Nakasendo Trail, Kiso Valley
@Al Gonzalez

Tsumago-juku, formerly the forty-second of the sixty-nine post towns on the Nakasendo
@blanscape

Shiraito Falls, a waterfall in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture
@HIROSHI_H

Volcanic rock landscape in Onioshidashi Park
kanuman

Nakasendo Trail, Magome-juku, Gifu Prefecture
@Lanhang Ye

Matsumoto Castle, Nagano Prefecture
@sihasakprachum

The Nakasendo Trail

Duration : 6 days
Locations : Narai, Magome, Tsumago, Hikone

Following in the footsteps of the old Nakasendo road, immortalised in the famous prints by Hiroshige. Between the present and the ancient capital, through the Japanese Alps, immerse yourself in the history of the Japan of the samurai and travel by car or on foot along this mythical route with its admirably preserved stopover villages.

A poetic and original way to reach Kyoto from modern Tokyo. Japan Experience's plus: a precise, well-documented travel diary, carefully selected sites and stages.

6 days / 5 nights itinerary from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Nakasendo Trail

Departure city : Tokyo
Narai
Tsumago
Magome
Hikone
Return city : Kyoto

Please find detailed itinerary information below.

IMPORTANT:
- If your driving license was issued in France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, or Taiwan, it is not valid in Japan, so you will need a certified Japanese translation, available in option.
- If your license was not issued in one of the countries listed above, please make sure to obtain an international driving permit in your home country, as it is required to drive a car in Japan.

Why choose this excursion to Japan ?

Traverse the stunning Japanese Alps and witness breathtaking landscapes.
Discover remarkably preserved villages along the Nakasendo.
Walk in the footsteps of samurai and experience Japan's rich history.
Escape the typical tourist routes and experience a poetic and original journey.
Many recommendations available in your digital travel guidebook.

Your excursion in detail

Program

Day 1 : Meeting the elements

Pick up your hire car in Tokyo in the early morning. Head for Nagatoro to begin your stay with a mini-cruise along the Ara river, where you can glide along the rapids!
The afternoon begins with a visit to a mysterious Shinto shrine in the mountains. Then get up high to admire the mountains of Gunma prefecture on one side and Mount Asama on the other.
Take a refreshing break with elegant waterfalls 150 metres wide, followed by a strange site of volcanic resurgences. Finally, off to a small spa hamlet where a traditional meal and delicious hot baths await you at a Japanese inn.
Day 2 : Enter the Kiso valley

Breakfast at your hotel. On the way, discover the gentle landscape of terraced rice paddies and take the road following the old route in search of the landscapes of Hiroshige's prints ; stations 28 to 31.
Deviate slightly from the route to visit one of the most beautiful castles in medieval Japan silhouetted against a mountain range over 3,000 metres high.
After lunch not far from the moat, return to the main theme of your Kiso valley for a first stop in the village of Narai, the 34th stopover village. Here you can make your own chopsticks or take an evening stroll through the streets of a bygone age.
Overnight in a 3* ryokan in Narai.
Day 3 : Step by step

Breakfast in your ryokan. Your day begins with a walk in the forest between Narai and the next stopover village, following in the footsteps of the Nakasendo travellers.
You can have lunch here, unless you prefer to picnic in the mountains. Then take a small train back to your vehicle. Your day continues in the freshness of natural sites with crystal-clear waters, landscapes of surprising beauty and tranquillity.
Arrive in Tsumago. This is a village where time seems to have stood still in the Edo era, and where you can sample the charms of Japan in days gone by. In the main street, admire the old inn where the great lords used to stay when they travelled between Kyoto and Tokyo!
Overnight in a 3* ryokan in Tsumago. Traditional, unspoilt accommodation that will extend your experience of Japan during the Edo era.
Day 4 : Just like the old days

Breakfast in your ryokan. Immerse yourself in the history of the Nakasendo with a short, mythical hike between Tsumago and the Magome Pass, with the mountains as a backdrop and beautiful waterfalls.
At the pass, you can enjoy an amazake while waiting for the bus to take you back to Tsumago and your vehicle. After lunch you reach Magome, the 44th stage. Today it's a delightful pedestrian street lined with charming craft shops where everything evokes the days of the samurai times.
Next, we invite you to take a leap back in history and visit an exceptional open-air museum that will take you back to the Meiji era, the period which sounded the death knell for Edo and its processions of warriors...
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Inuyama, a town renowned for its castle.
Day 5 : At the heart of history

Breakfast in your hotel. Your day begins at Inuyama Castle, claimed to be the oldest castle in Japan, its original structure dates back to 1537! Stroll along a shopping street with its preserved shopfronts.
Discover the site of one of the most famous battles in Japan's feudal history, Sekigahara, and its history museum that will take you back to the year 1600.
Continue towards the heights of Lake Biwa along a panoramic road that offers breathtaking views all the way to Mount Ibuki where we invite you to take a short, vertiginous hike, weather permitting.
Late afternoon, arrival at your traditional accommodation close to Lake Biwa. Overnight in a 3* ryokan in Hikone.
Day 6 : Arrival in Miyako

