The Nakasendō Trail is a historic route through the mountains that has its origins in ancient pathways throughout Japan. During Japan’s feudal era, it was a route travelled by lords and samurai travelling between Kyōto and Tōkyō.  

Our 3-day self-guided Nakasendō tour provides a fantastic introduction to the trail on this condensed version featuring the highlights of the preserved post towns of the Nakasendō Trail located in the Kiso Valley.  You’ll travel to and from the trail with ease on Japan’s renowned bullet trains. 

The meandering route takes you from post town to post town, taking you to Magome, Tsumago, and finishing in Narai.  Along the way you’ll pass waterfalls, stands of bamboo, small temples and shrines, and tiny hamlets, experiencing a mix of paved and dirt paths.

In the evening, you stay overnight in traditional Japanese inns. Typically your accommodation will consist of an evening in a small family-run guesthouse known as a minshuku, and on your second night, you’ll enjoy bathing in thermal onsen waters. There is no better way to finish a hike than with a bath in a soothing hot spring!

We’ve included breakfast and dinner at your accommodations so you can dine on delicious mountain produce which has been carefully prepared by your inn. During the day, we recommend you stop for a meal of soba noodles made with buckwheat – a mountain speciality.  

This 3-day self-guided walking tour, which includes the highlights of the Nakasendō, is great for novice hikers and families with younger children, as the length and hiking inclusions are flexible, and can be bypassed by using available local public transport options. Please see the full details in the itinerary below. 

You’re supported by our team in Kyōto, our local Tsumago office, and guided by our bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and detailed maps, created by our team of hikers for you.

If you seek a taste of this historic route, our Nakasendō self-guided 3-day walking tour is a great way to include time in the Japanese countryside into your broader travel plans.

Please see here for luggage options.

We happily welcome younger walkers on our trips with an accompanying adult. We offer a 10% price reduction for children (6-11) and an 80% price reduction for infants (0-5). Please contact us for specific hiking, meal or bedding enquiries. 

Download PDF itinerary