Nakasendo Hiking Tours
-中山道-
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The Nakasendo is an ancient mountain road that once ran all the way from Kyoto to Tokyo. Our Nakasendo hiking tours take place in and around the Kiso Valley, Nagano Prefecture, where the ancient road, and its villages of inns, are incredibly well preserved. Walking here is like stepping into a time machine to rural Japan in the Edo period (1603-1867).
There are several hikes available. You could book a simple day trip, or book several hikes back-to-back to make a longer itinerary. We are happy to customize your trip to fit your needs!
If you need help with accommodation, contact us for our free booking service.
Magome to Tsumago
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・Distance: 8km/5miles
・Uphill: 230m/750ft
・The most popular hike on the Nakasendo and for very good reason. Starting and finishing in two of the most stunning ancient villages, with the hike between them going though deep forests, rural hamlets and more.
Tsumago to Nojiri (The Yogawa Michi)
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・Distance: 15km/9miles
・Uphill: 550m/1,800ft
・The Nakasendo hike with the most beautiful views of the Japanese countryside. The Yogawa Michi was actually a sub-route used when the normal route was destroyed by natural disasters. It goes through deep mountains and tiny farming hamlets.
Yabuhara to Narai (The Torii Pass)
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・Distance: 7km/4miles
・Uphill: 320m/1,050ft
・The second most popular hike on the Nakasendo was once known as the hardest stretch of the ancient road. These days its much easier to pass with the hike going high into the mountains of the Torii Pass and ending in Narai, a stunning 1km long post town.
Nakatsugawa to Magome
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・Distance: 9km/6miles
・Uphill: 320m/1,050ft
・The Nakasendo hike with the most variation. This hike goes from city to suburb, forest to idyllic countryside and ends up in the stunning post town of Magome. The Ochiai ancient cobblestones are a highlight.
Kiso Fukushima Hiking Tour
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Distance: 8km/5miles
Uphill: 340m/1,120ft
Highlights:
・A trip to Agematsu Town to visit Nezame-no-toko, one of the truly iconic views of the Kiso region.
・The historical and cultural sights of Kiso Fukushima: The Yamamura Residence and the Fukushima Checkpoint Museum.
・Local Flavors: A sake tasting experience at a local brewery and a local lunch.
Mitake to Oi
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・Distance: 31km/19miles (over two days)
・Uphill: 770m/2,550ft (over two days)
・The most off-the-beaten-track hike on offer. This rolling, up-and-down countryside hike takes you deep into forests and sleepy countryside of Gifu Prefecture where the historical Nakasendo track has barely changed at all.
Karuizawa to Yokokawa (The Usui Pass)
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・Distance: 17km/10.5miles
・Uphill: 265m/870ft
・The Usui Pass is probably the most popular and enjoyable hike on Nakasendo outside of the hikes in the Kiso region. It takes you from the bustling westernized shopping town of Karuizawa, deep into the mountains of the Usui Pass before a very long winding descent into the Kanto Plain where many hikers choose to end their Nakasendo adventure.
Shimo Suwa to Wada (The Wada Pass)
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・Distance: 15km/9miles
・Uphill:700m/2,300ft
・The Wada Pass was the longest, highest pass of the Nakasendo at 23km and 1,600m of elevation (on this hike we will walk 15km). It was infamously a dangerous and challenging section of path to walk. Due to the remoteness of the path, this section is now almost completely empty. For history lovers wanting to see how the Nakasendo really would have looked, this one is for you.