Explore Japan on foot
Discover the rich culture of Japan
Bike around the country
Winter is a terrific season to visit Japan. Most winter days are crisp, clear and cold, with brilliant sunshine. Snow falls rather rarely in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto - but if you are lucky enough to catch Kyoto's Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion dusted by fresh snowfall, it's a truly magical sight. Further into the mountains and towards the Japan Sea coast, snow falls deeply. There's nothing more enchanting than the winter landscapes of traditional wooden villages like Magome and Tsumago against a backdrop of snowdrifts. Imagine the comforting warmth of a steaming-hot Japanese bath after a day outside. Or imagine the wonder of sitting in an outdoor Rotemburo thermal water pool as snowflakes glide gently through the air around you. There are so many reasons to choose winter for your Japan walking adventure - fewer visitors, special seasonal foods, the stunning special illumination of a particular garden, temples or shrines. The Nakasendo trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal period. It was the ‘road through the mountains’ traveled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai warriors, merchants, and travelers. Along the route were 69 ‘post towns’, where weary travelers could rest before continuing on the next leg. We spend five days walking on the loveliest parts of the trail enjoying the peace and serenity of the winter landscapes. Depending on the depth of snow, we may use our snowshoes to follow the route. We follow quiet village roads and unpaved hill trails through the picturesque Kiso Valley where there are some beautifully-preserved old villages. We stay overnight in traditional country inns enjoying exquisite, warming regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients. We soak in natural thermal Onsen hot springs, and enjoy the warm hospitality of our hosts. A Japanese bath is the perfect way to end a day walking on the snowy trails!
| Small Group tour | |
| February 16 to February 23, 2021 | |
| 8 Days | |
| * per person *subject to change Tour price includes all transportation between destinations, accommodation, entrance fees, full-time services of tour leader, all breakfasts and 10 evening meals. Please contact for single supplement. |
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| Daily breakfast, 2 lunches and 7 dinners | |
| Full-time services of an English-speaking tour guide | |
| Walk or snowshoe village to village on the loveliest parts of the winter Nakasendo Trail Visit beautifully-preserved old post towns in the snowy Kiso Valley Soak in natural thermal Onsen hot springs - indoors and outdoors! Enjoy hearty, warming seasonal cuisine at welcoming Japanese inns Escape the crowds of busier seasons and enjoy a magical perspective on Japan Ride the world-famous Bullet Train | |
| Age restrictions: Participants should be at least 12 years old. Everyone younger than 20 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. |
Kyoto
Meet at the tour hotel in the center of Kyoto. There will be a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
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Magome
Today we travel by train to Nakatsugawa, one of the old post-towns on the Nakasendo Trail. The original main road through the town retains its Edo-Period heritage with traditional sake shops, restaurants in period wooden buildings and old storehouses. We start our walk here and head towards the next post-town of Ochiai. From Ochiai we ascend through cedar forests and traverse a section of the trail whose cobblestones date right back to the Edo Period. Over the next four days we explore the best-preserved portions of the ancient Nakasendo Trail through villages and hamlets, all set against the magical winter scenery. Our lodging tonight is a charming family-run inn in the post town of Magome.
Walking distance: 8.3km / 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 400m/1300 feet of ascent, 200m/650 feet of descent
Time required: 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Tsumago
From Magome, we walk to Tsumago along one of the prettiest and best-preserved parts of the Nakasendo Trail. We'll likely encounter snow over the Magome Pass with fine opportunities for photographs. After the walk, there's time for lunch in Tsumago and then an afternoon to explore the many small shops along the picturesque main street with its lovely old wooden architecture. Try gohei-mochi, skewered sticky rice covered in a sweet paste of miso, sesame and walnuts. Tsumago is a living museum, which is still home to local residents whose families might have lived here for generations. We stay overnight in Tsumago or the nearby hamlet of O-Tsumago at a family-run inn with a real sense of history.
Walking distance: 8.3km / 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 325m/1,070 feet of ascent, 430m/1,410 feet of descent
Time required: 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Kiso-Fukushima
This morning we continue our exploration of Tsumago including a visit to the Wakihonjin museum housed in a building which dates back to the 19th century. Today's walk begins after lunch and is a short but enjoyable stroll from Tsumago to Nagiso along country lanes. From Nagiso we board a local train for the brief journey to Kiso-Fukushima, a delightful post- town which was once an important Sekisho checkpoint on the Nakasendo. We stroll through the town before heading out to our comfortable Ryokan inn on the outskirts of the community. The Ryokan prides itself on its wonderful cuisine and its terrific indoor and outdoor thermal baths - a perfect way to warm up on a winter evening.
Walking distance: 3.7 km / 2.3 miles
Elevation gain: 100m/330 feet of ascent, 120m/390 feet of descent
Time required: 1 hour
Accommodation: Hot-spring Ryokan (Travellers inn)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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Narai
On our fourth day on the Nakasendo Trail, we walk from Yabuhara to Narai over the Torii Pass. This section is likely to have the deepest snow on the tour and if the snow is deep enough, we'll provide snow shoes to make the crossing of the pass easier. This is a rewarding journey through trees to the charming village of Narai. We arrive in time to explore Narai and have lunch at one of the small local restaurants. Our overnight accommodation is in Narai at a family-run inn in the village.
Walking distance: 6.2km / 3.9 miles
Elevation gain: 345m/1,130 feet of ascent, 270m/885 feet of descent
Time required: 3 hours
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Asama Onsen
Our walk on the Nakasendo Trail ends today with a short stroll from Narai to Kiso Hirasawa. Kiso-Hirasawa is famous for its locally-produced lacquerware. The walk takes around an hour and there may be a chance to see the craftsmen at work. We then travel by train to Matsumoto, a castle town nestled in the central alps region. We visit Matsumoto Castle, one of four castles designated as National Treasures of Japan before boarding a local bus to nearby Asama Onsen. The spa town has a history dating back 1,300 years and we stay overnight at one of the most elegant, authentic Ryokan inns, with beautiful wooden architecture from the Meiji era.
Walking distance: 2.5km / 1.6 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Tokyo
After breakfast, we leave Asama Onsen and travel by train to Tokyo. We leave our luggage at the city-center hotel and enjoy a half-day walking tour of Tokyo, visiting Hama-Rikyu gardens, located near the mouth of the Sumidagawa river. There is a striking contrast between the gardens and the gleaming towers of the new Shiodome business area beyond. Next, we visit Nihonbashi (the ‘Japan Bridge’) considered to be the ‘center of Japan’ and the zero marker point for all Japan’s main roads since the Edo period. This is where the Nakasendo Trail would once have finished. In the evening, there is a Farewell Dinner with your guide.
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Tokyo
The tour ends today after breakfast. Your guide will be on hand to offer assistance and advice for traveling to the airport if you have homeward flights, or onward travel in Japan if you are extending your stay.
Meals: Breakfast
