nakasendo trail - Macs Adventure

NAKASENDO TRAIL
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE WALK FROM KYOTO TO TOKYO
THE NAKASENDO TRAIL - FROM KYOTO TO TOKYO
SUMMARY
Walk the Nakasendo Way through rural Japan from Kyoto to Tokyo. A route used since feudal
times the Nakasendo Trail, one of a network of ancient highways, linked Kyoto and Tokyo through
the central mountains. Travellers would rest each night at juku - post towns - and today it is still
possible to walk the route and stay in small local minshuku - guest houses - by night.
Your journey begins with three nights in Kyoto, Japan’s traditional heart. Here your local guide will help
you discover the Japan of your imagination for one day and you have a free day to explore. On day 4 of
your trip you catch the train and bus to Magome, where your 5 day walk on the Nakasendo Trail begins.
Following ancient paved village paths and mountain trails you walk between perfectly preserved
Nakasendo post towns such as Tsumago, Nojiri, Yabuhara and Hirasawa. Each night you will stay in small
local minshuku where you will be welcomed as one of the family. Impeccable service, beautiful rooms and
delicious food are the hallmark of these charming establishments, which will no doubt be a highlight of
your trip. Your walk ends in Yokokawa where you catch the train to Tokyo for your final two nights.
Our Nakasendo Trail self guided tour includes 9 nights accommodation in hand picked accommodation of
character, 9 breakfasts, 4 dinners, Train tickets from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa, trains on day 5 & 6 and on
day 8 from Yokokawa to Tokyo, a detailed day by day itinerary and walking route notes, a waterproof map,
local phone support and a guided tour of Kyoto. If you would prefer you can also book this trip on a “walk
only” basis as a 5 day and 4 night package from Magome to Yokokawa.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Kyoto, the heart of Japan’s traditional culture.
The beautifully preserved Nakasendo post towns such as Tsumago & Narai.
Walking through the beautiful Kiso Valley on the Nakasendo Trail.
Following in the footsteps of the Tokugawa Shoguns on the road through the mountains.
Staying in small beautiful traditional ryokan and minshuku.
Sumptuous evening meals beautifully presented at the family table.
Discovering the beauty, tradition and hospitality of rural Japan
Feeding off the manic energy of Tokyo.
WHY WALK THE NAKASENDO TRAIL FROM KYOTO TO TOKYO WITH US?
Macs Adventure specialises in self guided walking holidays as we believe that there is no better way to
discover a new destination than on two feet at your own pace. Nowhere is this more true than in Japan!
You will gain a unique insight into the culture, tradition and hospitality of rural Japan as you follow the
ancient Nakasendo Trail through the mountains, staying in traditional guest houses each night.
Working with our local partner in Japan we have designed an itinerary which incorporates the best of
Japan where every last detail is taken care of. You can relax and enjoy your walk in the knowledge that
your route notes have been carefully prepared, a warm welcome in beautiful surroundings awaits and in
the event of a problem our local English speaking team will be just a phone call away. Each trip we offer
is unique so don’t hesitate to get in touch of you would like us to tailor make a trip just for you.
Tour: Nakasendo Trail - Kyoto to Tokyo
Code: WJSNT
Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday
Price: See Website
Single Supplement: See Website
Dates: April to November
Walking Days: 5 (2 - 6 hours daily)
Nights: 9
Start/Finish: Kyoto / Tokyo
Grade: Moderate
Is the Nakasendo Trail for me?
There really is no better way to discover rural
Japan than on foot at your own pace. Wonderful scenery, rich tradition and culture,
beautiful lodgings and amazing food make
the Nakasendo Trail a unique experience.
With the tradition of Kyoto and energy of
Tokyo thrown in you can look forward to an
amazing trip.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Accommodation: 3 nights in Kyoto and 2
nights in Tokyo in carefully selected 3 or 4*
hotels, 4 nights on the Nakasendo Trail in traditional small minshuku or ryokan (guest houses).
Meals: 9 Breakfasts and 4 Evening meals on
the trail included.
