Nakasendo Trail, Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Koya & Nara

Tour Type:

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!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Activity Level & Terrain

The 4 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.

Navigation

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 hotel accommodation in Kyoto.
• 5 Nights minshuku or ryokan (guest house) accommodation on the Nakasendo trail and in Nara.
• 1 Night in temple lodging in Mount Koya.
• 10 Breakfasts
• 4 evening meals
• Train tickets from Tokyo to the Nakasendo Trail, for intermediate journeys on the Nakasendo Trail, from the Nakasendo Trail to Nara, from Nara to Mount Koya, and from Mount Koya to Kyoto.
• 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.
• Travel to Tokyo/from Kyoto
• Transportation costs - at the start of the Nakasendo Trail, the bus from Nakatsugawa to Magome is payable locally, the Osaka city subway rides between Shin-Osaka and Namba are payable locally.
• Drinks with meals
• Lunches
• Evening meals in Tokyo, Nara and Kyoto
• Local buses
• Baggage forwarding is not included, though we provide instructions for how this can be easily arranged.

• Additional nights
• Guided sightseeing tours in Tokyo and Kyoto.
• Extra Night in Kyoto, Tokyo or Osaka (prices on request for Kyoto and Osaka)

When To Go

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.

NOTE: Unfortunately this trip is now completely fully booked up until June 2023. We recommend autumn as a great alternative time to travel. Alternatively if you want to travel in Spring, we highly recommend getting booked up early for next year!

Time of Year

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.

Getting to the Start

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).

Getting from the End

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

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 (or wherever you are staying before the walk) 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 Narai, Tsumago and Mount Koya. Our information pack has full details of how to use this service, which is really easy.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Getting around

Your package includes all the train tickets required as per the itinerary. The public transport system in Japan is world-class and your pre-departure information pack has detailed information on how to use your tickets and the trains. Local buses are not included and should be paid for locally. Again your information pack will have detailed information on how to do this and it is very easy.

Our specialist Laura travelled to Japan in 2014 and you can read her experience of using public transport, on the blog.

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. US Nationals can visit www.state.gov to check on entry requirements. 

Equipment

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.