A journey on Japan’s Shogun and Samurai trail takes you through history, tradition and culture. History has a way of showing us how we are connected to those things that happened in our past. Our actions today are closely connected to things that happened in the past.

One of the things that makes learning about and visiting historic places fascinating, educational and enlightening. We can learn so much about ourselves. I like to say  “We learn more about the things we thought we already knew.” I recently had the opportunity to travel with Oku Japan, a tour company exploring off the beaten path itineraries around the country.  

The various tours give you an opportunity to see more of Japan than the fascinating metropolitan cities. You get out into the countryside and explore historic cities, little known towns all while learning. You’ll find things first-hand about Japan you may know from movies, stories and bits of international history we were taught in school are fascinating to see. You’ll   have a chance to explore historic cities that helped create the pathways, byways and large cities. Those small towns are alive – very well alive and thriving, sharing their history. Oku Japan gets you deep into the culture, history and wonder of a fascinating country. 

On my visit, I was part of an itinerary called Shoguns and samurai. This itinerary took me to central Japan where tall mountain ranges, rivers, valleys and remote villages have remained very well-preserved for centuries. These cities were part of the shogunate period of Japan and were the highlight of our tour.  

It was a history lesson in Japan’s shogun period when Tokyo was known as Edo and ruled by the shogun. I also visited Kyoto, Japan’s capital for many years and also where you’ll find much of the country’s cultural heritage.  

For me it was more than my usual statement of saying I learned more about the things I thought I already knew, traveling with Oku Japan and hearing the stories of cities, roads, bridges and pathways that were part of the shogun period, I learned things I never knew. 

Come along and listen to part one of my time in Japan with Oku Japan – Adventures off the beaten track leads the way in history, culture and “off the beaten path” adventures.   

The photos below capture some of the highlights.

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