7-Day Self-Guided Tours:

COMING SOON

At present Really Rural Japan is not (yet) a travel agency. We are working on it! But in the meantime, we aren’t allowed to sell packaged up self-guided tours to you. In lieu of this, and until we get our licenses in order, we are offering consultations to guests hoping for a self-guided tour on the Nakasendo. During a consultation I can show you how and where to self book accommodation and how to link these all together with hikes and transportation. Many guests find organising a trip in rural Japan a nightmarish experience. I am here to help! One hour costs $200 and is usually enough to have you all set and ready to hike the Nakasendo. I will also include a free PDF copy of my guidebook to hiking the Nakasendo.

Nakasendo

中山道

Self Guided 7 Day Tour

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Nakasendo Sign Post
Ichikokutochi Tateba Chaya
Magome Juku
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Really Rural Japan live local and pride ourselves on bring absolute specialists of the Nakasendo. With our experience and expertise we have crafted 4 different 7 day self guided tours. Our “easy” and “hard” tours are suitable in the spring and autumn seasons. Our winter and summer tours offer climate suitable itineraries in the hot and cold months when long distances are harder to pursue.

One of the unique things about our self-guided trip is that you can add a guide onto your trip for just a single day. That way you can learn more about the Nakasendo on one day from a local guide and then enjoy the trail by yourselves for the rest.

Nakasendo 7 Day - Easy

    • Description: Part one of a two-day hike going way off the beaten track. The Mitake to Hosokute hike takes in beautiful countryside vistas and is the polar opposite of crowded. The hike ends in the complete quiet of hilly Gifu Prefecture.

    • Stay: Hosokute or nearby

    • Description: Part two of a two-day hike going way off the beaten track. This hike is long and challenging going through two ancient post towns in one day. The second half of the hike goes over 13 passes. These become more and more meditative as they go.

    • Stay: Ena or Nakatsugawa

    • Description: A beautiful former castle town with a short but steep walk up to the castle ruins. Highlights of the day include the very rural railway line and the sake brewery in the town.

    • Stay: Ena, Nakatsugawa or nearby

    • Description: A wonderful cross section of the normal life in the Japanese countryside. From small town, through the suburbs, and into the forests. With ancient cobblestones and stunning views of rice fields.

    • Stay: Magome or nearby

    • Description: The most famous hike in this region starts and ends in stunning villages packed with ancient architecture. On the way you will see waterfalls, forests, an Edo period tea house, crystal clear rivers and so much more.

    • Stay: Tsumago or nearby

    • Description: A rambling hike through the agrarian hillsides and forests of the Kiso Valley. The Nakasendo hike with probably the most beautiful views of the Japanese countryside.

    • Stay: Nojiri, Kiso-Fukushima or nearby

    • Description: Probably the second most famous hike on the Nakasendo starts in sleepy Yabuhara and ends in the stunning town of Narai. A wonderful forest hike over the Torii Pass.

    • Stay: not included

  • Difficulty: 3/5

    Season: March 15 - June 30, Sep 15 - Dec 20

Nakasendo 7 Day - Hard

    • Description: Part one of a two-day hike going way off the beaten track. The Mitake to Hosokute hike takes in beautiful countryside vistas and is the polar opposite of crowded. The hike ends in the complete quiet of hilly Gifu Prefecture.

    • Stay: Hosokute or nearby

    • Description: Part two of a two-day hike going way off the beaten track. This hike is long and challenging going through two ancient post towns in one day. The second half of the hike goes over 13 passes. These become more and more meditative as they go.

    • Stay: Ena or Nakatsugawa

    • Description: A longer hike combining two back-to-back shorter hikes. From small city to ancient towns, suburbs to forests, and cobblestones to waterfalls, this hike has it all.

    • Stay: Tsumago or nearby

    • Description: A longer hike through the agrarian hillsides and forests of the Kiso Valley. The Nakasendo hike with probably the most beautiful views of the Japanese countryside.

    • Stay: Nojiri, Kiso-Fukushima or nearby

    • Description: Probably the second most famous hike on the Nakasendo starts in sleepy Yabuhara and ends in the stunning town of Narai. A wonderful forest hike over the Torii Pass. After Narai, 2 km more will take you to Hirasawa, a town full of lacquerware craftsmen.

    • Stay: Narai, Matsumoto, or nearby

    • Description: A day off in Matsumoto. Check out Matsumoto Castle, the oldest surviving castle tower in Japan, or check out the Matsumoto Museum of Modern Art. Then jump on an afternoon train to Karuizawa.

    • Stay: Karuizawa

    • Description: A deep forested mountain hike over the Usui Pass. This is the last mountain pass before entering the Kanto Plain. Starting from the hedonistic shopping town of Karuizawa, the trail disappears into the mountains and emerges in among the steeple like peaks of Gunma Prefecture.

    • Stay: not included - easy connection by train to Tokyo

  • Difficulty: 3/5

    Season: March 15 - June 30, Sep 15 - Dec 20

What’s Included

What’s Not Included

  • Guides

  • Accommodations (to be self-booked)

  • Transportation

  • Food & Drink

  • Etc.