Nakasendo Way

Take a stroll into Japan’s past along the Nakasendo Way trail, an old traveller’s road from the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. Nakasendo which literally means “Central Mountain Road” or “Inner Mountain Path, a trail that was once connected by a string of villages that provided lodging and sustenance for shoguns, retainers, samurai and daimyo (feudal lords)

The trail and its villages were largely abandoned in the 19th century, however, in the 1960s a campaign began to remove all the modern buildings and those left from the Edo period (1600-1868) were restored, streets repaved with period stone and the Nakasendo once again began offering period-correct food and shelter for walkers.

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Nakasendo Way & the Kaida Plateau Guided – 6 days

Group-guided

Group Guided walk staying in Japanese Ryokans, all Japanese style elaborate dinners and breakfasts: the Kaido Plateau: includes the Kiso Valley section: cedar forest and waterfalls

 img Group-guided img 6 Days img From £ 1710 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo Way & the Kaida Plateau Guided – 6 days

BACK What's Included
  • Guided walking holiday experience with our qualified Japanese guide
  • Explore the beautiful Kaida Kogen Plateau in the hills north of Kiso-Fukushima
  • 5 nights stay in a family-run Ryokan or Hotels
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
  • Beautiful views and authentic Japanese cultural experience
  • Speak to your destination consultant about the add-on of the self-guided Kuirizawa section two-night stay – see Day 6 in the itinerary
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Nakasendo Highlights 5 days

Self-guided

Walk ancient stone trails: stay in Japanese Ryokans, authentic dinners and breakfasts: includes the Kiso Valley section: peaceful Japanese rural landscape: shrines: waterfalls…

 img Self-guided img 5 Days img From £ 1165 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo Highlights 5 days

BACK What's Included
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers (please see Luggage Transfer section in General Info for details)
  • 4 nights stay in a family-run or small traditional Minshuku, Ryokan or Hotel
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s comprehensive track notes and maps
  • On the ground support from local representatives
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Nakasendo Highlights 6 days

Self-guided

Hike over ancient stone trails: authentic Japanese Ryokans, dinners and breakfasts: includes the Kiso Valley section: peaceful Japanese rural landscape: cedar forest and waterfalls

 img Self-guided img 6 Days img From £ 1455 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo Highlights 6 days

BACK What's Included
  • 5 nights stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese ryokan accommodation
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers (please see Luggage Transfer section in General Info for details)
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day (except your last night in Karuizawa)
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers most days from accommodation to accommodation
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s authored comprehensive track notes and  maps
  • On the ground support from local representatives
img

Nakasendo & the Kaida Plateau 6 days

Self-guided

Ancient stone pavements: authentic Japanese Ryokans, dinners and breakfasts: the Kaido Plateau: includes the Kiso Valley section: cedar forest and waterfalls

 img Self-guided img 6 Days img From £ 1455 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo & the Kaida Plateau 6 days

BACK What's Included
  • Explore the beautiful Kaida Kogen Plateau in hills north of Kiso-Fukushima
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers (please see Luggage Transfer section in General Info for details)
  • 5 nights stay in an intimate family-run or small traditional Japanese accommodation
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s comprehensive track notes and maps
  • On the ground support from local representatives
img

Nakasendo Way 7 days

Self-guided

Ancient paved paths, walk through well preserved authentic Japanese towns and via cypress and cedar forest and peaceful rural Japanese scenery: stay in family-owned Ryokans

 img Self-guided img 7 Days img From £ 1670 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo Way 7 days

BACK What's Included
  • 6 nights stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese ryokan accommodation
  • Explore the beautiful Kaida Kogen Plateau in hills north of Kiso-Fukushima
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers (please see Luggage Transfer section in General Info for details)
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s comprehensive walk notes
  • On the ground support from local representatives
img

Nakasendo & the Kaida Plateau 7 days

Self-guided

Walk ancient stone pavements and dirt trails: authentic Japanese Ryokans, dinners and breakfasts: stunning walk up to the Kaido Plateau: includes the Kiso Valley section

 img Self-guided img 7 Days img From £ 1670 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo & the Kaida Plateau 7 days

BACK What's Included
  • Explore the beautiful Kaida Kogen Plateau in hills north of Kiso-Fukushima
  • 6 nights stay in an intimate family-run or small traditional Japanese accommodation
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers (please see Luggage Transfer section in General Info for details)
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day (except your last night in Karuizawa)
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s comprehensive walk notes
  • On the ground support from local representatives
img