Baggage Transfer: Not included
Guided Tour: 1 Day guided tour of Kyoto
Information Pack: Detailed information pack,
day by day itinerary, turn by turn route notes,
waterproof map,
Travel: Train tickets from Kyoto and to Tokyo.
Local support: English speaking local support by phone.
NAKASENDO TRAIL
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE WALK FROM KYOTO TO TOKYO
A local guide will meet you at your hotel in the
morning, and you will have a full-day tour using a
mixture of public transport and walking. We have
several suggested itineraries from which you can
choose, or you can choose your own itinerary.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Days: 10
Nights: 9
Walking Days: 5
Overnight: Kyoto hotel or ryokan
Day
Route
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Arrive Kyoto
Guided tour Kyoto
Sightseeing Kyoto
Magome to Tsumago
Tsumago to Nojiri
Yabuhara to Narai
Narai to Hirasawa
Karuizawa to Yokokawa and
by train to Tokyo
Sightseeing Toyko
Onward Travel
9
10
Hrs
DAY 3
Sightseeing in Kyoto
3.5
6
3.5
2
5-6
DAY 1
Arrive Kyoto
Arrive in Kyoto and check-in to your hotel or
ryokan in central Kyoto.
Kyoto is one of the world’s most culturally rich
cities scattered with hundreds, if not thousands,
of pockets of incredible beauty. The city has 17
UNESCO World Heritage sites, 1600 Buddhist
temples, over 400 Shinto shrines and 24
museums. As home to the Japanese Imperial
family from 794 to 1868 it has been central to
Japanese history and is a city that must be on
your list.
Overnight: Kyoto hotel or ryokan
A free day in Kyoto to explore. We will provide
some suggested itineraries for you to use and
you should have plenty of ideas from your initial
exploration yesterday.
Overnight: Kyoto hotel or ryokan
DAY 4
Travel to Magome and walk to
Tsumago
Travel by train to Nakatsugawa and onwards by
bus to Magome, where you begin your walk on
the Nakasendo Trail to Tsumago over the
Magome-toge Pass. This is one of the most
challenging parts of the Nakasendo rising to
801m above sea level.
The Nakasendo Trail had 69 post towns,
numbered from Edo (Tokyo) and Magome is the
43rd. Tsumago is the 42nd Nakasendo post
town. It is beautifully preserved and truly
evocative of a traditional Nakasendo post town
from the late Edo period.
Walk: 8.3km / 5.2 miles, 239m ascent, 415m
descent, 3 hours
DAY 2
Dinner & Overnight: Family-run minshuku in
Tsumago.
Guided tour in Kyoto
DAY 5
Today you will fall in love with the Japan of your
imagination as you discover the secret gardens,
hidden courtyards and floating temples of Kyoto.
Perhaps even catching a glimpse of an elusive
geisha.
Tsumago to Nojiri
Leaving Tsumago, the trail travels through small
valleys and past forests of bamboo and
Japanese cedar, through some of the leastdeveloped scenery on the tour. At six hours this
is the longest day of walking on the Nakasendo
Trail and from Nojiri you continue by train to Kiso
-Fukushima.
Walk: 18.4km, 820m ascent, 1060m descent, 6
hours (shorter option available to reduce walkto 1
hour)
Dinner & Overnight: Lovely hot spring ryokan
set in a remote valley above the town (pick-up
from the station is provided).
DAY 6
Yabuhara to Narai
Your journey continues first by train from Kiso
Fukushima to Yabuhara, where you start today’s
walk.
Between Yabuhara and your destination, Narai,
the trail climbs the Torii-toge Pass, one of the
hardest parts of the Nakasendo. Narai was once
known as “Narai of 1000 inns,” as this was the
most prosperous of the 69 post towns along the
Nakasendo Trail. Travellers prepared or
recovered in the many inns here before and after
tackling the steep Torii-toge. The residents of
Narai chose to renovate their historic houses and
impose strict rules on ownership and use so the
town remains a real gem on the Nakasendo.
