From $350
Private Nakasendo Hiking Tours
Kiso Fukushima is now and was in the Edo period (1603-1867), the biggest, most populous, and bustling town of the Kiso Valley. It was the location of one of the largest, most important checkpoints in all of Japan, it was the gateway for pilgrims climbing the sacred Mount Ontake, and it was the center of commerce in the Kiso Valley.
These days a lot of visitors traveling on the Nakasendo spend a night or more in Kiso-Fukushima. Being the biggest town, it has a bit more capacity than other places, it also has natural hot springs and more luxurious offerings including rooms with private outdoor natural onsen baths. You can go out for drinks after a day hiking in one of the town’s several izakayas. This may sound like a normal thing you could do anywhere but the Kiso Valley is ultra rural and in most other places you will struggle to find any nightlife. all these reasons and more, travelers who prefer to make a base and travel to and from the hikes each day often opt to stay in Kiso-Fukushima.
Some of the accommodation in Kiso-Fukushima is available on English-language booking sites such as Booking.com and Airbnb. There are still a couple of places that are not so easy to book. Really Rural Japan is a local eco-tourism operation. We offer private hiking tours of the Nakasendo as well as a walking tour of Kiso Fukushima. Feel free to contact us, we offer our customers free booking support.
Where to Stay in Kiso Fukushima?
Where to Stay in Kiso-Fukushima:
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In the town, you can take advantage of the train station being close by and the urban-ish conveniences.
Kiso Mikawaya (木曽三河屋) - Across the river from the Nakasendo is this business hotel/inn with hot springs. The easiest to book option in Kiso Fukushima, Mikawaya is a simple and no frills onsen ryokan and a very adequate place to make your base in the Kiso Valley.
Onyado Tsutaya (街道浪漫おん宿蔦屋) - In the middle price range is this ryokan located in the old post town of Kiso Fukushima Juku. This 320-year-old traditional hot spring inn also has some rooms that come with private outdoor hot spring baths.
Kisoji-no-yado Iwaya (木曽路の宿いわや) - Accepting guests on the Nakasendo since the Edo period, this traditional onsen ryokan in Fukushima Juku has even accepted members of the imperial family and the like.
Yama-Mizuki URARA Tsutaya (山みず季URARAつたや) - Conveniently located right in front of Kiso Fukushima Train Station is this beautiful, traditional, recently renovated hot spring ryokan with delicious meals. Some rooms come with their own hot spring baths.
Takumisou - A no frills private house to rent, making a perfect base for a budget trip on the Nakasendo.
Sarashina-ya (さらしなや) – About 200m from the station is this simple, no-thrills, traditional minshuku.
Out in the Nearby Mountains
Out in the mountains around Mount Ontake and the Central Alps, there are some great luxurious hot spring resorts. Just be aware that travel is a lot more difficult to plan. Many accommodations offer shuttle bus services with prior reservation, but cars or planned out guided tours tend to make things smoother.
Tsutaya Tokinoyado Kazari (つたや季の宿風里) - A luxury option with views of Mount Ontake. This bespoke accommodation has private hot springs with several of the rooms. Located 25 minutes drive from Kiso Fukushima, shuttle buses leave at 15:30 and 17:00 but need to be booked.
Nukumorinoyado Komanoyu (ぬくもりの宿駒の湯) – Traditional mountainous hot spring accommodation this time on the other side of the valley (the Central Alps side) with excellent food about 10 minutes by car from Kiso-Fukushima station. Shuttles run from around 15:00-17:00 and must be booked.
Hotel Kiso Onsen Kogane no Yu (ホテル木曽温泉黄金の湯) - Hot spring resort a 30-minute drive from Kiso Fukushima with views of Mount Ontake. With a glamping site newly opened.
Kurumisawa Ryokan (くるみ沢旅館) - Located 30 minutes drive from Kiso Fukushima in the village of Otaki, where you can experience takigyo, waterfall meditation of the Ontake religion. This simple traditional ryokan is owned by Mr. Kurumisawa who also guides tourists in takigyo experiences.
Two Ways to Travel:
When traveling and hiking on the Nakasendo there are two main ways to do it:
A to B to C: This means that you pack light and bring your belongings with you or booking a luggage delivery service. In Magome and Tsumago there is a special luggage delivery service provided jointly by the joint tourism bureaus. You can send your luggage to the next post town while you hike costing 1,000JPY per item and pick them up when you finish your hike.
With a base: Having a base and then traveling to each hike you choose to do each day is another popular way to hike the Nakasendo and Kiso Valley. That way you can leave your larger bags of luggage in one place securely and travel up and down the valley using the train line.
There are no right or wrong ways to do it. It is just a matter of preference.