The Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train, is an exceptional feat of modern engineering. You'll have the opportunity today to embark on a 90-minute journey aboard this ultra high-speed train and witness firsthand the unmatched levels of comfort, speed, and efficiency offered by one of the world's most remarkable transportation systems.

Your destination this morning is Nagano, host to the 1988 Winter Olympics and the gateway to Japan’s magical Northern Alps. We will then travel a further 45minutes by car, deep into the heart of the Alps to the hot spring resort of Yudanaka Onsen. It is famous for its traditional Japanese ryokans (inns) and open-air hot springs, said to have been discovered over 1,300 years ago and known for their therapeutic properties due to the mineral-rich water.

It is also known as the home of the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where wild Japanese macaques soak in the hot springs during the cooler months.

The Japanese macaques have been inhabitants of this region for a significant period, but six decades ago, their forest home was under threat. Ski resorts were being constructed, and trees were being felled to make way for ski lifts, causing a reduction in their habitat. As a result, the monkeys moved closer to human settlements, and nearby farms became a source of abundant food.

The farmers were understandably unhappy, and they took their complaint to the local government, who permitted them to remove the monkeys by any means necessary to safeguard their land.

Upon learning about this situation, a local man Sogo Hara established the Jigokudani Monkey Park to provide a safe haven for the macaques. For several months, he left apples in a valley adjacent to a hot spring until the monkeys became familiar with the new feeding area, and subsequently stopped raiding the farms.

The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their interactions. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from very close and almost completely ignore their human guests. 

After spending time watching the monkey’s antics, you will head to your accommodation for tonight, a Japanese ryokan. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns, with tatami flooring, futon bedding and your very own monkey-free hot spring bath!

Dinner tonight will be kaiseki cuisine, a multi-course meal featuring seasonal and local ingredients served in your ryokan.

Karuizawa has a rich history dating back to the Edo period (1603-1868), when it was an important post town along the Nakasendo highway that linked Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Kyoto. During this time, Karuizawa served as a resting place for travelers and became known for its natural beauty and cool climate.

In the late 19th century, Karuizawa began to attract attention as a summer retreat for foreigners and wealthy Japanese, who were seeking relief from the hot and humid summers in the cities. The arrival of the railroad in 1893 made Karuizawa more accessible, and it soon became a popular resort destination for Tokyo's elite. Many notable figures, including diplomats, politicians, and writers, visited Karuizawa during this time, and it gained a reputation as a place of relaxation and luxury.

Today we will be visiting the Picchio Wildlife Research Centre. Having started as a wild bird sanctuary, Picchio shifted its focus to the conservation and management of the local Asiatic black bear population in 1998.

Karuizawa, with its burgeoning size and tourism industry, has experienced a growing issue with Asian Black Bears. These bears frequently venture into urban areas in search of food sources such as garbage or crops, causing concern among locals.

In response, Picchio has taken measures to mitigate this problem and safeguard both the bears and the people. Efforts to address the issue have included educating the public on ways to deter bears, implementing bear-proof garbage bins, and maintaining round-the-clock surveillance on bear activity. These measures aim to reduce human-bear conflicts and promote coexistence between humans and wildlife in the area.

On your tour today, your bear expert will educate you on the bear protection management utilised by the centre, followed by a field study tour to various habitat points. Some bears in the area have radio collars attached, and our guide can track their locations. The Picchio experts will point out the current location of any nearby bears, and it is possible that you may encounter one of these majestic animals during the tour. You will also get a chance to meet one of the centre’s “bear dogs”. These hard working and courageous dogs are bred and trained with an emphasis on good temperament with people, genetic and physical health, and working aptitude with large and potentially dangerous wildlife.

Today we will hop on a bike and together with our local travel expert, set off on a journey to discover the origin of Japanese spirituality. The destination is Suwa Grand Shrine, a sanctuary so old that its origin is shrouded in mystery. You will visit the two upper shrines of Maemiya and Honmiya, where the Nature worship of ancient Japan is still strong, and pass by Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum and the three teahouses of Takasugi-an, Hikusugi-an, and the Flying mud boat, where you will encounter the imaginative and quirky architecture of Fujimori Terunobu.

On the way there, you will ride along the Miyagawa River, pass under a row of cherry trees that turn a pretty pink in spring and a fiery red in autumn, and discover a lot of hidden spots only the locals know. You will also stop by a shop selling kanten, typical food from the area, and have a break for lunch at a local café .

Touring the countryside by bicycle allows us to stop and enjoy the fabulous details that we would normally drive straight through. A small statue, a beautiful family crest painted onto a wall, a conversation with a friendly farmer - all of these opportunities become much more realistic when you are cruising on a bicycle. The ride is leisurely with few ups and downs, and you will ride pedelecs, special bikes where a small electrical motor assists the pedaling. The rest of the day is free to enjoy your beautiful farmhouse accommodation and the surrounding village of Yamaura, a nostalgic rural area where traditional kura storehouses flank the narrow winding alleys, and where you can spot local people wearing large straw hats at work in the fields in-between. Your farmhouse has a Japanese garden with a small pond. Interestingly enough, every house in the village has such a garden and all the ponds are connected in an intricate network.