Walk the Nakasendo Trail

11 days
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Self-Guided / Independent Tour
The Nakasendo Trail or 'Road through the Central Mountains' was part of Japan's network of highways. Travellers moving between Kyoto and Tokyo took several days to travel the Nakasendo, staying overnight in Juku post towns. In the seventeenth century, the Nakasendo was crowded with travellers, including feudal lords, samurai, itinerant merchants, and pilgrims...
$6,831
From$5,060
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Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Village to village walking on the loveliest parts of the old Nakasendo Trail in the picturesque Kiso Valley and Karuizawa
    • See Matsumoto castle, one of Japan's best historic castles
    • Visit the exquisitely preserved villages of Magome, Tsumago and Narai
    • Bathe in the thermal waters at a hot-spring Ryokan

What's this trip about?

    The Nakasendo Trail or 'Road through the Central Mountains' was part of Japan's network of highways. Travellers moving between Kyoto and Tokyo took several days to travel the Nakasendo, staying overnight in Juku post towns. 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 trail through scenic countryside and the history of Japan. Explore the fascinating city of Kyoto before starting the Nakasendo Trail, your trip ends in the sprawling city of Tokyo. Famous for its beautifully built Buddhist temples and traditional teahouses, Kyoto is a great introduction to your Japanese adventure. From here, you can visit the historical city of Nara, full of cultural treasures and tranquil gardens. In Tokyo you can experience the whole breadth of Japanese arts and culture, not to mention the abundance of culinary treasures. An ever-evolving city, Tokyo is an explosion for the senses with a discovery around every corner.Walking Japan's Nakasendo Trail

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range8 years and up
Flights and transport
Start CityOsaka
End CityTokyo

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking

Attractions

  • Kyoto
  • Matsumoto
  • Nakasendo Trail
  • Tokyo
  • Tsumago

Activities

  • Hiking

Trip includes

    • 10 nights’ accommodation in hotels and Japanese-style inns (ryokan/minshuku)
    • All breakfasts & 5 dinners
    • Management by your local Headwater appointed agent
    • Route directions and maps
    • Luggage transfers between accommodation from Magome to Matsumoto
    • Train from Kyoto to trail starting point and from trail end point to Tokyo

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kyoto

Take the express train from Osaka Kansai Int. Airport to Kyoto City (approx. 70mins), then a local taxi to your first hotel. (approx. 10mins). Overnight Kyoto.

Day 2 Explore Kyoto

Enjoy a rest day in the incredible city of Kyoto, famous for its Buddhist temples, tranquil gardens, and traditional teahouses. We recommend visiting the historical city of Nara, full of cultural treasures and expansive parks, located approx. 1hr from Kyoto city on the train. Overnight Kyoto.

Day 3 Kuramaa to Kibune

Take the train to the hills of northern Kyoto (included), on sacred Mount Kurama. Here, Samurai trained with mountain Buddhist practitioners in the 12th century. From Kurama Temple, walk to the Kifune Shrine, which is known for bringing good fortune to those seeking l...

Day 4 Magome to Tsumago

Begin with a train journey from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa, including a ride on the world-famous Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Nagoya (included). At Nakatsugawa, you board a local bus for the short journey to Magome. Walk over Magome Pass to Tsumago, one of the best preserve...

Day 5 Tsumago/Nagiso to Nojiri

Today is your longest day on the trail and is a beautiful and varied hike from Tsumago or Nagiso to Nojiri. 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 trai...

Day 6 Gongentaki Waterfall

If you have free time in Kiso Fukushima, you can take this optional walk from Kiso Fukushima Station to Gongentaki Waterfall. The trail combines a riverside path, a dirt trail leading up to the waterfall, and gentle descent back down through a quiet neighbourhood with...

Day 7 Yabuhara to Matsumoto

The Ryokan will drive you back to Kiso-Fukushima after breakfast if you're staying outside the village. From here, you take the train to Yabuhara (included) which is the starting point for your walk over the Torii pass to Narai. Explore this atmospheric village before...

