Nakasendo Trail (Walk Only)
- The beautifully preserved Nakasendo post towns such as Tsumago & Narai
- Walking through the beautiful Kiso Valley on the Nakasendo Trail.
- Following in the footsteps of the Tokugawa Shoguns on the road through the mountains.
- Staying in small beautiful traditional ryokan and minshuku.
- Sumptuous evening meals beautifully presented at the family table.
- Discovering the beauty, tradition and hospitality of rural Japan
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Nakasendo Trail - Transfer to Magome and walk to Tsumago 5.2 miles / 8.3 kmTravel by train to Nakatsugawa and onwards by bus to Magome, where you begin your walk on the Nakasendo Trail to Tsumago over the Magome-toge Pass. This is one of the most challenging parts of the Nakasendo rising to 801m above sea level.
The Nakasendo Trail had 69 post towns, numbered from Edo (Tokyo) and Magome is the 43rd. Tsumago is the 42nd Nakasendo post town. It is beautifully preserved and truly evocative of a traditional Nakasendo post town from the late Edo period.
Ascent:Â 239m / Descent:Â 415m
Matsushiroya is a traditional-style inn established in 1804 in the middle of Tsumago. There are six tatami-mat rooms for guests, several toilets and washbasins, plus two rooms for bathing. Usually, one bathing room is used communally by men and one is used communally by women, but depending on occupancy levels the inn may suggest that guests bathe privately in turn. The owner will lay out your futon for you.
Leaving Tsumago, the trail travels through small valleys and past forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar, through some of the least-developed scenery on the tour. At six hours this is the longest day of walking on the Nakasendo Trail and from Nojiri you continue by train to Kiso-Fukushima.
Ascent:Â 820m / Descent: 1060m (shorter option available to reduce walk to 1 hour)
Overnight:Â Pick-up from the station is provided
Komanoyu Ryokan is about a 10-minute drive outside the town of Kiso Fukushima. The ryokan will collect you from Kiso Fukushima railway station if you call them. Public payphones are available just outside the station. If you arrive early, Kiso-Fukushima has enough interesting streets and shops to explore. Komanoyu has lovely, big onsen baths with indoor and outdoor sections.
Your journey continues first by train from Kiso Fukushima to Yabuhara, where you start today’s walk. From Yabuhara the trail climbs the Torii-toge Pass, one of the hardest parts of the Nakasendo, to the village of Narai. This historic town was one of the most prosperous of the 69 towns on the Nakasendo Trail. They residents here impose strict rules on ownership of the homes ensuring it remains traditional and locally retained.
Your walk continues a little further along the trail to Kiso Hirasawa, which is famous for its lacquerware. There are many small shops selling beautifully crafted tableware and furniture.
From Kiso-Hirasawa you transfer by train (approx. 2hrs) to the castle town of Matsumoto.
Ascent: 344m/1128 ft  Descent: 270m/885 ft
Traditional accommodation with Tatami flooring. Traditional Tatami rooms offering breakfast. Air conditioning and free Wifi close to local train station.
After breakfast you will have time for sightseeing in Matsumoto. We highly recommend visiting Matsumoto Castle – which is just one of 12 castles in Japan that has retained its original interior and exterior structures.Â
When you are finished sightseeing in Matsumoto you travel by train (approx. 2hrs) to Karuizawa. This town has a real sense of history and fine Japanese baths.
This venerable Ryokan has around 400 years of history. The current lobby, with its carpets and armchairs, shows the start of western influences on Japan during the Meiji period. There are 24 comfortable rooms. All have private toilets and most have private bathrooms. There are two wonderful indoor baths, open from 14:00 until 10:00 the next morning, segregated by gender.
Start by hiking up to Touge, and then a long, gentle descent through beautiful forests to the town of Sakamoto-juku, and continue on to Yokokawa (approx 6hrs walking). From here you board your train for Tokyo (2 hours). It is also possible to shorten this day by taking a short taxi (arranged locally, small extra cost) to Touge to cut this day down to 4-5 hours of walking.
Ascent:Â 375m / Descent: 850m
Overnight:Â Not included. Tokyo recommended.
