Overview
Traditionally created so that 17th century feudal lords, samurai and traders could transport their missives and minions between Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo), the Nakasendo Trail now has a more peaceful mission. To provide a slow, central mountain route through ancient forests, along ridges and mountain paths with views of the Japanese Alps, all dipping down to a collection of 69 ‘post towns’, such as Magome, Tsumago and Narai, still proudly hosting travellers in traditional ryokan inns. The traditional trail is 500km, but our self-guided walking holiday covers a rich collection of Nakasendo highlights, with two days in the wetlands of Kamikochi thrown into the magical mix.
- Nakasendo Trail
- Villages of Magome, Tsumago and Narai
- Kamikochi wetlands
- Matsumoto and Takayama Castles
- Okuhida Mountains
- Stay in ryokans
Itinerary
Day 1: Magome to Tsumago and Nagiso | 8.5km
Take the iconic Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto or Tokyo to Nakatsugawa, where you take a bus for the short journey to Magome. Walk over Magome Pass to Tsumago, one of the best-preserved of the Nakasendo post towns. You are transferred to a ryokan for the evening, a short drive from the main village of Tsumago.
- Accommodation: Fuki no Mori in Nagiso or another onsen ryokan close to Tsumago
- Walking for the day: 8.5km, 3h, ↑325m ↓430m
Day 2: Nagiso to Nojiri | 18.5km
The longest day on the trail is a hike from Tsumago or Nagiso to Nojiri. The trail takes you through small valleys and forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar. Continue by train to Kiso-Fukushima. Stay at a ryokan set in a valley above the town. The ryokan provides a complimentary transfer from the station and has indoor and outdoor hot spring baths.
- Accommodation: Onyado Tsutaya in Kiso-Fukushima
- Walking for the day: 18.5km, 6-7h, ↑725m ↓645m
Day 3: Kiso-Fukushima rest day | 7km
A day to relax and explore the historic Kiso-Fukushima. If you want to do another walk, we recommend one through a quiet, scenic forest before taking in key areas of the town.
- Accommodation: Onyado Tsutaya in Kiso-Fukushima
- Walking for the day (optional): 7km, 2-3h ↑635m ↓635m
Day 4: Yabuhara to Narai and Hirasawa | 9km
Travel by train for the short journey from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara, the starting point for the hike over Torii pass to Narai. Explore the village before a short walk to Kiso-Hirasawa, a historic lacquerware town. From here, continue on by train and bus to your ryokan accommodation for the evening.
- Accommodation: Higashi Ishikawa Ryokan close to Matsumoto
- Walking for the day: 9km, 4h, ↑345m ↓270m (shorter option: 6km, 2-3h)
Day 5: Kamikochi wetlands | 10km
Travel by bus to the biodiverse wetlands of Kamikochi. Continue on to a secluded ryokan in Okuhida for the evening.
- Accommodation: Ryokan Sansui in Okuhida
- Walking for the day: 10km, 4h, mostly flat ( (shorter option: 3km, 1-2h)
Day 6: Oku-Hida and Takayama. Departure | 6km
One final hike in the Okuhida Mountains provides views over the surrounding Northern Japan Alps. Explore the town before heading onwards by bus to Takayama, which is well-known for its crafts, particularly yew-wood carving, Shunkei lacquerware, pottery and furniture. There is an opportunity to explore the ruins of Takayama Castle and nearby temples. There is an option to book an extra night or extend your holiday to take in other parts of Japan.
- Accommodation: no overnight included
- Walking for the day (optional): 6km, 3-4h
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of locally-owned hotels and traditional ryokans. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn with tatami mats and futon bedding. Dinners are served together, usually in the dining room and are multi-course meals. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria, including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food, and commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Many ryokans have both en-suite bathrooms (except for some older buildings) and an onsen, a communal hot spring-style baths (segregated by gender). They are the classic Japanese experience. Please note that, in Japan, it is common for accommodations to have twin rooms rather than double. If you prefer a double bed, we will happily request this at time of booking, however it can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view example accommodations
- Fuki no Mori (Nagiso)
- Onyado Tsutaya (Kiso-Fukushima)
- Higashi Ishikawa Ryokan(Matsumoto)
- Ryokan Sansui (Okuhida)
In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Five breakfasts and dinners are included. Most meals will be Japanese cuisine. Vegetarian options are available but limited. Strict vegetarian diets, vegan diets, or gluten-free diets will be difficult to accommodate due to the pervasiveness of the fish-based stock dashi and the use of soy sauce and miso in Japanese cuisine. Tips are not required in Japan.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is suitable for walkers who do regular walking or hiking and are comfortable walking for up to a full day with some climbing and descending (read more about difficulty grades). Some of the walks can be optionally shortened (or completely skipped) using the excellent local public transportation system. Routes are well signposted in most parts. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
We can organise this walking tour from the beginning of May till late October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season – so please indicate desired beginning date when booking.
Please note that travel during Golden Week, O-Bon, or the End of Year holidays may incur supplements of up to 20%. We will only pass along to you the actual supplement charged to us by the accommodation, and we do not mark these up. For more information, see our blog on the Best time to go to Japan.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita Airport (NRT) in Tokyo or Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka.
By train or bus
- Individual arrival train tickets from Kyoto or Tokyo to the Nakasendo Trail are included in your package. You have to make your own transfer arrangements to Kyoto/Tokyo and from Takayama.
Arrive in Tokyo:
There are regular trains from Haneda Airport and Narita Airport to Tokyo. For timetables and further information, visit Navitime or use the Omio planner above.
Arrive in Osaka:
There are regular trains from Kansai Airport to Kyoto. For timetables and further information, visit Navitime or use the Omio planner above.
Departure from Takayama:
There are no direct train services to Tokyo, the fastest route requires a train change in Nagoya from where there are regular Shinkansen trains to Tokyo. For timetables and further information, visit Navitime or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation for five nights in Japanese-style inns. Japanese-style accommodation will usually be in tatami-mat rooms
- Meals as indicated in the Itinerary above (five breakfasts and five dinners)
- Individual arrival train tickets from Kyoto or Tokyo to the trail and intermediate train journeys as described in the itinerary
- Topographical maps and walking Instructions
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare to and from Japan
- Airport transfers
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Luggage transfers
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Entrance fees to museums, temples etc.
- Local bus journeys on Days 1, 4, 5 and 6
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- We regret that on this tour, it is not possible to book single rooms
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
Baggage transfers
Please note that daily luggage transfers are not available for this tour. The best way to deal with excess luggage is to send it ahead using Japan’s excellent Takkyubin Courier service. These services are secure, efficient and economical, typically around JPY2,000 (€12-13) per bag, per transfer. Luggage will not be able to be transferred to every hotel, so you will need to carry overnight essentials in your daypack for the intervening nights. Takkyubin can be arranged once you are in Japan, usually with help from the concierge of your hotel or guesthouse. Some smaller local hotels and inns may not offer the service, but they will direct you to the nearest location where the service is available, such as local convenience shops.
All inns provide cotton yukata gowns and slippers for you to wear after arrival for dining, relaxing in your room, exploring outside and sleeping. They also provide small towels, soap, shampoo and hairdryers. You don’t need a complete change of clothing for the evening, so it is possible to manage with just a medium daypack to carry overnight essentials.
