Nakasendo Trail, Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Koya & Nara

Perfect if you want to combine walking, culture and cities. Wonderful scenery, a rich history, fascinating cities and beautiful lodgings combine to make this tour a great overall insight into 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

The 3 days walking on this tour are graded moderate and the longer walking days can be shortened if you want to cut down the distance. On most days you will be walking between 2 and 6 hours so you should be an occassional to regular walker to get the most from the trip or do so training prior to the trip.

In Tokyo and Kyoto, we use carefully selected 3 or 4* hotels. We use local family-run minshuku and ryokan for the 3 nights on the walking section and in Nara. And in Mount Koya, you stay in monastery temple lodging. 

The classic Japanese inn, Ryokan come in many styles, but are united by flawless service and exquisitely-prepared food. Ryokan may be in modern or traditional wooden buildings, but rooms are always Japanese style, with Tatami (straw mat) floors and futons for sleeping laid out in the evening by the Ryokan staff. Minshuku are similar to Ryokan but family-run and with less formal service. Rooms are more simply-furnished and guests typically lay out their own futons.  Regardless if you have requested a double or a twin room you will get 2 separate futons to sleep on in your traditional Japanese room.

Ryokan rooms sometimes have private bathrooms. Minshuku offer toilet and bathing facilities ‘along the corridor’. Baths may be smaller rooms, used privately in turn by guests; or they may be larger communal bathing suites, one for men and one for women. As availability is limited we cannot guarantee or inform you in advance of booking which type of Japanese Inn you will overnight in.

We provide you with detailed information on the etiquette of staying in these beautiful traditional Japanese Inns.

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.

Meals

Japanese cuisine is the highlight of many people’s visit to Japan and this is especially the case on this tour. 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, minshuku and guesthouses 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.

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 2024), and O-bon (13 - 15 August 2024). 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. 

By Air:The best airport to arrive at is Tokyo Narita Airport(NRT), which has flights from international destinations. Ideally, you should book an open-jaw ticket departing from Osaka Kansai (KIX) which is the closest airport to Kyoto 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) back to Tokyo (3h30).

By Air:The best airport to depart from is Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX), which has flights from international destinations. Alternatively, you may take the shinkansen (bullet train) from Kyoto back to Tokyo Narita (NRT) for onward travel.

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. 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. In Japan there is an overnight luggage forwarding service which is cheap, reliable and costs about £12 per bag per day.

On this tour, we recommend forwarding your luggage from Tokyo to Kiso-Fukushima (Day 4), from Kiso-Fukushima to Nara (Day 6), and from Nara to Kyoto (Day 10). You carry overnight essentials in your daypack for your nights in Tsumago, Matsumoto, and Mount Koya. Our information pack has full details of how to use this service, which is really easy.