This trip has a carbon score of 15kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our greenest trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 15kg is equivalent to 88.5 candy bars. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?There really is no better way to discover rural Japan than on foot at your own pace. Wonderful scenery, rich tradition and culture, beautiful lodgings and amazing food make the Nakasendo Trail a unique experience. This five day walk on the Nakasendo Way fits really well with a longer visit to Japan.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 10 Years
The route is graded as moderate. The walking is mostly on paved village paths and unpaved mountain trails, with some gentle ascents and descents. On most days you will be walking for between 2 and 6 hours and ideally, you should be a regular walker to get the most from the trip or do some training prior to the trip. The walk is highly customisable and we can advise which days to leave out if you want a shorter or more gentle walk.
We use local family-run minshuku (guest houses) in the juku (post towns) each night. They are generally simply furnished and less formal, but have excellent food and a wonderful personal service. Here are some examples of the accommodation we use most often.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo walkers and a limited number of single rooms are available, although a single/solo supplement is payable.
MealsÂ
Japanese cuisine is the highlight of many people’s visit to Japan, and this is especially the case on the Nakasendo Trail. Your trip includes all breakfasts and 4 evening meals whilst on the trail. Most meals will be Japanese cuisine, though breakfast in western-style hotels usually includes more familiar choices.
Dinner and breakfast in ryokan and minshuku are set meals, usually with a whole succession of different dishes which will delight you. Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included with meals. Tipping is not customary at hotels and restaurants in Japan.
The route is waymarked (in English and Japanese) and we provide detailed route notes and topographic maps so you should have no problem following the trail.
- 4 Nights minshuku (guest house) accommodation on the Nakasendo trail.
- 4 Breakfasts
- 4 evening meals
- Train tickets from either Kyoto or Tokyo to the start of the walk and from Yokokawa to Tokyo
- Detailed information pack with local travel information, detailed route notes, topographical maps and hints and tips
- Telephone support from our local, English speaking, representative.
- International flights.
- Drinks with meals
- Lunches
- Local bus is on day 4, and should be paid locally (around ¥800, £5 or $9).
- Baggage forwarding is not included, though we provide instructions for how this can be easily arrang
- Extra Nights in Kyoto, Tokyo or Osaka (prices on request for Kyoto & Osaka)
- Daily luggage transfers (Magome to Narai)
This trip is available to start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between April and November.
Accommodations are busy and may charge extra during the following Japanese holiday periods: New Year (29 December to 04 January), Golden Week (29 April - 05 May), and O-bon (13 - 15 August). Please note, that during these peak holiday times, prices will be confirmed according to what availability there is for certain accommodations.
Time of Year
It is tough to beat the spring months of April and May but the autumn colours in October and November are also great! The rainy season in Japan is from early June through to mid-July. During this time of year, it can become very humid but the rain does cool the temperatures down a bit to around 25-26°C. Short, tropical cyclones can also hit Japan between June and October.Â
By Air: The best airport to arrive at is Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX), which has flights from international destinations. Ideally, you should book an open-jaw ticket departing from Tokyo or alternatively try and get your airline to throw the internal flight in.
You can also fly into Tokyo Narita (NRT) and take an internal flight or the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto (3h30).
The West Japan Rail Company operates services between Kansai Airport and Osaka/Kyoto. For timetable information please visit http://www.westjr.co.jp/global.en/travel-information/timetable. The Airport Express HARUKA (Kansai Airport Line) takes approx 75 mins to Kyoto.
By Air: The best airport to depart from is Tokyo Narita (NRT). Alternatively, you may take the shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo back to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) for onward travel.Â
The West Japan Rail Company operates services between Kansai Airport and Osaka/Kyoto. For timetable information please visit http://www.westjr.co.jp/global.en/travel-information/timetable. The Airport Express HARUKA (Kansai Airport Line) takes approx 75 mins to Kyoto.