Nakasendo Way 8 days

Self-guided

Nakasendo trail, one of Japan’s most famous hiking routes: Breathtaking scenery: ancient paved paths: well preserved authentic Japanese towns: shrines and waterfalls…

 img Self-guided img 8 Days img From £ 1835 img Moderate What's Included

Nakasendo Way 8 days

BACK What's Included
  • Explore the beautiful Kaida Kogen Plateau in hills north of Kiso-Fukushima
  • Walk with a light pack, with luggage transfers (please see Luggage Transfer section in General Info for details)
  • 7 nights stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese ryokan accommodation
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day (except your last night in Karuizawa)
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s comprehensive walk notes
  • On the ground support from local representatives
img

14 day Kumano Kodo, Nakasendo & Kyoto Walk

Self-guided

Walk the 3 best days on the Kumano Kodo, and the 4 best days on the Nakasendo and discover the stunning ancient capital of Japan’s Kyoto, via temples, waterfalls and forest.

 img Self-guided img 14 Days img From £ 3505 img Moderate to Challenging What's Included

14 day Kumano Kodo, Nakasendo & Kyoto Walk

BACK What's Included
  • Walk with a light pack on the 3 best days on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi and the 4 best days on the Nakasendo
  • Fully immerse yourself in Kyoto over 4 days including on the Kyoto Trail
  • Luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation ( see General Info section for details re the luggage transfers on the walks)
  • 9 nights stay in an intimate family-run or small traditional Japanese lodgings, some with in-house onsens, and 4 nights stay in a Japanese Hotel in Kyoto
  • Traditional Japanese meals for breakfast and dinner each day on the walk, 4 dinners and 3 lunches on the Kumano Kodo section and 4 dinners on the Nakasendo section. Please note on dinner free nights there are plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from within walking distance
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s comprehensive track notes and maps
  • Note:  the cost of trains, taxis if you choose to use them or entry fees into shrines or temples is extra.  Please see the details in the General Info section

Overview

We offer 8 walking trips on the Nakasendo Way, all of which have you walk and enjoy the Japanese countryside and explore the authentic Japanese towns. This is an immersive Japanese cultural experience, where you will stay and dine as the Japanese have done for centuries, eating local authentic multi-course Japanese cuisine each day for dinner and breakfast. It is also typical on these walks to sleep on a Japanese futon mattress on a tatami mat floor in a traditional Ryokan or Japanese hotel.

We offer varying versions of the Nakasendo Way.   Many of the walks have similar walking days, as we have provided shorter versions of all the walks. In some cases, it allows you to start your onward journey immediately after the walk. However, we highly recommend staying in situ at the end of the walk, as this allows you to integrate the experience in a relaxed way.

We also offer a guided version of the Nakasendo with a local guide over 6 days.

LEARN MORE

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • All accommodation on the walk in authentic Japanese Ryokans and guesthouses
  • All multi-course dinners and breakfasts on the walk
  • All luggage transport
  • Note: There are a few short low-cost journeys on public transport that can’t be pre-booked.
  • Comprehensive walk notes written and curated by Auswalk and our walking App, to assure that you can walk with confidence.
  • 24/7 support from the Auswalk team on the ground
  • Insulated lunch bag and spork

Transport from Melbourne and on the track:

 

WALKING ESSENTIALS

As with any journey, it is essential to be prepared for your walking holiday. While we will be transporting your luggage from accommodation to accommodation, you will still be carrying a lightweight day pack with you. Here is what we suggest that you carry with you each day:

  • Walking notes, a map, and a map case
  • Insulated lunch pack and silicon container (when supplied)
  • Quality waterproof jacket with a hood
  • Warm jumper or jacket
  • Sunhat
  • Please be sure to have comfortable walking shoes
  • Sunscreen (at least 15+)
  • At least 2 litres of water
  • First aid kit
  • Toilet paper
  • Some Japanese money
  • Mobile phone (please note that reception is not available in all walk areas)
  • Personal insect repellent, band-aids, and a small container of salt mixed with rice grains
  • Personal necessities (example: required medication)

Now that we have the essentials packed, it is time to think of those additional items that may be worth packing along with you. These may include and are not limited to:

  • Waterproof over-trousers
  • Warm hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera (with an extra battery or sim cards)
  • Binoculars
  • Small torch
  • Walking sticks
  • Thermos (for hot drinks)
  • Additional snacks
21/22

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If you’re looking for further information on any of our walking holidays please fill out the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
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