The Nakasendo is an ancient road dating back hundreds of years that once connected Kyoto and Tokyo. Most of the path has been completely lost to modernization, but here in the Kiso Valley, it remains almost exactly as it was. Hike in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of samurai come before. And enjoy the sights of rural Japan just as they were hundreds of years ago.

This is by far the most varied hike of the Nakasendo on offer. Starting at Nakatsugawa Station this starts off as an urban hike. After enjoying the small historical city of Nakatsugawa, and its many wagashi-ya (Japanese sweet shops) and coffee shops, the hike heads off into the agricultural suburbs. The hike then enters the small historical post town of Ochiai. After Ochiai the hike starts to feel a lot more rural, and mountainous. From there it’s not long until Ochiai Ishidatami path. This 1.1km stretch of original Edo period (1603-1867) cobblestones is certainly a highlight of the hike. From there, things only get more and more scenic as you enter the Kiso Valley, and the landscape changes again. There you can enjoy wide sweeping mountain views in the background with fertile sun-drenched rice fields in the foreground. Finally, the hike ends at Magome, a beautiful sloping and winding historical village full of ancient inns, traditional street food vendors, and more.

If Nakatsugawa Station is not a convenient starting point for you, let us know and we can customize the plan to fit your needs. For faster hikers or people that prefer longer distances, this hike can be combined with the Magome to Tsumago hike or the Oi to Nakatsugawa hike to make a long day hike of around 20km/12miles.

During the trip, I will provide hot drinks, and snacks and you can even try on my own handmade waraji (traditional Japanese straw sandals), which I specialize in making.