OTARI, NAGANO

Though the company's administrative HQ is in Australia, Hike and Bike's Japan base is in the small, rural village of Otari, located at the edge of northern Nagano prefecture - where our local guide Paul resides. Otari is surrounded by gorgeous mountains and blessed with clear rivers, dense forests, abundant hot springs and stunning nature. But even more importantly, Otari offers endless opportunities to take part in active adventures, experience authentic Japanese culture, witness time-honored traditions, sample local cuisine and be on the receiving end of true countryside hospitality.

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Paul's home is a 140-year-old wooden house perched on a verdant hillside, and from here it's only a short hop to challenging multi-day treks in high-altitude mountains, relaxed hikes on historical footpaths, refreshing indoor and outdoor hot springs, world-class ski resorts, incredible snowshoeing & backcountry skiing, and much more.  And if you prefer to relax and experience daily life, or join local residents in planting rice, searching for edible mountain plants, picking raspberries, making handmade soba noodles or shoveling snow; this is the perfect place to make that happen.​