In its heyday in the seventeenth century, the Nakasendo was crowded with travellers, including feudal lords, samurai, itinerant merchants and pilgrims. Now largely forgotten and quiet, the road provides a pleasant path through scenic countryside and, also, the history of Japan. We pass through and stay in picturesque, old post towns on route in much the same way that the Japanese traveller of old did. Charming, traditional inns, which have somehow survived into the modern world, provide us with friendly and atmospheric overnight accommodation. In the evenings, in an ambience reminiscent of Hiroshige's woodblock prints of feudal Japan, we relax and enjoy excellent meals.
The Nakasendo Way follows the most enjoyable, scenic and best-preserved parts of the old highway. Seventeenth-century travellers insisted on a reasonably easy route for their journey and so do we. This is a walking tour, not a trek. The average daily walking distance is a moderate 10-26 kilometres. Transport, however, can be arranged for those who desire a more relaxed day. Baggage goes by taxi, except when we travel by train. We climb several passes, but they have fairly gentle inclines and can be taken at a comfortable pace.
We meet in Kyoto and travel through Hikone, Sekigahara, Magome, Tsumago, and Narai (the last three, difficult to find on a map, are to the north and east of Nagoya), before finishing our journey along the Nakasendo in Tokyo. Walk Japan provides detailed instructions on how to get to Kyoto, and travellers make their own arrangements to get to there.
Price: US$3,752 per person. Special offer: For customers joining our Nakasendo Way tour we are offering our new Kyoto Tour at the special price of USD245 per person (two day tour); USD155 per person (one day tour).
What is included and not included? Local travel from tour meeting point to finishing point, accommodation, all breakfasts and ten evening meals, baggage transfers, and entrance fees are included. Not included are flights, all lunches, two evening meals and drinks with meals.
Single room supplement: The single room supplement is US$110 per person and guarantees a single room in hotels on three nights. Please note that while we cannot guarantee to do so we will endeavour to provide single accommodation on the nights we stay in traditional Japanese accommodation. No additional charge is made for any single accommodation provided in traditional inns.
Group size: The small, intimate nature of the inns makes the maximum group size 12~13 people. We have no minimum size. If we accept a booking we guarantee to run the tour.
Please see the Itinerary for this tour in 2010 and Tour Dates for dates and availability. Until June 2011 these tours start on a Thursday and finish on a Monday. From September 2011 these tours start on a Wednesday and finish on a Sunday.
Please contact
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for more information and to book this tour.
This itinerary for the 2010 Nakasendo Way trip is "ground only," beginning in Kyoto and ending in Tokyo. After receiving the booking and deposit we will provide detailed instructions for getting to the meeting point in Kyoto from Osaka's Kansai Airport (KIX) and Tokyo's Narita Airport (NRT). Arrangements can be made by Walk Japan for extra time in Japan before or after the trip. At the end of the tour, travellers are advised not to book themselves out on an early morning flight as it can take up to 90 minutes to get from the Tokyo accommodation to the Narita Airport and up to three hours 30 minutes to Kansai Airport. Domestic transport by Japan Rail to Kyoto Station or by air to Osaka's Itami Airport also gets travellers to Kyoto easily.
Please note that on Day 2 and Day 10 the main baggage will be shipped in advance overnight. On these days all items you require for overnight will need to be carried by you and your daypack should be sufficiently big enough to accommodate these items.
Day 1
Meet in Kyoto in our lodging's foyer at 6 pm for tour briefing before going out for dinner and a stroll around Kyoto.
Dinner provided.
