length
6 Days
difficulty
Moderate - Challenging
trip cost
from $3095 pp
Nature Immersion
Cultural Interest

Highlights
Get Ready For
- A journey through the heart of Japan
- Visit Shimosuwa, the only hot springs district
- Understand the feudal history with our local guide
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima and Narai
- Following in the footsteps of the Tokugawa Shogun and the Samurai during the Edo period (1603–1868)

On the Trail
The experience
The Nakasendo Way offers picturesque, tranquil walking and a variety of trail conditions as you progress along the Kiso Valley. Much of the time you will be walking through fields and rural villages and enjoying gentle inclines that can be taken at a comfortable pace. In the forest you will be walking on a track that can be wet or uneven underfoot. In the more built-up areas the path itself is asphalt, while at its wildest it becomes unformed grit winding between alpine conifers. For sections in between these two extremes, the path is clad in what’s known as ishidatami – a traditional style of stone paving.
The video shows the beautiful Kiso Valley and some of the cultural attractions of the post towns that comprise the route of the Nakasendo Way.
Itinerary
Daily details
You will meet your guide today at Nakatsugawa train station at a set time (refer to your travel documents). Nakatsugawa is number 45 of the 69 post towns on the Nakasendo Way and after storing your luggage we’ll set off on a walk through the Backstreets of the old town area. You’ll wander through the town’s narrow winding streets and discover the myriad of well-preserved wooden buildings, residences and warehouses (kura) originally constructed during the historical Edo Period, a time when the town prospered with a population of over 1000 people and around 200 houses. You’ll learn of the town’s rich history and gain an understanding of local village life as you encounter local people along the way. Following your introduction to the area on your guided exploration, we’ll head to your accommodation for the evening and an orientation of what lies ahead in your adventure.
Later you may like to visit and explore the Naegi Castle ruins, located just north of the town.
Meals: D
After leaving Nakatsugawa at the ancient Kosatsuba (official proclamation board) we will come across red torii gates just after Nakatsugawa Juku. There will be some steep slopes today before Ochiai and then we will be walking on an old cobblestoned way. It’s on this route that we will be walking up to the entrance of Magome, one of the highlights of the Nakasendo Way. Magome (Horse & Basket) is number 43 of the 69 post towns along the way to Edo (Tokyo). It truly is a reminder of how the post towns were in the Edo period (1603–1868). We will have lunch in Magome at one of the many Japanese inns (own expense).
The Nakasendo Way continues through the centre of Magome past the old shops and inns. The trail begins to climb up to the small settlement of Touge, which is is a good spot to take a rest break. We will then walk over the Magome Pass (800m) and slowly descend through peaceful woodland. We will hear the roar of the Odaki-Medaki waterfalls, which slowly fade as you pass streams and rice paddies coming into the old (smaller) village of O-Tsumago.
Leaving O-Tsumago, the trail climbs briefly before descending into the enchanting main village of Tsumago, (number 42 of the 69 post towns). The street is lined with traditional Japanese wooden houses, shops and ryokan (inns). You might want to stroll through the streets after dinner wearing a traditional yukata gown provided by your accommodation.
Meals: B, D
Today’s walk takes us through Nagiso and the beautiful Yogawa Forest. The trail is a mix of bamboo and cedar forest and weaves through some local villages. It is quite hilly today, with a little bit of road walking, though quiet and mostly in amongst the trees. The Nenouetoge pass has some steep, sustained ascents and descents. The streams and rivers running alongside the trail are a highlight. After a late lunch in Nojiri, we make our way to the train station for a 40-minute train ride to Kiso-Fukushima.
Kiso-Fukushima has a lovely preserved old town section, on the Nakasendo Way path, close to your accommodation. Your ryokan this evening has a wonderful indoor and outdoor onsen, but you may first like to stop by the public foot onsen by the river to soak your feet after today’s hike while watching the world slowly go by.
After dinner this evening, If any of the group are keen, there is a great little karaoke venue within a short walk of your accommodation.
Meals: B, D
Your guide will lead you on a walk this morning to the Kozen-Ji Temple, the Kiso Valley’s most famous temple, the Yamamura Residence, once home to the powerful governor and the Fukushima Checkpoint. We’ll then catch the train from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara. We may stop for lunch in a great little noodle restaurant before we start our final day’s walk along the Nakasendo Way. From Yabuhara the trail heads uphill, past some shrines and on up to the Torii Pass. Named after the Shinto Torii Gate, this marks one of four protective sites surrounding Mount Ontake. At 1197m, the Torii Pass is a great vantage point with views of Mount Ontake on a clear day. The descent takes us along narrow mountain paths until we emerge at the outskirts of Narai.
Narai is a lovely place and was the wealthiest of the post towns along the trail. Wander along the main road, explore and relax in the little cafes and shops of this well-preserved and atmospheric town.
Meals: B, D
**Due to limited accommodation options in Narai, those who are booked on the 28-March departure, will travel on to Shimosuwa
**Due to limited accommodation in Narai our 28-May group will spend this night in Kiso-Fukushima
Today we will journey by train further along the Nakasendo Way to the post town of Shimosuwa. Historically, this was an important resting and healing spot for wounded samurai during the Edo period. It’s also a fitting location to finish your journey. Much of the traditional architecture remains and on arrival in Shimosuwa, your guide will take you on a walk around the town which encompasses a number of temples and shrines, including the Suwa Taisha Shrine, considered to be one of the oldest shrines in Japan, the mossy Jiunji Temple with its zen stone garden and the impressive Manji Stone Buddha. The town is now most known for one of Japan’s most unique events, the Onbashira Festival, which takes place every seven years and involves participants riding giant logs or pillars down the side of the hill to the river.
Following your guided walk you may like to hire a bike and ride the path around Lake Suwa (16km) or cycle for a couple of kilometres past the Jiunji Temple to see the site of the pillar riding for the Onbashira Festival. You may opt to further explore the town area which is home to a number of sake breweries that offer tastings and there’s also a great little district of galleries, studios and workshops run by artists and craftspeople. If you’re ready to relax and indulge a little, you can choose to visit one of the 150 onsen bathing facilities in the area or treat yourself at the full-service spa at your accommodation.
Your traditional ryokan is a short walk from the lake and has a history that dates back over 300 years and hosted princesses and shoguns as they made their trek between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). They have a beautiful central garden area and a wonderful indoor and outdoor onsen bath. Along with the amazing meals, it’s a perfect way to end your Nakasendo Way experience.
Meals: B, D
Today is departure day and your trip ends after breakfast.
Meals: B
Inclusions
What's included?
- 5 nights in traditional Japanese guesthouses/inns (ryokan)
- Daily meals (as listed in the itinerary)
- 6 days fully guided by an expert local guide
- Luggage transfers on your hiking days and day 5
- Local train tickets (as per the itinerary)
- Pre-tour briefing in Nakatsugawa
- Pre-departure pack including track notes, maps, Japanese phrasebook (1 pack per 2 clients travelling together)
- Local and Australian emergency contacts
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Local bus tickets
- Train tickets to/from the start and endpoint of the itinerary
- Beverages other than water at meals
- Expenses and items of a personal nature
- Lunches on all days (we recommended places to eat)

