Join AdventureWomen and Super Age on a journey designed to challenge the body and recalibrate perspective. For over a thousand years, pilgrims have walked sacred mountain trails seeking transformation. What they found is what science now confirms: awe in nature fundamentally changes us. The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku—forest bathing. We call it Awe Walking, and it is a proven practice that helps you embody something vast: possibility and aliveness. We call it your pathway to understanding that longevity isn’t about optimization, it’s about building a life that is expansive, resilient, and deeply joyful. Hike 15+ miles of mist-shrouded trails on sometimes steep terrain. Soak in thermal waters that have restored travelers for centuries. Practice awe walks through forests that science shows can quiet your inner critic and expand your sense of time. This is where ancient wisdom meets modern longevity research—and where you discover that the most powerful anti-aging practice might just be wonder itself.

Super Age is a new media brand focused on whole-human longevity, guided by a simple question: how do you build a life that stays expansive, resilient, joyful, and deeply alive over time?

They explore the science of long-term vitality of the body, mind, and spirit: from how experiences of awe support the nervous and immune systems to how movement builds lasting capacity, and we share evidence-based practices that sustain resilience beyond trends. Their work translates cutting-edge research into lived experience, strengthening physical endurance, emotional range, cognitive flexibility, and meaningful connection.

On every Super Age x AdventureWomen journey, a Super Age facilitator joins the group and will guide a series of Awe Walks. Woven into hikes and quiet moments, Awe Walks deepen adventure, helping integrate challenge, beauty, and perspective into something transformational.

These experiences are designed not only to challenge the body, but to recalibrate perspective, so people leave feeling more capable, more grounded, and more open to what’s possible in this one beautiful life.

✓ Forest bathing backed by science - Experience how Japan's shinrin-yoku practice measurably reduces stress hormones and inflammation.

✓ Traditional onsen immersion - Thermal waters proven to improve circulation, recovery, and nervous system regulation.

✓ Japan's longevity secrets - From kaiseki cuisine to mindful hiking practices cultivated over centuries.

✓ Cultural depth - Temple stays, tea ceremonies, and encounters with a way of life that honors the sacred in the everyday.

✓ Awe Walks along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, using research-backed practices to cultivate wonder and presence.

✓ Expert AdventureWomen guides fluent in Japanese wellness traditions and the art of transformative travel.

✓ Practices that last - Return with rituals that serve your health and sense of meaning for decades.

Super Age Awe Walks are a signature practice unique to our partnership with AdventureWomen. Awe Walks were developed by leading awe researcher Dacher Keltner in collaboration with Super Age Founding Editor Heather Hurlock. Grounded in decades of research revealing how experiences of wonder shape human health, resilience, and longevity, Awe Walks are guided experiences that invite you to intentionally notice vastness, beauty, and novelty in the natural world. Rather than focusing on pace or performance, the practice emphasizes how attention, emotion, and meaning shift when we encounter something larger than ourselves.

Research shows that regular experiences of awe are associated with:

• Lower chronic stress and inflammatory markers

• Improved emotional regulation and mood

• A greater sense of connection, meaning, and time abundance

• Psychological and physiological patterns linked to long-term resilience

On this journey, Awe Walks are woven naturally into hikes, lakeside pauses, and moments of stillness. They are not separate from the adventure, they enrich it, helping the nervous system integrate challenge, beauty, and effort into something lasting.

Through immersion in sacred landscapes and time-tested practices, you'll discover what research confirms: awe is medicine for the body and the soul. Walking through vast forests, you'll activate what scientists call the "small self" effect: less stress, more connection, expanded time perception. You'll return not just rested, but fundamentally shifted in your understanding of what it means to live well.

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)

Conveniently located in downtown Kyoto, this hotel has one restaurant and one bar.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, safe, cable TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning

Organic Hotel Kirinosato (or similar)

Kirinosato offers friendly service, magnificent views from each room and delicious meals with locally produced organic rice and vegetables. The Japanese-style tatami-mat rooms and western-style rooms have an en suite toilet, two gender-specific communal bathing rooms (available 3-11pm & 7-9am).

Amenities: en suite toilet, communal bathing area with complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, Wi-Fi in lobby area

Yunomineso (or similar)

Offering tranquil outdoor hot-spring baths with nature views, Yunomineso is a perfect place to put your feet up after a few days on the trail. The traditional rooms have sliding paper screens, floor cushions, and Japanese futon bedding on a tatami (woven straw) floor.

Amenities: ensuite toilet, communal bathing area with complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, Wi-Fi in lobby area

Kamenoi Hotel Nachi Katsuura (or similar)

This hotel offers spacious, comfortable Japanese-style rooms with great views out onto the sea, and boasts both indoor and outdoor baths, each with a view of Nachi Falls in the distance. The inn also boasts a great selection of delicious dishes, prepared using tuna fresh from the morning market, beautifully decorated with locally sourced seasonal vegetables.

