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11 Days Excluding Flights
11 Days from
USD 5060
Walking & Trekking
Activity Level
Moderate See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Ways to Travel :
Self-Guided Holidays
Activity :
Walking & Trekking
Ages :
8+
Trip Code :
W10NK
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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.

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Walk the Nakasendo Trail

11 Days Excluding Flights
11 Days from
USD 5060