up paper shoji door, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... are willing to smile through a conversation with a farmer who doesn't speak English , or to spend a dinner in what eventually turns into a game of charades with the local baker, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... are willing to spend an afternoon striking out on your own in unknown territory, where no one speaks English but is eager to help nonetheless - with just a map and the assurance that we'll be there if you need a hand - then One Life Japan may be perfect for you.

If you... are willing to wake up at 5 a.m. to see a country village come to life in the early morning light, or to spend an afternoon working in the rice field or gathering wild vegetables, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... are willing to savor a simple meal of in-season, locally produced foods, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... have read this far without thinking it's not for you - One Life Japan is definitely perfect for you .

We want to share the Japan we love. We can't promise five-star accommodation , or perfect cell-phone coverage the entire trip. We certainly don't promise a glimpse of the fabled "lost" Japan . We do promise an opportunity to see another side of modern-day Japan that you won't see in urban areas like Tokyo or Kyoto, or in towns that rely on tourism as their main industry.

Everything is waiting for you . It is up to YOU to take it in. We are here to support and facilitate your adventure - but it is up to you to make it your adventure . We'll listen to your needs, your likes and dislikes, and work to create the most personalized trip we can offer.

About Price Estimates and Custom Pricing

Planning a custom trip means every itinerary is a little different - and that's the point. We don't use fixed packages because every traveler, group size, destination, and level of support is unique. That said, we understand that you probably want at least a sense of what to expect before getting started.

We're happy to talk through your ideas and provide a no-obligation estimate once we know the general outline of your trip. Our goal is to make rural Japan accessible, affordable, and deeply memorable - and we'll always try to match your budget where possible.

What Affects the Price

Number of Participants

We don't have a flat per-person rate. Families and small groups are easier to price affordably, since logistics and guiding can be shared. Solo travelers, couples, and groups of three are also very welcome - we'll do our best to make something work without compromising on experience.

Type of Accommodation

We usually choose small, family-run inns or farmstays - warm, welcoming places that reflect the feel of the region. These are rarely "luxury" in the hotel sense, but offer something richer: simple, delicious meals and genuine hospitality. If you're looking for high-end ryokan, we can arrange those too, though they will affect the total cost.

Location & Duration

The total price depends on where the trip takes place, how far it is from our base in Northern Nagano, and how many days you're traveling. Longer trips often have a lower daily cost than short ones, especially if we're traveling far to meet you.

Time of Year & Advance Notice

Spring and autumn are peak seasons, and last-minute bookings can be tough. Giving us more time to plan helps us find the best accommodation and keep costs down.

Level of Support

We also understand that not everyone wants (or needs) the same level of company or support. Some people enjoy having a guide by their side for meals and downtime, while others prefer more personal space. We're happy to adjust accordingly - whether that means joining you throughout the day or giving you room to explore and regroup at key points. These preferences don't always make a huge difference in price, but they help us plan a trip that feels just right for you - both in experience and in budget.

We offer different levels of involvement to suit your comfort and budget:

Fully Guided
We're with you the whole way - riding or walking alongside you, staying in the same inn, and sharing meals together. We guide at your pace, helping with check-ins, interpreting, and navigating local spots. Depending on group size or pace differences, we may occasionally split to accommodate different routes (like easy vs. hard options), but we're always close and reconnect throughout the day.
Semi-Guided
You ride and explore independently, but our support vehicle follows just behind the scenes - meeting you throughout the day and always within a few minutes' reach. We are there to handle logistics like luggage transfers, check-ins, and join you for museums and activities. Meals and evening time can be more private or shared, depending on your preference and budget. It's a balance between freedom and support, with us never far away.
Self-Guided with Minimal Support
You're free to travel at your own pace, using our detailed maps and GPS routes, with all accommodations arranged in advance. While the trip is self-guided, we stay close enough to assist when needed - including moving bikes and luggage between far-apart regions. This allows you to shift locations mid-trip, like spending a day in Nagano and the next on the Japan Sea coast, without being tied to a continuous cycling route.
Fully Self-Guided
We plan your route and assist with bookings, and you handle the trip on your own. We're available by phone and can track your location in case of any issues. (See our Self Guided page for details)

Want an Estimate?

All of this will be clarified during the estimate process, so we can make sure we're on the same page - both in terms of expectations and cost. It's important to us that there are no surprises, and that you know exactly what's included and how things will work throughout the trip.

We can give you a ballpark once we know the rough outline - for example, the base price for a 3-day with no on-location support self-guided itinerary for two in Nagano might be around ¥35,000-¥40,000 / person (bikes + itinerary, not including accommodation).

The inn prices can start from 7,000 ~ 15,000 / night with meals, and go as high as is available depending on the location.

Custom Hike, Bike, & Walking Adventures in Japan!

One Month Across Japan ››

10 Days Kanazawa & Noto ››

5 Days Biwako & Wakasa Coast ››

4 Day Izu Peninsula Bike ››

6 Day Northern Kyushu ››

5 Day Wakayama & Kumano Bike ››

Difficulty

Price Estimates

Dates & Availability

Summary Coming Soon

About Difficulty Levels

Is a One Life Japan Trip for You?

About Price Estimates and Custom Pricing

What Affects the Price

Number of Participants

Type of Accommodation

Location & Duration

Time of Year & Advance Notice

Level of Support

Want an Estimate?

Self-Guided vs Fully Guided