Villages of old Japan
Nakasendo and Wider Nagano Self-guided walking 7 days
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Village-to-village walking on the Nakasendo Trail, Kakizore Gorge and Kaida Kogen Highlands, with seven hikes of 1-6 hours
The Nakasendo or 'Road through the Central Mountains' was part of feudal Japan's network of highways. Travellers moving between Kyoto and Tokyo took several days to travel the Nakasendo, staying overnight in Juku post towns. Today's visitors can walk sections of the original route by day and stay in local inns by night.
Our tour also features two scenic nature walks branching slightly from the Nakasendo. The first visits the Kakizore Gorge, a beautiful canyon walk in the Kiso Valley among aesthetic landscapes of huge granite rock formations, waterfalls and clear streams. The second nature walk heads into the mountains of the Kaida Highlands to explore the biodiverse region with excellent views of Mount Ontake off in the distance.
All our self-guided Nakasendo Trail tours offer the opportunity to spend a leisurely second night at the traditional Japanese inn in Kiso-Fukushima, part-way along the trail.
Please ask for information about our tour extensions; enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji from the Hakone hot spring area and the rural village of Oshino Mura, or the peaceful, agricultural community of Asuka at a charming Japanese inn or with a local family for a unique homestay experience.
Daily luggage transfer is available as an optional extra service - read about luggage options here
This tour offers more advanced hiking. Please see here for trips best suited to families.
6 day version tours
Alternatively, we also offer two 6 day versions of this tour. We offer the option to remove the day walk to Kakizore Gorge, which features on Day 2 of the 7 day tour. Alternatively, we offer the option to remove the walk to the Kaida Highlands, which features on Day 4 of the 7 day version tour. Please enquire if wishing to arrange either option.
6 nights at Japanese inns along the Nakasendo trail and Kaida Highlands
6 breakfasts and 6 dinners
Train tickets from Kyoto or Tokyo to the trail and from the trail to Tokyo Train tickets for intermediate journeys on the Nakasendo trail
Pre-paid taxi on Day 4
Detailed day-by-day itinerary, walking directions and topographical maps
Local support by telephone and at our Nakasendo branch
Optional orientation at our Kyoto office 
Flights
Airport transfers
Pay locally for drinks with meals and for lunches
Pay locally for bus journey on Day 1 We supply train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or from Tokyo to Nakatsugawa, including a ride on the world-famous Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Nagoya. At Nakatsugawa, you board a local bus for the short journey to Magome. Walk over Magome Pass to Tsumago, one of the best-preserved and most evocative of the Nakasendo post-towns. Spend the night at a family-run Minshuku in Tsumago or at another of the excellent nearby accommodations, with a delicious home-cooked Japanese dinner and breakfast included.
Walking distance: 8.3km / 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 326m / 1,069 feet of ascent and 430m / 1,410 feet of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse), Ryokan (Travellers Inn) or Japanese hotel
Meals: Dinner
Typical Accommodation
Daikichi Minshuku
Located in the post-town of Tsumago, Daikichi is run by three generations of the same family. We use a range of family-run Minshuku in the villages of Tsumago and O-Tsumago.
Travel by train to Junikane, then hike over the beautiful Kakizore Gorge. Explore this pristine nature valley, with emerald waters and the majestic Ushigataki Falls. The trail leads into the lush valley, following the Kakizore River past a landscape of huge granite boulders that were carved and created by a network of clear mountain rivers. The evening will be spent with a second night in the remote Juku village.
Walking distance: 15km/ 9.2 miles
Elevation gain: 485m / 1,591 feet of ascent and 466m / 1,529 feet of descent
Time required: About 5 - 6 hours
A shorter option of 4.5km leading to Ushigataki Falls is also possible, with other waterfalls located further along the trail. You can choose which option you prefer on the day - no need to decide in advance.
