This longer, linear hike of the Nakasendo Trail reveals more hidden highlights. Stay in traditional Japanese inns in Tsumago, the onsen town of Kiso-Fukushima, and historic Narai as you enjoy hikes of 1 to 6 hours.
Nakasendo self-guided walking 4 days
Nakasendo self-guided walking 4 days
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November 2023
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Tour details
Nakasendo self-guided walking 4 days
x1 traveller
USD 0
Single room additional charge
USD 395
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: 4 days
- Trip level:Active
- Availability: Recommended from April to November
- Type:Self-guided
- Price: USD 1,290(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
- See beautifully-crafted lacquerware in Kiso-Hirasawa
- Walking over 4 days in the picturesque Kiso Valley; overnight stays in Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima and Narai
- Hike country trails and quiet rural roads, with some gentle ascents and descents
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 comfortable Ryokan 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 on some sections of the trail - read about luggage options here.
What is included
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3 nights at Japanese inns along the Nakasendo Trail |
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3 breakfasts and 3 dinners |
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Train tickets from Kyoto or Tokyo to the trail and from the trail to Kyoto or to Tokyo |
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Train tickets for intermediate journeys on the Nakasendo Trail |
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Detailed day-by-day itinerary and walking directions |
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Topographical maps |
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Local support by telephone |
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Our Preparing for your trip and Travelling in Japan Guidebooks |
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Optional orientation at our Kyoto office |
What is not included
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Flights |
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Airport transfers |
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Pay locally for drinks with meals and for lunches |
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Pay locally for bus journeys on Days 1 |
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Single room supplement(s) if required |
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Daily Luggage Transfer - Please enquire for luggage options |
Itinerary
Day 1 Hike from Magome to Tsumago
We supply train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or from Tokyo to Nakatsugawa, including a ride on the world-famous Shinkansen (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, with a delicious home-cooked Japanese dinner and breakfast included. 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: 8.3km / 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 326m / 1,069 feet of ascent and 430m / 1,410 feet of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse)
Meals: Dinner
Typical Accommodation
Daikichi Minshuku
Located in the post-town of Tsumago, Daikichi is run by three generations of the same family. We use a range of family-run Minshuku in the villages of Tsumago and O-Tsumago
Day 2 Hike from Tsumago to Nojiri
The longest day on the trail is a beautiful and varied hike from Tsumago to Nojiri. Or 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 least-developed scenery on the tour. Continue by train to Kiso-Fukushima. Stay at a lovely hot-spring Ryokan set in a peaceful valley above the town. Complimentary transfer from the station is provided by the Ryokan. The Ryokan has lovely indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths.
Walking distance: 18.4km/ 11.5 miles
Elevation gain: 723m / 2,275 feet of ascent and 644m / 2,112 feet of descent
Time required: About 6 hours
We offer a shorter alternative of 1 hour (3.7km / 2.3 miles). You can choose which option you prefer on the day - no need to decide in advance!
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 Hike from Yabuhara to Narai and on to Kiso-Hirasawa
We supply train tickets for the short journey from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara, the starting point for the hike over the Torii Pass to Narai. Explore this atmospheric village before you continue on today's journey to the small town of Kiso-Hirasawa, famous for its lacquerware. There are many small shops selling beautifully crafted tableware and furniture. From Kiso-Hirasawa, transfer by train to the castle town of Matsumoto for your overnight stay. Your hosts will serve a home-cooked Japanese dinner and breakfast.
Walking distance: 8.7 km / 5.5 mi
Elevation gain: 344 m / 1,128 ft of ascent and 270 m / 885 ft of descent
Time required: About 4 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (family-run guesthouse) or ryokan (traditional Japanese inn)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Sightseeing in Matsumoto and onward journey to Kyoto or to Tokyo
After breakfast, you will have time dedicated to sightseeing around Matsumoto. Highly recommended is a visit to Matsumoto Castle, one of only 12 castles in Japan that has retained its original interior and exterior structures. When you are finished in Matsumoto, you will board a train from Matsumoto Station for your onward journey to Kyoto or to Tokyo.
Meals: Breakfast
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