Breakfast in your ryokan. In the morning, visit a sublime Japanese garden and its 1677 castle set against the backdrop of the great Lake Biwa. The garden is made up of four islets linked by bridges.
Walk down the lake to Omihachiman and its ancient canals, the green Venice of Biwa. Omihachiman is a beautifully preserved trading town once a stopover on the Nakasendo route, a perfect place to stroll along the shops and soak up the atmosphere of feudal Japan.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch before visiting a beautiful temple on the top of a small hill nearby. As the last stop on your trip, we suggest you visit a lovely little pavilion that seems to float on the waters of the lake, a Zen site of the Rinzai school that will offer you a final moment of peace and a panoramic view of the lake.
Return to Kyoto at your leisure, returning your vehicle to the central station before 6 PM.

Included in your self-guided excursion

Accommodation
- 1 nights in 3-star hotels or equivalent
- 3 nights in 3-star ryokan or equivalent
- 1 nights in a minshuku or equivalent
The base rate includes a twin room.
Transportation
- 6-day car rental starting from Tokyo
Visit & meals
- All breakfasts are included
- Dinners from day 1 to 5 are included

Other services

Other services
- Bilingual English and Japanese telephone support is available 7 days a week, from 9 AM to 6 PM. The number will be provided in your travel diary
- Complete digital travel diary before your departure
Not included in the price of your excursion
- Optional insurance
- Personal expenses, including lunches (you will find recommended restaurants selected by us in your travel pack)
- Entrance fees to museums, gardens or temples
- Internet access (i.e. with a an e-SIM card)
- Everything not included in the "Included in your excursion" section

More information about your trip

Your excursion:

- Please note that at least one person taking part in the trip must have a driving licence valid in their country.

- The prices shown on this page may vary according to the Japanese ¥ exchange rate.

- Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

- Children aged 3 and over may participate. Child rates available for children ages 3 to 11 included.

- Unfortunately, pets are not able to be brought onto this excursion.

- This program may be subject to changes due to imperatives such as weather conditions or other events. Please note that due to the current situation, all mentioned information is subject to change or adaptation.

- In order to benefit from an internet connection, reserve an e-SIM card with Japan Experience.

- This tour must be booked at least 45 days before the start date of the tour.

- Your travel documents will be sent to you by email before your departure.

Your accommodation:

- Some hotels may ask you to pay a tourist tax on arrival. This depends on the town and even the hotel, as some do not include it in the cost of the reservation. It generally amounts to ¥200/night/person (about €1.60) but may be a little higher in 4-star hotels. It must be paid in cash at the hotel reception.

- Single room: People travelling alone and/or wishing to book a single room must pay a supplement at the time of booking. Please note that a single room supplement for an order of more than 2 people will be applied in all accommodation except ryokans (3 and 4*). As this is traditional accommodation, people with the same reservation are grouped together in spacious rooms that can accommodate up to 5 people.

- 3-person room: If there are 3, 5 or more of you and you do not select the single supplement, you will be allocated a triple room.

- Hotel names: The names given on the site are for information only. In the event of unavailability, an establishment of equivalent standing will be scheduled.

Your transport:

- 6-day car rental starting from Tokyo.

- In Japan, most cars are automatic.

- Costs related to gasoline and possible tolls are not included in the tour price.

- If your driving license was issued in France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, or Taiwan, it is not valid in Japan, so you will need a certified Japanese translation, available as an option.

- Although the process may vary by country, be sure to apply for your international driving permit well in advance, as it typically takes time to be issued. Additionally, it is your responsibility to check the specific laws and regulations regarding international driving permits in your country.

Your meals:

- All breakfasts are included.

- Dinners at the ryokan and the minshuku - from day 1 to 5 - are included .

- For other meals, you will find recommendations selected by us in your travel diary.

Cancellation policy:

A 35% deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. The remaining balance must be paid in full no later than 35 days before the departure date.

In case of cancellation, the following fees apply:

15% for bookings canceled more than 35 days in advance;
50% for cancellations between 35 and 21 days prior to the departure date;
75% for cancellations between 20 and 8 days prior to the departure date;
100% for cancellations within 7 days of the departure date.

These fees are calculated on the total price of the excursion, excluding insurance.

What kind of insurance coverage is available for your Japan trip ?

When you book with Japan Experience, you have the option of purchasing two types of coverage:

Japan Experience Flex : This insurance covers expenses related to trip cancellations for specific reasons (disease, accident, passing...)

Japan Experience Protect : This insurance provides overall coverage for various aspect of the trip. For instance: cancellation, flight delay or missing flight, lost luggage, travel incident and repatriation, assistance, etc...