Two excellent self-guided tours
We have gone on two self-guided tours with Walk Japan -- the Kunisaki Wayfarer in 2024, and the Nakasendo Wayfarer in 2026.
In both cases the trips were excellent. Walk Japan gave walking directions for each day, booked our hotels, and transferred luggage. The hotels were almost all Japanese-style: futons on tatami mats. About half of the rooms had ensuite toilets and baths. All hotels had shared baths, some of which were quite beautiful.
The meals (breakfast and dinner every day, some lunches on the Kunisaki trip) were delicious. They were almost all Japanese-style kaiseki: lots of little plates in multiple course meals.
The walking directions we were given were excellent and easy to follow, with background information on each location. In some cases on the Nakasendo trip there were train or bus connections needed; recommended times were given in the walking directions. The train tickets and bus tickets were not provided by the tour. On both trips there were a few private transfers by taxi, those were covered by Walk Japan.
A payment of 25% of the trip cost is required when booking, with the balance due one month before the trip. There's a 2.5% surcharge if paying by credit card.