Day 2
A guided tour of the cultural highlights of Kyoto. Visit the Kyoto Museum of Traditional arts for an introduction to the myriad and splendid crafts of the city. Walk to nearby Heian Jingu, a vast Shinto shrine complex that was modelled on an ancient imperial palace. Transfer to Rokuon-ji temple, in the grounds of which is probably Japan's most famous structure Kinkaku, The Golden Pavilion. On to neighbouring Ryoan-ji temple and its world famous Zen garden. Stroll through the Myoshin-ji temple precincts before travelling into central Kyoto. Free time in the afternoon to explore on one's own or stay with the guide for a foray somewhere within Kyoto.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 3
Travel by train to the feudal-period castle town of Hikone; walk through the city to see the structure of a castle town and visit the castle, one of only a few in Japan that retains its original, spectacular keep. Train to Sekigahara, in 1600 the site of, arguably, the most important battle in Japanese history. It heralded the start of the 270-year Tokugawa dynasty and Edo period. Stay in traditional inn. Totall walking approximately 6 km.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 4
Trains to Mitake followed by a 10 kilometre walk to Hosokute post-town through countryside. Stay in 17th century inn.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 5
22-kilometre walk to Ena along ridge-top route dating from the 8th Century. Picnic lunch near Okute, home to a 1,200-year old cedar tree. Stay in a modern hotel (2 stars) with private rooms. Coin laundry facilities available.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 6
Visit the excellent Hiroshige Print Museum in Ena before beginning the day's walk across rolling countryside to Nakatsugawa, an old post town and now a pleasant regional town. Leisurely time here before our afternoon walk in hilly countryside to Shinchaya teahouse, now a refurbished inn. Total walking about 16 kilometers.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 7
Walk to Magome post-town, home of Japan's first modern novelist, Shimazaki Toson (author of Before the Dawn). Then on to O-tsumago, a small cluster of inns, through verdant forests. Stay in traditional inn. Visit the old, high-class inn, now museum, in Tsumago and enjoy an evening bath at a mountaintop hot spring. Total walking of about 14 kilometres walking
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 8
Walk about 6 kilometres through the post town of Tsumago to Nagiso. Then another 18 kilometres through farm land, forested hills and over a steep pass. Take a train to Kiso-Fukushima and stay in a Japanese ryokan (inn). Total walking about 24 km.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 9
Walk along the Nakasendo through Kiso-Fukushima to visit the reconstructed barrier station. Continue 6 kilometres along the old highway in the Kiso valley. En route, through quiet villages and post towns, we pass by the mid-way point of the Nakasendo between Kyoto and Tokyo before catching a train to Yabuhara. Walk 8 kilometres over the Torii-toge pass to the lovely post town of Narai. Free time to explore, relax in cafes and shop in Narai. Stay in a famous inn of ancient lineage. Optional visit to nearby Hirasawa to visit the studios of a master craftsman. Total walking approximately 14 km.
Breakfast and dinner provided.
Day 10
After breakfast transfer by train, through the grand mountains of Japan's Central Alps, to the beautiful Shioda Plateau. Visit an onsen, hot springs baths before staying the night in Ueda, an old castle town and now a small, regional city. Total walking approximately 11 km.
Breakfast provided.
Day 11
Transfer by train to Naka-Karuizawa, where we rejoin the Nakasendo for a 12 kilometre walk over the Usui-toge Pass to Yokokawa. Lunch at Yokokawa before taking a local train to Takasaki, where we change to the Shinkansen 'Bullet' Train for Tokyo. These trains mostly follow the route of the Nakasendo into the capital. After arriving late afternoon in Tokyo we walk the last two or so kilometres to Nihonbashi bridge, where the Nakasendo terminated, for a fitting final to the walk. Our final night's lodging is a 3-star hotel close to Nihonbashi and just a few minutes' walk to Tokyo Station. Also, the Ginza, Japan's shopping heaven, is a five-minute taxi ride away.
Breakfast provided.
Day 12
Breakfast provided, after which the tour ends.
This itinerary is subject to change.
Please see Tour Dates for scheduled tours and their availability. Contact
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and to receive the booking form. More information about the history of the Nakasendo highway is available at this website Nakasendo Highway: A Journey to the Heart of Japan.
The following travel tips are intended to be helpful advice for the Nakasendo Way tour. In addition, please refer to your own past experiences and make adjustments or amendments as necessary. If you require any further advice please contact us.
Clothing & baggage:
Early spring temperatures fluctuate from warm during the day to cool/cold at night, and in the mountains on the high passes there may be some snow. In late spring and late autumn, days will be warm to hot and evenings cool to cold. In summer and early autumn, days are hot and evenings warm to cool. Except for the summer months, it is advisable to bring a variety of layers ranging from t-shirts to a top with long sleeves and perhaps a lightweight sweater/fleece. Shorts are acceptable in Japan for both men and women. We recommend good quality walking shoes/boots and a collapsible walking pole. You may also like to bring some comfortable, casual shoes sneakers, sandals, etc. for use in town. The sun's rays can be strong and we recommend a sun hat, sun screen, etc. A lightweight, packable waterproof and a compact, foldable umbrella should suffice for any inclement weather. (Note, 24-hour stores, which are found almost everywhere in Japan, sell cheap umbrellas and rain capes). Some individuals find Japanese pillows uncomfortable and you may like to bring your own inflatable pillow. Yukata, evening gowns for sleeping in, are provided at each lodging. However, we recommend leggings, a top, etc. to wear underneath. This will provide a degree of modesty and help ward off any cold air. Laundrette facilities are available on Days 5 and 11.
Please bring a small bag - your day pack should be sufficient - to contain overnight items. For logistical reasons, we will be sending ahead our main luggage overnight on two occasions, Day 3 to Hosokute and Day 10 to Tokyo. On the two nights, in Sekigahara on Day 4 and Ueda on Day 11, we will be without our main luggage.