Luggage transfer is not included during your walk as standard and you have a couple of options here. The first option is to arrange luggage transfers by a service called Takkyubin which is a courier service in Japan and can only be booked in Japan. This is cheap, reliable and costs approx £12 per day. With this service, your bags will not be moved each day but instead will be waiting for you at your accommodation a couple of nights later. On the Nakasendo Trail, we recommend forwarding your luggage from Kyoto (or wherever you are staying before the walk) to Kiso-Fukushima. You carry overnight essentials in your daypack for your night in Tsumago. You then forward your luggage from Kiso-Fukushima to Tokyo (or wherever you are staying after the walk); you carry your overnight essentials for your nights in Narai and Karuizawa. Our information pack has full details of how to use this service, which is really easy.
Your accommodations during the walk provide robes to wear in the evening and shoes are not worn inside, so you only need your hiking gear and can travel very light.
The other option is to arrange a daily baggage transfer service if you prefer to access your bag every night and this can be booked in advance through ourselves. Daily Luggage Transfer offers the option of bringing luggage by train and bus to the trail, and then having it transferred from inn to inn on a daily basis. However, as it can be quite difficult to navigate public transport with luggage, we recommend Takkubin as the most convenient method. On the Nakasendo Trail, this service is available from Magome through to Narai. You will need to carry your bags with you from Narai onwards.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.Â
Visas
Please check your visa requirements with the foreign office or the embassy in your country of residence before travelling to Japan.
British nationals wishing to visit Japan for three months or less for business, tourism or family purposes etc (but not to work for a local employer) may do so without a visa. You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket. Please visit www.fco.gov.uk for up to date information.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear, sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
The route is graded as moderate. The walking is mostly on paved village paths and unpaved mountain trails, with some gentle ascents and descents. On most days you will be walking for between 2 and 6 hours and ideally, you should be a regular walker to get the most from the trip or do some training prior to the trip. The walk is highly customisable and we can advise which days to leave out if you want a shorter or more gentle walk.
The best airport to arrive at is Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX), which has flights from international destinations. Ideally, you should book an open jaw ticket departing from Tokyo or alternatively try and get your airline to throw the internal flight in. You can also fly into Tokyo Narita (NRT) and take an internal flight or the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto (3h30).
Yes, please just let us know at the time of booking. Most food during the walk is Japanese style. It is worth mentioning however, that many dishes do contain the ubiquitous Japanese fish stock called dashi. This is an ingredient in many soups and sauces so it is helpful if you are able to accept dishes containing this.
No, our detailed info pack and a little bit of effort on your part will get you by. Most signs are also in English. Our specialist Laura travelled to Japan in 2014 and you can read her experience of travelling in Japan with little language skills on the blog.
You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack, warm clothing in the early/late part of the year and hats etc during the summer. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack. Â
It is tough to beat the spring months of April and May but the summer months from June to September are also great as are the autumn colours in October and November.
Luggage transfer is not included during your walk as standard and you have a couple of options here. The first option is to arrange luggage transfers by a service called Takkyubin which is a courier service in Japan and can only be booked in Japan. This is cheap, reliable and costs approx £12 per day. With this service your bags will not be moved each day but instead will be waiting for you at your accommodation a couple of nights later. On the Nakasendo trail we recommend forwarding your luggage from Kyoto (or wherever you are staying before the walk) to Kiso-Fukushima. You carry overnight essentials in your daypack for your night in Tsumago. You then forward your luggage from Kiso-Fukushima to Tokyo (or wherever you are staying after the walk); you carry your overnight essentials for your nights in Narai and Karuizawa. Our information pack has full details of how to use this service, which is really easy.
Your accommodation during the walk provide robes to wear in the evening and shoes are not worn inside, so you only need your hiking gear and can travel very light.
The other option is to arrange a daily baggage transfer service if you prefer to access your bag every night and this can be booked in advance through ourselves. Daily Luggage Transfer offers the option of bringing luggage by train and bus to the trail, and then having it transferred from inn to inn on a daily basis. However, as it can be quite difficult to navigate public transport with luggage, we recommend Takkubin as the most convenient method. On the Nakasendo Trail this service is available from Magome through to Narai. You will need to carry your bags with you from Narai onwards.
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