Nakasendo Trail - Kyoto to Tokyo

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. With the tradition of Kyoto and energy of Tokyo thrown in, you can look forward to an amazing trip.

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: 12 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.

In Kyoto and Tokyo, we use carefully selected 3 or 4* hotels.  We use local family-run accommodations and traditional Ryokan and Minshuku Inns on the walking section.

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.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

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 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.

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. 

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. 

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.