Day 8 Free Day in Matsumoto

After breakfast, you will have free time to explore the castle town of Matsumoto. This historic town is home to the iconic artist Yayoi Kusama and the largest collection of Ukiyo-e wood blocks. With many things to see and do Matsumoto is a destination in and of itself...

Day 9 Karuizawa to Yokokawa

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...

Day 10 Rest Day in Tokyo

You have a full day in Tokyo to explore this vibrant city. Visit the glittering Ginza area with elegant department stores and food halls crammed with all kinds of unfamiliar delicacies. Or spend time among the skyscrapers of Shinjuku and pass-through Shinjuku station,...

Day 11 Depart Tokyo

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before walking to Hamamatsucho station (approx. 10mins) to take the monorail directly to Tokyo Haneda Airport (approx. 15mins - paid locally).

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,060
Price per day$460
Last Updated: 1/27/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Shared Room
Single Room
Availability
16 Apr 2025
26 Apr 2025
$5,630
$6,695
17 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025
$5,630
$6,695
18 Apr 2025
28 Apr 2025
$5,630
$6,695
19 Apr 2025
29 Apr 2025
$5,630
$6,695
20 Apr 2025
30 Apr 2025
$5,630
$6,695
21 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$5,630
$6,695
22 Apr 2025
02 May 2025
$5,630
$6,695
23 Apr 2025
03 May 2025
$5,630
$6,695
24 Apr 2025
04 May 2025
$5,630
$6,695
25 Apr 2025
05 May 2025
$5,630
$6,695

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Lunches
    • Travel insurance
    • Single supplements
    • Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
    • Visas and vaccinations

Accommodation

Hotels: Modern western-style hotels are used. The rooms are generally smaller than equivalent hotels in the West. All have en-suite facilities, air-conditioning, TV, and fridges in rooms. Ryokan: Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns. They may be in modern concrete or older wooden buildings, but the rooms are always in the Japanese style with tatami (straw) matting and futons laid out in the evening by the ryokan staff. Evening meals* are served together usually in the dining room and are exquisitely prepared multicourse meals. Many ryokans have both en-suite bathrooms (except for some older buildings) and communal hot spring style baths. They are the classic Japanese experience. Minshuku: Minshuku are usually family-run traditional Japanese-style inns. They have tatami-mat rooms, with futons laid out in the evening for sleeping. Most minshuku do not have en-suite bathrooms as they are in older traditional wooden buildings. Compared with a ryokan, they are usually (but not always) slightly less formal, but the service and food* are just as good. At these the inns and Shukubo, futon bedding on tatami mat is provided; toilet and bathing facilities may be shared. *Most meals will be Japanese cuisine. Vegetarian options are available but limited. Strict vegetarian diets, vegan diets, or gluten free diets will be difficult to accommodate due to the pervasiveness of the fish-based stock dashi and the use of soy sauce and miso in Japanese cuisine. Tips are not required when dining in Japan.
Cancellation policy

The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Adventure Travels.

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

Period before departure in which you notify us

From the date your Booking Confirmation is issued up to, and including, 90 days prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.

  • 89 to 52 days (inclusive) prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
  • 51 to 31 days (inclusive) prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
  • 30 days or less prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation, or after the booking has started

Cancellation charge

Deposit can be transferred to a new booking which must be made within 3 months of the date the original booking was cancelled, and depart within 12 months of the new booking date. If a new booking is not made within this period then the deposit will be forfeited. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.

  • 50% of the total holiday cost. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
  • 75% of the total holiday cost. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
  • 100% of the total holiday cost.

For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made:

Cancellation period (before departure) - Cancellation Fee (per person)

Outside of 180 days - No fee if cancelled within 15 days of booking date. US $1,250 cancellation fee if cancelled 16 days or more of booking date.

179 to 120 days - Loss of deposit.

119 to 90 days prior to departure - 50% of the holiday cost.

89 to 60 days prior to departure - 75% of the holiday cost. 

59 to 0 days prior to departure - 100% of the holiday cost.

For more additional details, see the booking conditions of Exodus Adventure Travels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
8 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
exodus-W10NK

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