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Private Nakasendo Hiking Tours
Summer Nakasendo Itineraries
Summers on the Nakasendo
The Nakasendo is, in principle, hike-able all year round. Now, as a local guide on the Nakasendo, a lot of people often ask me: ‘What’s the best time to visit?’. A question that I usually begin to answer by saying: ‘I’ll tell you the worst time to visit, mid-summer’. The summers here (mid July to mid September) are hot and humid to put it mildly. The hottest day in the middle of summer on the most popular hike of Magome to Tsumago gets to around 35°C. This, coupled with the high humidity makes it you a sweaty mess at best, and at risk of heat stroke and death at worst.
Now, this page is not designed to stop you from visiting in the middle of summer. I rely on you making those trips to make an income and feed my family. However, if you read on and take my advice, you will be better prepared, and maybe, just maybe, have booked a guided trip with me, so that I can show you what the best way to enjoy the summers here.
The Dangers:
Heat Exhaustion / Heat Stroke:
These are terms that are thrown around lightly, but are actually extremely dangerous if not mitigated properly. People with a high risk of heat stroke are children under five, people aged 65 and over, people who are overweight, and people who are not well acclimatised to the heat. If this doesn’t include you, it doesn’t make you immune.
Low Valley Hikes:
The Nakasendo has exploded in popularity in recent years. The same old itineraries have been copied and pasted by hundreds of websites that don’t put the climate in context. These “standard” tour itineraries are designed for springs and autumns. In summer, they are usually not appropriate. The Nakasendo is a historical trail designed to be utilitarian and therefore it stays at as-low-elevations-as-possible and therefore gets unpleasantly hot in mid-summer!
The Solutions:
Know Yourself:
Have an honest look at yourself, your age, your fitness, what climate you live in, and think carefully before planning a mid-summer hike on the Nakasendo. If you feel like you might be high risk, perhaps you can enjoy the Kiso area in different ways. Maybe visit the towns, hike less but enjoying cultural experiences more. Really Rural Japan has several cultural experiences in the Kiso Valley and Ina Valley to keep you entertained in the mid summer.
Choose Cooler Hikes:
The Nakasendo is the name of a road running through the Kiso Valley. But here, in Kiso and the surrounding area, there are several other hikes which are much more enjoyable in the mid summers! Here are a few that are much more appropriate in the summer heat:
The Ontake Kodo - This is especially good if a waterfall mediation ceremony (takigyo) can be booked alongside it.
Yabuhara to Narai, The Seinaiji Kaido, and The Tosando all have good shade and tree cover and are more manageable in the summer heat.
A Note on Itineraries
There are a hundred ways to combine the various hikes and day plans of the Kiso Valley and Ina Valley to make your own personalized itinerary. As a tour operator specializing in private tours, we are always happy to customize your trip to fit your needs. So please, use these itineraries as a guide but also feel free to pick out any other tours or content that interest you. Contact us and we can advise and customize to make your very own personalized trip!
Now without further ado here are my recommended itineraries:
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The Ontake Route:
Day 1: The Ontake Kodo (with waterfall meditation ceremony) - 8km > 400m elevation gain > about 2-3 hours
Day 2: Mount Ontake - 9km > 820m elevation gain > about 6 hours
To stay cool in the summer heat, climbing higher into the alpine regions is a definite way to do it! This itinerary is located and themed all around the sacred mountain! If a takigyo ceremony can be booked this is very special indeed!
The River Explorer:
Day 1: Tadachi Waterfalls - 8km > 500m elevation gain > about 4 hours
Day 2: Waterfall Hiking in Kiso - customised on the day
For those who enjoy dips in cold rivers during the summer, this is your itinerary. Day 1 is a stunning hike along a river. On day 2 pack your bathing suite.
The Ina Valley Summer Route:
Day 1: The Central Alps - 4km > 350m elevation gain > about 4 hours
Day 2: The Tenryu River & Nakai Samurai Tea Picking & Roasting
This is a very special itinerary for those who love deep and slow, off-the-beaten-track trips. This will not let you down!
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The Kiso Ontake Route:
Day 1: Magome to Tsumago - Hiking is optional. It might be a better idea to simply look around the towns, eat ice cream and take bus in-between them.
Day 2: Tadachi Waterfalls - 8km > 500m elevation gain > about 4 hours
Day 3: The Ontake Kodo - 8km > 400m elevation gain > about 3 hours
Day 4: Mount Ontake - 9km > 820m elevation gain > about 6 hours
Day 5: Yabuhara to Narai - Hiking is optional. An alternative is to spend half a day looking around Kiso Fukushima and half a day in Narai and Hirasawa for a lacquerware workshop.
This is a hybrid itinerary of Nakasendo highlights and amazing river and alpine hiking. Perfect for the summers!
The Easy Going Itinerary:
Day 1: Magome to Tsumago - Hiking is optional. It might be a better idea to simply look around the towns, eat ice cream and take bus in-between them.
Day 2: The Ontake Kodo - 8km > 400m elevation gain > about 3 hours
Day 3: Yabuhara to Narai - Hiking is optional. An alternative is to spend half a day looking around Kiso Fukushima and half a day in Narai and Hirasawa for a lacquerware workshop.
Day 4: The Central Alps - 4km > 350m elevation gain > about 4 hours
Day 5: The Tenryu River & Nakai Samurai Tea Picking & Roasting
This itinerary covers both the Kiso Valley and the Ina Valley, picking out some of the absolute highlights. These five days a bit easier going than the other five day itinerary.