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse), Ryokan (Travellers Inn) or Japanese hotel
Meals: Dinner
The longest day on the trail is a beautiful and varied hike from Tsumago to Nojiri. Or choose the shorter alternative to Nagiso instead. The trail travels through small valleys and past forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar, through some of the least-developed scenery on the tour. Continue by train to Kiso-Fukushima. Stay at a lovely hot spring Ryokan set in a peaceful valley above the town. Complimentary transfer from the station is provided by the Ryokan). The Ryokan has lovely indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths.
Walking distance: 18.4km/ 11.5 miles
Elevation gain: 723m / 2,275 feet of ascent and 644m / 2,112 feet of descent
Time required: About 6 hours
We offer a shorter alternative of 1 hour (3.7km / 2.3 miles). You can choose which option you prefer on the day - no need to decide in advance!
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn) in Kiso-Fukushima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Typical Accommodation
Komanoyu
A comfortable hot-spring Ryokan above Kiso-Fukushima, with indoor and outdoor baths - perfect after a day of hiking!
Travel by pre-arranged taxi to the biodiverse Kaida Highlands; a popular site for nature hiking, featuring dramatic mountain scenery and views of Mt. Ontake. The trail travels past the majestic Karasawa waterfall and along the Jizo-toge mountain pass with excellent views of Mt. Ontake in the distance. In ancient Japan, people believed in a rustic religion where gods existed in nature. They worshipped mountains and forests as sacred places where gods and spirits reside - Mt. Ontake was one of these sacred mountains. Stay at a secluded Onsen Ryokan in the highlands for the evening.
Walking distance: 4km/ 2.5 miles
Elevation gain: 314m / 1,029 feet of ascent and 267m / 875 feet of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn) in Kaida Highlands
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The Ryokan will drive you back to Kiso-Fukushima after breakfast. We supply train tickets for the short journey from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara, starting point for the hike over the Torii pass to Narai. Explore this evocative village before check-in at your family-run inn in the heart of the village. Your hosts will serve a home-cooked Japanese dinner and breakfast.
Walking distance: 6.2km / 3.9 miles
Elevation gain: 344m / 1,128 feet of ascent and 270m / 885 feet of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
In Kiso-Fukushima we offer an optional, fairly strenuous, circular walk to a local waterfall. The circular walk is 7km / 4.3 miles with 632m / 2,075 feet of ascent, 637m / 2,090 feet of descent and takes 2-3 hours. You can take this walk in the morning, before heading onwards to Yabuhara.
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse) in Narai
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Typical Accommodation
Iseya
One of several family-run Minshuku we use in the village of Narai. The building is a traditional merchant house.
After breakfast, walk the short distance to the small town of Kiso-Hirasawa, famous for its lacquerware. There are many small shops selling beautifully-crafted tableware and furniture. Board a train at Kiso-Hirasawa station for your onward journey to Karuizawa or Komoro for your final overnight stay. Both locations have lovely inns with a real sense of history and fine Japanese baths. Ride first to Matsumoto where you can visit the famous castle before connecting onwards to your final stop – total travel time by train is around three hours, not including the optional break of journey in Matsumoto. Arrive at your accommodation in time for a wonderful dinner with local produce.
Walking distance: 2.5km / 1.6 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: About 1 hour
Accommodation: Ryokan (Travellers Inn) in Karuizawa or Komoro
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Typical Accommodation
Tsuruya Ryokan
A venerable, Meiji-era Ryokan, ideally located for the final section of the Nakasendo Trail.
After breakfast, your final walk on the Nakasendo Trail is from Karuizawa to Yokokawa. Leaving Karuizawa, the trail takes you over the Usui-toge Pass and down a gentle descent along one of the most beautiful sections of the Nakasendo, and certainly the least-developed. From Yokokawa, board the local train to Takasaki and change there for your ride on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Tokyo. The train journey takes around two hours and you will arrive in Tokyo in the late afternoon or early evening.
Walking distance: 16.7km / 10 miles
Elevation gain: 372m / 1,220 feet of ascent and 862m / 2,828 feet of descent
Time required: About 5-6 hours
The walk can be shortened by 3.3km / 2 miles by a taxi ride at the start of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