Walk: 6.2 km, 270m ascent, 270m descent, 3
hours
Dinner & Overnight: An Edo-period house
converted into a minshuku (family-run travellers’
inn)
DAY 7
Narai to Hirasawa
From Narai you walk the short distance to Kiso
Hirasawa, then continue to Karuizawa by train
via Matsumoto and Nagano. Kiso Hirasawa
flourished on the Nakasendo Trail as a centre of
lacquerware production and today you will find
many small shops selling beautifully-crafted
tableware and furniture. Continue by train (2
hours) to Karuizawa, a former post-town which is
NAKASENDO TRAIL
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE WALK FROM KYOTO TO TOKYO
now famous as a summer resort.
Walk: 2.5km negligible ascent and descent, 2
hours (from Narai to Kiso-Hirasawa and in
Karuizawa)
Dinner & Overnight: Tsuruya Ryokan,
Karuizawa is a venerable, Meiji-era ryokan
DAY 8
Karuizawa to Yokokawa and by train
to Tokyo
Start by hiking up to Touge, and then a long,
gentle descent through beautiful forests to the
town of Sakamoto-juku, and continue on to
Yokokawa. From there, board your train for
Tokyo (2 hours). Check-in to your city-centre
hotel.
DAY 9
Tokyo sightseeing
In Tokyo, another of the world’s great cities, life
in Tokyo moves at a lightning pace. You will have
a full day in Tokyo to explore the old and new of
this vibrant city.
pace? We will arrange a night at one of the small
minshuku in the town.
Mount Koya
Accommodation
This atmospheric temple complex south of Kyoto
is home to around 100 temples and shukubo
(pilgrim's lodging). Founded by the monk Kobo
Daishi in the 10th century, Mount Koya is the
spiritual centre of Shongon (True word)
Buddhism, and he is enshrined at Oku-no-in.
Located at 800 metres altitude in the Wakayama
mountains, you reach Mount Koya via the scenic
Nankai railway. There are many optional local
walks.
Nikko
The mountains of Nikko have been revered for a
thousand years and it was a fitting place for
Shogun Takugawa Ieyasu to be enshrined. The
lavishly-decorated Toshogu shrine is now a
UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a bus
afterwards to Yumoto Hot Spring, and relax in
the baths at your luxury ryokan. There are
numerous trails through the surrounding forests
and the Senjo-ga-hara marshland to enjoy.
DAY 10
Onward Travel
Your trip ends today, and you may choose to
stay a few days longer in Tokyo, continue your
travels elsewhere in Japan or head home.
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
We can arrange extra days at the beginning or
end of the trip in the following destinations:
Asuka-mura
A lovely town south of Nara with some of Japan's
earliest Buddhist temples, as well as kofun burial
mounds from the 5th century. Asuka is a lovely
town to explore on foot or why not rent a bicycle
from the train station and explore at a relaxed
HOLIDAY INFORMATION
In Kyoto and Tokyo we use carefully selected 3
or 4* hotels. We use local family-run
accommodations on the walking section. They
are generally simply furnished and less formal,
but have excellent food and a wonderful personal
service.
Meals
Japanese cuisine is the highlight of many
people’s visit to Japan and this is especially the
case on the Nakasendo Trail. Your trip includes
all breakfasts and 4 evening meals whilst on the
trail.
Most meals will be Japanese cuisine, though
breakfast in western-style hotels usually includes
more familiar choices. Dinner and breakfast in
ryokan and minshuku are set meals, usually with
a whole succession of different dishes which will
delight you. Alcoholic and soft drinks are not
included with meals. Tipping is not customary at
hotels and restaurants in Japan.
Luggage Transfer
WALK ONLY ITINERARY
If you would prefer to make your own
arrangements before and after your walk we offer
a 5 day/4 night itinerary on just the Nakasendo
Trail. This itinerary runs from day 4 - day 9 of the
above itinerary excluding night 9 in Tokyo.
Day
Route
Hrs
1
2
3
4
5
Magome to Tsumago
Tsumago to Nojiri
Yabuhara to Narai
Narai to Hirasawa
Karuizawa to Yokokawa
3.5
6
3.5
2
5-6
Luggage transfer is not included during your
walk. Your accommodation during the walk
provide robes to wear in the evening and shoes
are not worn inside, so you only need your hiking
gear and can travel very light.
