Nakasendo Trail - Walking Tour

     
     

Destinations:
Tokyo - Japan's ultra modern capital, shopping, bright lights and hidden temples
Narai - one of the 69 stations along the Nakasendo trail that has been preserved
Magome - another well preserved station along the Nakasendo trail where travelers from Edo to Kyoto could sleep and have a meal during their trip
Osaka - known for food, comedy and being Japan's second largest city
Nara - established in 710 AD preceding Kyoto as Japan's capital, Nara is now a quiet town where you can stroll the park of historic treasures
Yoshino - mountain top village near Nara known for its cherry blossoms
Mt Koya - a Buddhist temple complex located on a mountain surrounded by nature
Kyoto - the ancient capital of Japan established in 794 AD and home of Japan's high arts including tea ceremony, calligraphy, poetry, and many others

The Nakasendo trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal period. It was the ‘road through the mountains’ (as opposed to the Tokaido route which followed the Pacific coast) traveled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai, merchants, and travelers. Along the route were 69 ‘post towns’, where weary travelers could rest before continuing on the next leg of their journey.

Our journey will start in Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan’s period of rule by the Tokugawa Shoguns. We will then spend four days walking along the Nakasendo. By day we will walk along the ancient route as it passes through beautifully-preserved villages along an easy path, and by evening we will stay in traditional country inns enjoying exquisite regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, soak in natural hot springs, and enjoy the warm hospitality of our hosts. Nothing is better than a hot spring bath after a day on the trails!

Itinerary Details:

Day 1 Meet in Tokyo
Meet at Narita International Airport and transfer by train to Tokyo.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)

Day 2 Tokyo
Our first full day in Japan will be spent on a walking tour of Tokyo, visiting Ueno and the Tokyo National Museum, as well as the grand Meiji shrine. In the evening your tour leader will be on hand to help you with ordering dinner. Overnight in city central hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)

Day 3 Nakasendo Trail walking day 1
Our journey through rural Japan begins with a journey from Tokyo to the remote Kiso valley. Over the next three days we will walk by day from village to village, staying by night in small, family-run country inns (minshuku). Our luggage will be taken by road allowing us to carry just a light day pack. After a lunch of buckwheat noodles (soba) in the town of Shiojiri, we will walk 5 miles to Narai from Niekawa, first of 11 ‘post-towns’ along the Kiso valley section of the Nakasendo. Post-towns were resting places, where travelers could find accommodation and food as they walked between Kyoto and Edo (modern Tokyo). Niekawa is known for its locally-produced lacquer ware, and there may be a chance to see the craftsmen at work. Stay in Narai, a beautifully-preserved post-town. Our lodgings will be an atmospheric traditional minshuku.
Walking: 5 miles, 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (country inn)

Day 4 Nakasendo Trail walking day 2
On our second day there will be a 5-mile walk from Narai to Yabuhara over Torii Pass and then we will continue by train to Kiso-Fukushima. There we will stay in a lovely traditional ryokan with its own natural hot spring. Soak in the indoor baths made of cypress wood or try the outdoor baths surrounded by trees.
Walking: 5 miles, 3 hours (ascent and descent of 885 feet)
Accommodation: Hot Spring Ryokan (Japanese inn)

Day 5 Nakasendo Trail walking day 3
We will transfer from Kiso-Fukushima to Nojiri by train, and then walk 12 miles along the Nakasendo Trail to Tsumago, passing along the way through delightful small villages and rice fields. Another of the post-towns on the former Nakasendo trail, Tsumago has been preserved by strict self-imposed rules that prohibit the sale, rental or destruction of the handsome houses. It’s a living museum, but one which is still inhabited by the local residents. We will arrive in the afternoon, with some time to wander the streets, tasting gohei-mochi, (skewered balls of pounded sticky rice covered in a sweet miso paste, sesame and walnuts.)
Walking: 12 miles, 5 hours (ascent 985 feet and descent of 1300 feet)
Accommodation: Minshuku (country inn)

Day 6 Nakasendo Trail walking day 4 & Osaka
From Tsumago we will walk the 4 miles to Magome, our last stop in the Kiso Valley. You will have lunch in Magome and time to explore the many small shops. We will transfer by train to Osaka and check in to our hotel.
Walking: 4 miles, 2.5 hours (ascent 1150 feet and descent of 660 feet).
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)

