Walk the Nakasendo Trail

Award-winning Adventures

Experts in Self-Guided Tours

Nature First Tour Operator

GPS Navigation App (Selected trips)

11 Days Excluding Flights

11 Days from

USD 5150

Walking & Trekking

Activity Level

Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Ages :

Trip Code :

W10NK

Walking Japan’s Nakasendo Trail

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.

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 Included

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

What's Not Included

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

7 Days of Walking & Trekking

Day 3

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 4

6 km / 3.7 miles

Day 5

16 km / 9.9 miles

Day 6

7 km / 4.3 miles

Day 7

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 9

15 km / 9.3 miles

Sustainability and Impact

At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.

As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.

Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller
Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.
Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.

TRIP

W10NK - Walk the Nakasendo Trail

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Walk the Nakasendo Trail

Walking Japan’s Nakasendo Trail

7 Days of Walking & Trekking

Sustainability and Impact

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Itinerary

Osaka Tokyo London London

Essential Info

Vaccinations and Health

Japan

Visa

Japan

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Hotels, Ryokan & Minshuku

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Reviews

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