In Japan there is an overnight luggage
forwarding service which is cheap, reliable and
costs about £12 per bag per day.
On the Nakasendo trail we recommend
forwarding your luggage from Kyoto (or wherever
you are staying before the walk) to KisoFukushima. You carry overnight essentials in
your daypack for your night in Tsumago. You
then forward your luggage from Kiso-Fukushima
to Tokyo (or wherever you are staying after the
walk); you carry your overnight essentials for
your nights in Narai and Karuizawa. Our
NAKASENDO TRAIL
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE WALK FROM KYOTO TO TOKYO
information pack has full details of how to use
this service, which is really easy.
 Train tickets from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa,
Navigation
 1 Day private guided tour of Kyoto
 Detailed information pack with local travel
The route is way marked (in English and
Japanese) and we provide detailed route notes
and topographic maps so you should have no
problem following the trail.
Equipment
Your information pack has a detailed equipment
list which includes standard walking gear such as
good walking boots or shoes, lightweight clothes,
waterproofs and a day pack.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo walkers and a limited
number of single rooms are available, although a
AVAILABILITY & PRICES
single/solo supplement is payable.
Availability
You can start the Nakasendo Trail on any day
that suits you although we recommended the
best time to walk is from April until November.
Accommodations are busy and may charge extra
during the following Japanese holiday periods:
New Year (29 December to 04 January), Golden
Week (29 April - 05 May), and O-bon (09 - 17
August). Please enquire for availability and
pricing if your trip falls within those dates.
Price
Please see our website for current prices.
Included
 3 Nights 3 or 4* hotel accommodation in Kyoto
 4 Nights minshuku (guest house)
accommodation on the Nakasendo trail.
 2 Nights 4* hotel accommodation in Tokyo
 9 Breakfasts
 4 evening meals (on the Nakasendo Trail)
trains on day 5 & 6 and on day 8 from
Yokokawa to Tokyo
information, detailed route notes,
topographical maps and hints and tips.
 Telephone support from our local, English
speaking, representative.
Not Included
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International flights.
Travel to Kyoto/from Tokyo
Drinks with meals
Lunches
Evening meals in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Local bus is on day 4, and should be paid
locally (around ¥800, £5 or $9).
 Baggage forwarding is not included, though we
provide instructions for how this can be easily
TRAVEL INFORMATION
arranged.
Getting to and from Japan
By Air: The best airport to arrive at is Osaka
Kansai Airport (KIX), which has flights from
international destinations. Ideally you should
book an open jaw ticket departing from Tokyo or
alternatively try and get your airline to throw the
internal flight in.
You can also fly into Tokyo Narita (NRT) and
take an internal flight or the shinkansen (bullet
train) to Kyoto (3h30).
Getting around
Your package includes train tickets from Kyoto to
Nakatsugawa on day 4, trains on day 5 & 6 and
on day 8 from Yokokawa to Tokyo. The public
transport system in Japan is world class and your
pre-departure information pack has detailed
information tickets, trains and how to travel
internally. It really is a piece of cake.
Visas
Please check your visa requirements with the
foreign office or the embassy in your country of
residence before travelling to Japan.
British nationals wishing to visit Japan for three
months or less for business, tourism or family
purposes etc (but not to work for a local
employer) may do so without a visa. You must
have a valid passport and an onward/return
HOW TO BOOK
ticket. Please visit www.fco.gov.uk for up to date
information.
When you are ready to book you can book
securely online at www.macsadventure.com or
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
by phone on +44 (0) 141 530 8886.
Financial Security
In accordance with "The Package Travel,
Package Holidays and Package Tours
Regulations1992" all passengers booking with
Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the
initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all
monies paid to us, including repatriation if
required (this insurance will not cover repatriation
to the country of origin for the passengers
outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or
curtailment of your travel arrangements due to
the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd
ABTA Member
Statement
Macs Adventure Holidays is
a Member of ABTA. ABTA and ABTA members
help holidaymakers to get the most from their
travel and assist when things don’t go according
to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high
standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of
Conduct.