WALKING APP
FINDING YOUR WAY
Our unique RAW Travel walking app has been designed to help you navigate easily on the Nakasendo Way, as this is a route with not much English signage. Simply download your map with the unique link we send you and you’ll be able to follow your route with ease, showing your location in real-time without any internet connection needed or cumbersome pages of notes. The app has many great features; it shows the location of each night’s accommodation, and weather forecasts localised for each of your overnight stops. There is information on how and where to catch trains you need and there are important reminders, safety information, videos and emergency contact information for your route. It also has a unique audio feature that can tell you about places and points of interest as you approach them on the trail.

The onsen experience
Japanese Bathing
Enjoying a Japanese onsen is a unique cultural experience of the country. This trip offers time to explore the onsens of Shimosuwa after your walk on the Nakasendo way. There are traditions and rules to follow in the onsens. For first-timers, it may seem a little intimidating, but once you get used to it, the Japanese bath often becomes an addiction: relaxing, healing, and regenerating.

Exclusive Guide
get inspired
Ready to step back in time and discover a centuries-old road through the mountains of central Japan? The Nakasendo Way is a stunning 94km journey from Mitake to Narai. Steeped in history, much of this walk weaves through the picturesque Kiso Valley. The ‘post towns’ strung out along the route give an enticing and authentic glimpse into Japan’s past.
There is so much to discover on this route! Find out more in our comprehensive destination guide – it’s bursting with inspiration, travel essentials, practical information and more!
Nakasendo Way
The Group Guided Trip – Nakasendo Way
- Fully guided walk with our qualified Japanese guide
- Dive into the colourful history of the Shogun/Samurai
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit 16 of the original post towns from the Nobi plain land to deep in the Kisoji valley
$4,200.00
Nakasendo Way
The Group, Self-Guided Trip – Nakasendo Way
- Trek in a group of like-minded travellers
- A journey through the heart of Japan
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima and Narai
$3,250.00
Nakasendo Way
The Kiso Valley Highlights Trip – Nakasendo Way
- A short hike offering a great introduction to walking in Japan
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Understand the history of the Nakasendo Way with our local guide
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima and Narai
$2,145.00
Nakasendo Way
The Self-Guided Trip – Nakasendo Way
- A journey through the heart of Japan
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima and Narai
$2,995.00
Nakasendo Way
The Shimosuwa Trip – Nakasendo Way
- Journey through the heart of Japan
- Visit Shimosuwa, the only hot springs district
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima and Narai
$3,750.00
TRIP date selection
when would you like to travel?
Please select your preferred dates for on-demand trips or select a scheduled date for group departures. If you have booked a self-guided trip please understand that because your trip date is on demand and we must check availability of all properties on your chosen dates before it can be fully confirmed