
Chubu · Driven from Nagoya
Japan’s roof. Macaques sitting in a steaming hot spring with snow on their heads, a temple that has kept a hidden Buddha for 1,400 years, and post towns on the old Kiso road where the Edo period is still the architecture. Mountain roads that reward having a driver.
Hour by Hour
A starting point, not a script. Every stop can be swapped, dropped or lingered over on the day.
Early, from Nagoya, Matsumoto or Nagano. Sleep in the car — the seats recline fully.
A 1.6km forest walk to the only place on earth where wild macaques bathe in an onsen.
1,400 years old and older than the sects that divide Japanese Buddhism. Walk the pitch-dark passage beneath the altar and find the key to paradise by touch.
Togakushi soba — buckwheat ground in the mountains that grew it.
Black-walled, original, never rebuilt. One of only twelve keeps in Japan that have stood since the samurai era.
A Nakasendo post town at dusk with no power lines and no vending machines — the preservation is that strict.
Nagoya, Matsumoto, or your ryokan.
Yes — bring the Alphard
Jigokudani, Matsumoto and the Kiso post towns are three hours apart on trains that do not connect well. Without the car this becomes two days instead of one.
The Kiso valley is 1h30m from Nagoya; the snow monkeys are a longer 3h30m run — worth an early start or a two-day plan.
Snow monkeys are best December–March. The Nakasendo is loveliest in October and May.
¥100,000 guide only — trains, walking and taxis at cost.
¥300,000 with the Alphard and driver, door to door — about ¥50,000 each with 6 of you.
¥500,000 guided by Master Ken himself, six days a month.
The Rate
Every one of them is one private group per day, priced for the group rather than per head.
The only question is whether you need the car — and on some days you genuinely do not.
We will tell you which.
BUSHIDO Guideガイドのみ
¥100,000per day · whole group · up to 6
Guide only · all 47 prefectures
Your own English-speaking guide for the day, anywhere in Japan. You travel by train, on foot and by taxi — we go where the rails already go well.
BUSHIDO Private車付き
¥300,000per day · whole group · up to 6
Guide + Alphard + driver
The full day, door to door. A private Toyota Alphard with its own driver, so six of you and six suitcases move as one — including the places the trains make painful.
A Day with Master Kenケン本人
¥500,000per day · whole group · up to 6
Kensuke Ueoka himself · 6 days a month
Ken guides a handful of days each month and no more. Kyudo 4th dan, calligraphy 6th dan, yabusame rider — the day is his practice, not a performance of it.
One flat price for the group — not per head. Two of you or six of you, the day costs the same.
Multi-day journeys are ¥300,000 per day, plus the guide’s accommodation (¥15,000–¥25,000 per night, at cost). Beyond 10 hours, ¥15,000 per hour.
Begin Your Journey
One private group per day — nationwide.
— dates are currently open, synced with Ken’s own calendar.
Inquiring is free. Nothing is charged until your itinerary is confirmed in writing.
We reply within 24 hours — Ken reads every message himself.
Nothing is charged at this stage. You receive a written itinerary and price first;
a 30% deposit by bank transfer confirms the date.
Guiding & hospitality by BUSHIDO LLC. Reservations, travel contracts and payment are handled by our licensed partner 有限会社ローライ (Rollei Co., Ltd.) — Aichi Prefecture Registered Travel Agency No. 3-1516. All vehicles are operated by licensed chartered-hire operators.
Payment & cancellation terms →
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