On other days, when walking the Nakasendo, our main luggage is sent on ahead to the next lodgings by taxi. Each day we carry only what we need (camera, water bottle, note book, rain jacket, etc.) for the walk itself.
If you are travelling prior to and/or after the tour you may have more baggage. In this case, baggage not required for the tour can be sent on at the beginning of the tour to our final hotel or another destination within Japan. Expect to pay between Yen 1,400 ~ 1,800 per item.
Food and drink:
While travelling during the day it is not usually necessary to carry more than water, a snack and personal needs. Shops, vending machines and kiosks, which are found in most places we visit, provide for many immediate needs including drinks, snacks, cosmetics and clothing. Lunch will be taken either in restaurants or with food bought to eat as a 'picnic on the road'.
For meals not included in the tour expect to pay between 700~1,500 per person for breakfast and lunch, expect to pay from 3,000 for dinner.
Dinner in the Japanese inns is Japanese style, though breakfast may be more Western in style. Tap water is nearly always drinkable your guide will advise.
Medicines and cosmetics:
Some medicines and cosmetics with which you are familiar may not be available in Japan, although there are usually similar products. Prescription medicines in Japan may differ from foreign medicines in minor, but possibly unacceptable, ways. If you require a specific medicine or cosmetic, either for health or comfort, please bring sufficient quantities with you.
Access to cash:
Exchanging cash or travellers' cheques in major currencies is possible in most towns that we visit. However, changing foreign currency at a bank can be a time-consuming exercise. Instead, we recommend alternatives including arriving in Japan with some Japanese currency, using credit cards, and withdrawing cash from ATMs.
Japan is still a society based on cash payments. Given that the crime rate is quite low, there is not a great deal of risk in carrying around relatively large amounts of cash. Credit card payments are sometimes possible, but do not rely on it as credit cards are not universally acceptable in Japan, particularly in rural areas. ATMs at Japanese post offices, which are ubiquitous in Japan, and Seven-Eleven stores provide cash against the following credit cards - Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club International, PLUS, Maestro, Cirrus and JCB. Most Japanese bank ATMs do not, nor will they provide access to foreign bank accounts.
International telephoning, cell phones and the internet:
Making international telephone calls and using the internet outside of major urban areas can be difficult or impossible. Please bring a telephone charge card issued by your local telephone company, such as AT&T, BT and Telstar. These can be used almost anywhere.
The Japanese cell, or mobile, phone system uses a specialized CDMA technology which is incompatible with most overseas systems. Some G3, Blackberry smartphones and iPhones operate in Japan, however, please confirm with your provider whether your phone set will work. If your phone does not work in Japan you may like to rent a cell phone from providers such as NTT Docomo, Cellhire, Mobalrental, Worldroam, Vodafone, etc.
Internet access is available only in Kyoto, Ena, Ueda and Tokyo Days 1, 2, 5, 11, 12.
For any more information please contact
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The following is an indication of what level of activity to expect on our tours. The itineraries for all our tours provide specific details of each day's walking.
Please note that one person's expectations of what is easy or hard can be very different. Whilst age, physical ability and fitness are factors in deciding what a person is capable of, often a seemingly less fit person completes our tours with no problem. Another factor to consider is the weather, which can affect people differently.
Since 1992 we have taken many thousands of people of many nationalities, all ages and abilities on tour in Japan. We have good experience and knowledge about what most, if not all, people can achieve so please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further information and advice related to your abilities.
Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs and walk less than 1 km a day. Travel will be almost entirely by public transport, taxi and private hire bus.
Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to 5 km a day on mainly even ground.
Participants must be in reasonable health, mobile and able to participate in 4~6 hours of walking at a moderate 2kph to 4kph pace. The terrain is mainly even ground, with occasional short but steep climbs.
Participants must be in reasonable health, mobile and able to participate in 4~6 hours of walking at a 2 kph to 4 kph pace. The terrain includes more uneven ground than Level 2 with some short, occasionally longer, steep climbs.
Participants must be in good health, mobile and used to a reasonably active lifestyle. Walking may require up to six hours of moderate-paced activity per day, at a 2 kph to 4 kph pace over varied terrain. Ascents and descents can sometimes be steep, necessitating the use of arms for support.
Participants must be in good health, have a good level of physical fitness and used to an active lifestyle. Walking may require up to eight hours of moderate-paced activity per day, at a 2 kph to 4kph pace over varied, mountainous terrain including some long ascents and descents.
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A Level 2 walk suitable for anyone who is an occasional walker and can walk for more than three to four hours in comfort. In general, the route is gently undulating but also includes some short, steeper climbs. Read more on Tour levels below.
