Nakasendo Trail - Kyoto to Tokyo

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 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.

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.

• 3 Nights 4* hotel accommodation in Kyoto.
• 4 Nights minshuku (guest house) accommodation on the Nakasendo trail.
• 2 Nights 4* hotel accommodation in Tokyo
• 9 Breakfasts
• 4 evening meals (on the Nakasendo Trail)
• Train tickets from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa, trains on day 5 & 6 and on day 8 from Yokokawa to Tokyo
• 1 Day private guided tour of Kyoto
• Detailed information pack with local travel information, detailed route notes, topographical maps an
• Telephone support from our local, English speaking, representative.

• International flights.
• Travel to Kyoto/from Tokyo
• Drinks with meals
• Lunches
• Evening meals in Tokyo and Kyoto.
• 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

• Additional nights on the trail or in Kyoto, Tokyo or Osaka (prices on request for Kyoto & Osaka)
• Daily luggage transfers (Magome-Narai)

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 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.

Getting from the End

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

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.

General Information

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

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.

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.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.