length
7 Days
difficulty
Moderate - Challenging
trip cost
From $3150 pp
Nature Immersion
Cultural Interest

Highlights
Get Ready For
- A journey through the heart of Japan
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Walk on the original ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit the post towns of Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima, 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
Make your way from the Nagoya train station on the Meitetsu Line to Mitake Station (80 mins travel time). Mitake is where you will have a short briefing before you depart on your walk (meeting times will be in your travel documents). Our local RAW Travel representative will be able to recommend a local lunch spot (own expense) prior to your walk. You will begin your walk through the town and then make your way into the forest up a short hill known as the Cows Nose is Missing. This is the true beginning of your Nakasendo Way walk. Stay in the forest on this very scenic section through woodland and lush green countryside, walking on some of the original stoned paving known as ishidatami. There will be a chance to stop at La Province Café as you head towards Hosokute and your accommodation for the evening.
Meals: D
Enjoy your first traditional Japanese breakfast and prepare for an exciting day following in the footsteps of the Samurai. Today you will walk over a very old section known as the 13 passes and 13 peaks. There has been no public access through here, which keeps the area completely undeveloped, save for a golf course. The original way used to go through the golf course; nowadays you will follow the boundary of the course and again you will be walking on traditional stone paths. There is even a section that has only been rediscovered in the last few years. Continuing on your way through the mountains you will come across the well-preserved post town called Okute before then travelling along the ridge tops and descending into Ena. In Ena you can visit the museum known as the Hiroshiga, which features some wonderful prints of the Nakasendo Way.
Meals: B, D
Today is a much shorter day, with gentle and undulating walking. You will pass through towns and villages and parts of the city, across rice paddies and fields and even through home gardens, talking to the locals along the way and taking in the Japanese culture. Nakatsugawa was number 45 of the 69 traditional post towns of the Nakasendo Way, and you can spend the rest of the day exploring. Many of the old buildings and shops still work today. Also worth a visit is the Naegi Castle ruins, located just north of the town.
Meals: B, D
After leaving Nakatsugawa at the ancient Kosatsuba (official proclamation board) you will come across red torii gates just after Nakatsugawa Juku. There will be some steep slopes today before Ochiai and then you will be walking on an old cobblestoned way. It’s on this route that you 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).
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, and this is a good spot to take a rest break. You will then walk over the Magome Pass (800m) and slowly descend through peaceful woodland. You’ll 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
Leaving the old town of Tsumago at the ancient Kosatsuba (official proclamation board) you will see on the board the old wooden tablets which state that no Christianity can be practised. The trail ascends steeply up the valley then continues through the forest on what is known as the Yogawa Forest Route to Nojiri, passing through cedar forests and farmland. It is one of the most scenic sections of the walk. The forest walk joins the Kiso River as you descend into Nojiri. After a late lunch in Nojiri, make your way to the train station for a 40-minute ride to Kiso-Fukushima. Located halfway on the Nakasendo Way between Kyoto and Tokyo, Kiso-Fukushima was an important checkpoint during the Edo period.
Meals: B, D
**Option to add an additional night in Kiso-Fukushima if you would like to have a day free to explore this area further. (Subject to availability)
Today you will catch the train from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara and start your final day’s walk of the Nakasendo Way, hiking up to the Torii Pass, named after the Shinto Torii Gate, which marks one of four protective sites surrounding Mount Ontake. At 1197m, the Torii Pass is a great vantage point for views of Mount Ontake on a clear day. The descent takes you along narrow mountain paths until you emerge at the outskirts of Narai, a lovely post town and the wealthiest of the post towns along the trail. Explore and relax in the cafes and shops of this well-preserved and atmospheric town.
Meals: B, D
Today is departure day. After your traditional Japanese breakfast, you can take the train to your next destination.
Meals: B
Inclusions
What's included?
- 6 nights in traditional Japanese guesthouses/inns (ryokan)
- Daily meals (as listed in the itinerary)
- Luggage transfers on your hiking days
- Pre-tour briefing in Mitake
- RAW Travel’s exclusive interactive navigation app
- Local and Australian emergency contacts
- Flights
- Local bus and train tickets
- Travel to Mitake from Nagoya Station
- Single supplement
- Travel insurance
- Beverages other than water at meals
- Expenses and items of a personal nature
- Lunches on all days (we have 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.

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 Highlights Trip with Shimosuwa Onsen – Nakasendo Way
- Visit Shimosuwa, the only hot springs district
- Understand the feudal history with our local guide
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima and Narai
$3,095.00
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
$2,095.00
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
$3,795.00
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