Day 7 Nara Day Trip
In the morning we will transfer by train and have a guided walk of Nara. Many of Japan’s greatest cultural treasures are concentrated in and around the city, with eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Todaiji temple, Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do halls, Kasuga shrine, Shinyakushi-ji temple, Kofuku-ji temple, Shosoin treasure house, and Isuien garden are all in or near Nara Park. The park is also home to a thousand or more free-roaming deer. Todaiji's Daibutsu-den is the largest wooden building in the world, and houses a 50 foot tall bronze image of the cosmic Dainichi Buddha, containing 437 tonnes of bronze and 285lbs of gold. Prior to being rebuilt three hundred years ago, the awesome structure was even bigger than it is today. In the afternoon, there will be free time to relax or wander through the old town. We will return to Osaka in the evening.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)

Day 8 Yoshino
From Osaka our journey takes us to the ridge top village of Yoshino, and a comfortable ryokan. We will visit Yoshimizu Temple (connected to historical figures such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Emperor Godaigo, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi), and explore the area.
Accommodation: Ryokan (Japanese inn)

Day 9 Mount Koya
From Yoshino we will take the scenic train to Mount Koya, situated in a bowl-shaped valley filled with stands of cedar trees 2600 feet up in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Since the 9th century, when the monk Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi) founded the first temple and the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Mount Koya has been a place of religious devotion and ceremony. Today there are more than 100 monasteries, many of which have shukubo (temple lodgings). We will stay in one of the elegant temples, run by the monks, and dine on shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). There will be a guided walk through the vast Okuno-in cemetery, with thousands of graves and memorials to feudal lords and other past luminaries.
Accommodation: Shukubo (temple lodging)

Day 10 Transfer to Kyoto
There will be the opportunity to get up early and join the Buddhist morning service if you wish. Afterwards, we will visit Kongobu-ji temple, the head temple of the Shingon sect. After lunch, we will travel by train to Kyoto. After checking in at the hotel, we can enjoy an evening walk in Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district and there is always the possibility of seeing a geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha) making their way through the narrow streets.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)

Day 11 Kyoto
There will be a half-day walking tour this morning. First of all we will visit the Sanjo-ohashi Bridge, the western end of the Nakasendo Trail. From there, we will visit Ryoan-ji, with its famous rock garden of raked gravel and 15 moss-covered boulders. It is not possible to see all 15 boulders at once from any place in the garden. It is said that if you can see all 15 you have achieved enlightenment. Afterwards, we will visit the famous Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, originally built by the Ashikaga Shogun in the 15th century as a place of contemplation and rest. There will be free time in the afternoon so you can explore the area further or shop for crafts. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner with your guide.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)

Day 12 Tour ends
On our final day we say farewell. If you wish to stay a few days longer we will be happy to help.

WALKING LEVEL
Easy/moderate - 4 days of walking and hiking from 2 to 5 hours per day on flat paths and mountain trails with some short climbs. This tour is suitable for those who are in reasonable shape and can walk over rough ground for up to 5 hours. Whilst on the trail you will need to carry a small to medium day pack.

Tour Accommodation:
We have chosen each accommodation carefully for their comfort, service and personal service. On several nights we use Japanese-style accommodation with shared bathrooms and toilets. These generally have separate male and female bathing areas. Couples or those traveling together will have their own room, while single travelers' may be asked to share with another member of the group (same gender only).

Please note that single rooms are normally only available in hotels – where a single room supplement may apply. Single travelers may be asked to share a room (same gender).

Cuisine:
To make sure you get the most of your Japan experience, Japan Road tours offer a wide variety of Japanese cuisine to enjoy. You will have the chance to eat local specialties in small Japanese diners and sample some of the more 'refined' Japanese cuisine.

Tour Guidance:
Full time services of a Japanese and English speaking tour leader.

This 12 day tour begins and ends in Japan.

If you have any questions or if you are ready
to make a reservation please Contact Us or call at +1-248-747-4048

Tour schedules are subject to change.
If any changes should be made it will be done in the best interest of the travelers.
Japan Roads will at all times aim to offer you the most interesting tour possible.