Private multi-day tour · Multi-day from Tokyo
From Tokyo: 4-Day Basho Narrow Road Customizable Tour
Follow the poet Basho's Narrow Road to the Deep North over 4 days: Shirakawa Barrier, the Shinobu stone, golden Chusonji in Hiraizumi and Yamadera.
Private · your group only◆4 days◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
In 1689 the poet Matsuo Basho walked north from Edo, now Tokyo, and wrote Oku no Hosomichi, the Narrow Road to the Deep North. It is Japan's most famous travel diary. This tour follows key places from his book by van, with time to read his haiku where he wrote them.
Day 1 starts at the Shirakawa Barrier site in southern Fukushima, the old gate to the north and the place where Basho felt his real journey began. Then we go to the Shinobu Mojizuri stone in Fukushima city, a stone from an old poem that Basho came to see.
Day 2 takes us to Hiraizumi in Iwate, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At Chusonji temple you see the Golden Hall, covered in gold leaf. At Takadachi Gikeido, on a hill above the river, Basho wrote his poem about summer grasses and old warriors' dreams. Entry tickets are included.
Day 3 is Yamadera, the mountain temple where Basho wrote his poem about the cicada's voice sinking into the rocks. The climb is about 1,000 stone steps. Then we visit Obanazawa, where Basho stayed with a local merchant friend, and the small Basho museum there.
Day 4 we drive back to Tokyo. Total driving on this day is about 5 hours.
This is a private tour. Only your group. One van, 1 to 6 people, never shared. Your driver-guide speaks English, and also Hindi and Urdu.
If a temple or museum on the route is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit another Basho site on the same road, such as Matsushima Bay.
Day 1 Drive Tokyo to Shirakawa Barrier, Shinobu Mojizuri stone, stay in Fukushima
Day 2 Hiraizumi, Chusonji Golden Hall, Takadachi Gikeido, stay in Ichinoseki or Hiraizumi
Day 3 Yamadera mountain temple, Obanazawa and the Basho museum, stay in Yamagata
Day 4 Drive back to your Tokyo hotel
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- Stand at the Shirakawa Barrier where Basho's journey began
- See the gold-covered Golden Hall of Chusonji
- Read the summer grasses haiku at Takadachi Gikeido
- Climb about 1,000 steps to Yamadera mountain temple
- Visit Obanazawa, where Basho stayed with a friend
Said plainly
Private tour for 1 to 6 people in one van. Your driver-guide speaks English, Hindi and Urdu Yamadera has about 1,000 stone steps. You can wait at the bottom if you prefer In winter some paths are snowy. Our van has winter tyres Your guide can read Basho's haiku in English at each site If a temple or museum on the route is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit another Basho site on the same road, such as Matsushima Bay
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
Stand at the Shirakawa Barrier where Basho's journey began
See the gold-covered Golden Hall of Chusonji
Read the summer grasses haiku at Takadachi Gikeido
Climb about 1,000 steps to Yamadera mountain temple
Visit Obanazawa, where Basho stayed with a friend
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Chusonji temple and Golden Hall entry
- Takadachi Gikeido entry
- Yamadera temple entry
- Basho museum entry in Obanazawa
Yours — paid on the day
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Hotel accommodation (you book your own hotel in Fukushima, Hiraizumi and Yamagata)
- Optional souvenir purchases
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
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From¥320,000
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