Village-to-village hiking of the highlights of the Nakasendo, recommended for novices and families. Enjoy flexible hiking with 3 hikes of 1 to 6 hours.
Nakasendo self-guided walking 3 days
Nakasendo self-guided walking 3 days
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January 2024
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Tour details
Nakasendo self-guided walking 3 days
x1 traveller
USD 0
Single room additional charge
USD 375
TOTAL
USD 0
If you would like to do multiple tours in one trip or have a question about any of our tours, do not hesitate to contact us with the button below.
- Duration: 3 days
- Trip level:Active
- Availability: Recommended from April to November
- Type:Self-guided
- Price: USD 1,150(Price per person, based on 2 travellers sharing a room)
Highlights
- Village to village walking on the loveliest parts of the old Nakasendo Trail
- Visit the exquisitely-preserved villages of Magome, Tsumago and Narai
- Bathe in the thermal waters at a hot-spring Ryokan
- Walking over 3 days in the picturesque Kiso Valley with overnight stays in Tsumago and Kiso-Fukushima
- Hike country trails and quiet rural roads, with some gentle ascents and descents
- Sleep on Futons laid out on Tatami-mat flooring in traditional Japanese inns
The Nakasendo or 'Road through the Central Mountains' was part of feudal Japan's network of highways. Travellers moving between Kyoto and Tokyo took several days to travel the Nakasendo, staying overnight in Juku post towns. Today's visitors can walk sections of the original route by day and stay in local inns by night.
All our self-guided Nakasendo Trail tours offer the opportunity to spend a leisurely second night at the traditional Japanese inn in Kiso-Fukushima, part-way along the trail. Please ask for information about our tour extensions; enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji from the Hakone hot spring area and the rural village of Oshino Mura, or the peaceful, agricultural community of Asuka at a charming Japanese inn or with a local family for a unique homestay experience.
Learn more about how our resident staff support our guests in interacting with locals in the village of Tsumago along the Nakasendo trail, and how we we foster relationships with, and contribute to the community by visiting our local Nakasendo branch page.
Daily luggage transfer is available as an optional extra service - read about luggage options here
We happily welcome younger walkers on to our trips with an accompanying adult. We offer a 10% price reduction for children (6-11) and an 80% price reduction for infants (0-5). Please contact us for specific hiking, meal or bedding enquiries.
What is included
 | 2 nights at Japanese inns along the Nakasendo Trail |
 | 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners |
 | Train tickets from Kyoto or Tokyo to the trail and from the trail to Kyoto or to Tokyo |
| Train tickets for intermediate journeys on the Nakasendo Trail which can be pre-booked in advance |
 | Detailed day-by-day itinerary and walking directions |
 | Detailed maps |
 | Local support by telephone and at our Nakasendo branch |
 | Our Preparing for Your Trip and Travelling in Japan guidebooks |
What is not included
 | Flights |
 | Airport transfers |
 | Drinks and meals not included in itinerary |
 | Local bus journeys which must be paid directly to the bus driver |
 | Single room supplement(s) for solo occupancy |
 | Daily luggage transfer |
Itinerary
Day 1: Hike from Magome to Tsumago
We supply train tickets for your journey starting from Kyoto or Tokyo to Nakatsugawa, including a ride on the world-famous bullet train to Nagoya. At Nakatsugawa, you board a local bus for the short journey to Magome. Walk over Magome Pass to Tsumago, one of the best-preserved and most evocative of the Nakasendo post towns. Spend the night at a family-run minshuku in Tsumago or the nearby hamlet of O-Tsumago. Enjoy a delicious home-cooked Japanese dinner and breakfast included in your stay. After dinner, enjoy a stroll through the village streets in the magical quiet of the evening, wearing the yukata gown supplied by your inn.
Walking distance: 8.3 km / 5.2 mi
Elevation gain: 326 m / 1,069 ft of ascent and 430 m / 1,410 ft of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (family-run guesthouse)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Hike from Tsumago to Nojiri
The longest day on the trail is a beautiful and varied hike from Tsumago to Nojiri. You may also choose the shorter alternative to Nagiso instead. The trail travels through small valleys and past forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar, through some of the most unspoilt scenery on the tour. Continue by train to Kiso-Fukushima, a historic post town that once flourished as a political and economic centre in the Kiso Valley. Tonight, enjoy kaiseki-style cuisine and hot spring baths.
Walking distance: 18.4 km / 11.5 mi
Elevation gain: 723 m / 2,275 ft of ascent and 644 m / 2,112 ft of descent
Time required: About 6 hours
We offer a shorter alternative of 1 hour (3.7 km / 2.3 mi). You can choose which option you prefer on the day – no need to decide in advance!
Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn) or onsen hotel (hot spring hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3: Hike from Yabuhara to Narai
You will return to Kiso-Fukushima after breakfast. We supply train tickets for the short journey from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara, starting point for the hike over the Torii pass to Narai. Explore this atmospheric village before boarding your train for the journey onwards to Kyoto or to Tokyo, arriving late afternoon.
Walking distance: 6.2 km / 3.9 mi
Elevation gain: 344 m / 1,128 ft of ascent and 270 m / 885 ft of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
In Kiso-Fukushima we offer an optional, fairly strenuous, circular walk to a local waterfall. The circular walk is 7km / 4.3 miles with 632m / 2,075 feet of ascent, 637m / 2,090 feet of descent and takes 2-3 hours. You can take this walk in the morning, before heading onwards to Yabuhara.
Meals: Breakfast
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