Amenities: ensuite bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, Wi-Fi

Toba Hotel International (or similar)

Sophisticated hospitality welcomes you at the Toba Hotel International. Relax on the terrace, enjoy hot spring baths, and the breathtaking views of the ocean.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, safe, cable TV, Wi-Fi

Prince Park Tower (or similar)

Rising above Shiba Park and located by Tokyo Tower, this property offers spacious rooms with skyline views and is within walking distance to various train stations.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, bathrobes, hair dryer, minibar, electric kettle, cable TV, Wi-Fi

Arrival: Arrive in Osaka, Japan (ITM) on Day 1 by 2:00 PM.

Departure: Depart from either Narita Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) in Tokyo, Japan on Day 11 after 10:00 AM.

Crafted for women ready for a challenge, our Dynamic trips feature regular activity on varied terrain with moderate elevation gains. These are perfect for those with hiking and outdoor experience and a sense of adventure.

On a Dynamic trip, you might:

• Enjoy consecutive days of hiking/activities for up to 3-4 hours a day at low to moderate altitude

• Encounter diverse terrain with uneven surfaces, gentle to moderate inclines, and natural obstacles such as a shallow creek crossing, and occasional rocky or root-covered paths 

• Be comfortable and physically fit to cover an average distance of 5-8 miles on some days

Begin your journey during cherry blossom season, savoring Japanese feasts, exploring ancient traditions, hiking the Kumano Kodo trails, relaxing in hot springs, and meeting remarkable Japanese women. Arrive in Osaka and transfer to your Kyoto hotel. Meet the group and enjoy a lively welcome dinner, sharing stories with fellow travelers about your excitement for the adventure ahead. Your guide, versed in Japan’s culture, traditions, history, and cuisine, and the incredible individuals you meet will make your experience fun and personally fulfilling, cheering you on as you embrace new challenges.

Meals: dinner | Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)

Begin your day with a visit to Ginkakuji Temple, known for its beautiful gardens and tea house, then stroll along the Philosopher’s Path, lined with craft shops, cafés, shrines, temples, and cherry trees. Stop at Nanzenji, a tranquil Zen Buddhist temple from the mid-13th century. After lunch at a private restaurant, meet a Maiko, an apprentice Geisha, or a Geiko, a fully qualified Geisha, and learn about their revered traditional arts. In the afternoon, explore the back lanes and traditions of Gion, a district famous for its tea houses and geiko. Enjoy dinner on your own with recommendations from your guide.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)

Visit Todaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for housing the world’s largest bronze statue of Buddha Vairocana and one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Walk through Nara Park, home to over 1,000 sacred deer, considered messengers of the gods. After lunch on your own, explore Naramachi, an old town section with craftspeople, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés. Return to Kyoto for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.

Meals: breakfast, dinner | Overnight: The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (or similar)

This morning, take the train from Kyoto to Kii Tanabe, then a bus to Takijiri. After lunch, start your 2.8-mile hike on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. The path climbs steadily for about 1,200 feet over two hours to the ridge-top village of Takahara. Enjoy a delicious evening meal made with organic, locally sourced ingredients.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Yunomineso (or similar)

Start your day with an early Japanese breakfast before embarking on a 6.5-mile hike through the peaceful countryside, passing several Oji shrines and ascending 1,575 feet. After descending to the village of Chikatsuyu, enjoy a late lunch and meet a local women's group preserving traditional crafts. Relax before dinner at your family-run guest house and soak in the hot springs bath.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Kawayu Onsen Fujiya (or similar)

Take a bus to Hosshinmon-oji and hike a gentle 4-mile section to the Kumano Grand Shrine, accompanied by a female yamabushi, learning about Shugendo faith. In Hongu, create traditional Japanese washi paper and get it stamped at the shrine. Enjoy lunch at a local café, then spend the night in Yunomine Onsen with a relaxing soak and a delicious dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Kawayu Onsen Fujiya (or similar)

Visit Nachi Shrine and the nearby Nachi waterfall, set in a primeval forest with an ancient stone approach. The waterfall, a focus of traditional worship, adds to the spiritual experience. Have lunch at a local café, then enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Kamenoi Hotel Nachi Katsuura (or similar)

Send your large bag ahead to Tokyo and take the train to Ise, where you’ll visit the outer shrine dedicated to the spirit of food, clothing, and housing. Explore Okage Yokocho, a relocated area of old pilgrimage route buildings, now housing shops and restaurants. Enjoy lunch on your own before driving to Toba and dining at your hotel.

Meals: breakfast, dinner | Overnight: Toba Hotel International (or similar)

Spend the morning with an Ama Diver, learning about her unique profession and enjoying a special seafood lunch. Take regional and bullet trains to Tokyo. Dinner will be a bento meal eaten on the train.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Prince Park Tower (or similar)

Visit the Hama-Rikyu gardens, contrasting the historical villa site with the modern Shiodome business area. Explore the Ginza shopping district and the Grand Meiji Shrine near Harajuku, dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Enjoy lunch along the way and have a farewell dinner with your AdventureWomen friends, celebrating your journey through Japan.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Prince Park Tower (or similar)

Transfer to the airport and say goodbye to your AdventureWomen friends. Depart from Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) after 10:00 AM. Enjoy breakfast before your departure.