In Search of the Nakasendo Way

Walk a section of the historic Nakasendo Way from Magome to Tsumago

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Tailor-Made Tour

  • Duration18 Days
  • Flights IncludedYes
  • Prices From £ 8500

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  Places Visited : Tokyo, Kiso-Fukushima, Nakasendo Way, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Osaka, Hakone

The “Middle Mountain Way” or the Nakasendo Way follows an old 500km long transportation route between Tokyo and Kyoto. On this varied itinerary, discover bustling Tokyo and traditional Kyoto, and walk a section of the route, exploring the old post towns of Magome and Tsumago either side. Tsumago is the best preserved of the numerous post towns, and arguably the most picturesque too. Also take in the Edo-period charm of Takayama’s old town and the traditional splendours and unique culture of Kanazawa, and the big cities of Osaka and Hiroshima before relaxing at the popular thermal resort Hakone.

In a little over two weeks, you can experience a number of Japan’s ‘must-dos’ including a stay in a ryokan; relaxing in an onsen; getting an insight into the life of a geisha; enjoying the sumptuous cuisine Japan has to offer and marvelling at the natural beauty of the Central Alps, all whilst utilising Japan’s wonderful rail network and travelling on the famous bullet trains. 

Remember, this trip can be personalised to suit your travel needs - we can tailor everything from hotel, travel type, duration and more.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1
UK

Fly overnight from the UK to Tokyo.

Day 2
Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to acclimatise and perhaps explore the local area.

Day 3
Tokyo

Spend the day exploring Tokyo with your local guide using public transport. Start in Tokyo’s old town, visit Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, travel down the Sumidagawa River by Water Bus to Hamarikyu garden and visit Meiji Shrine.

Day 4
Tokyo

Spend a day at leisure today, exploring Tokyo at your own pace.

Day 5
Tokyo - Kiso-Fukushima

Today you will leave the bustling capital behind and travel by train to Kiso-Fukushima, the gateway to the Nakasendo Way. Spend the afternoon exploring the sights of Kiso-Fukushima at your own pace, including the Yamamura Residence, the Ko zenji Temple and the Fukushima Sekisho-Ato, a 270 year-old immigration office. Dinner tonight at your ryokan is included.

Day 6
Nakasendo Way

Take a short train journey to Nakatsugawa and on by bus to the former post town of Magome. Explore this reconstructed town before starting your walk of an 8km stretch of the Nakasendo Way, ending in Tsumago. Transfer by road back to Kiso-Fukushima for another delicious dinner at your ryokan and perhaps even a well-deserved soak in the onsen.

Day 7
Kiso-Fukushima – Takayama

Continue by train today to Takayama. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day strolling through the old town, with its wooden shopfronts, coffee shops and old sake bars. A delicious Japanese-style dinner will be served in your hotel tonight.

Day 8
Takayama

Start the day with a round of the local farmers’ market, before taking in a few museums and sake distilleries in Takayama’s old town. In the afternoon, visit the Matsuri no Mori Museum, dedicated to Takayama’s biannual festival.

Day 9
Takayama - Kanazawa

Today take a tour, with a local guide, of the UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go village, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, before continuing on to Kanazawa.

Day 10
Kanazawa

Enjoy a tour of Kanazawa today by public transport, including Kenroku-en garden, the imposing Kanazawa castle, the Nomura Samurai House and the Higashi Chaya Geisha District.

Day 11
Kanazawa - Kyoto

This morning, you will travel by bullet train to Kyoto. Keep an eye out for views of Lake Biwa as you pass. The rest of the day is at leisure to begin your exploration of Kyoto.

Day 12
Kyoto

Today you’ll explore this fabulous city in greater depth on a full-day guided tour including Ryoanji Zen Temple and the Imperial Palace.

Day 13
Kyoto

A day at leisure to further explore Kyoto at your own pace.

Day 14
Kyoto

Board the bullet train for the two-hour journey to Hiroshima. Explore Hiroshima with a local guide, visiting the Peace Memorial Park and Shukkeien Garden. Continue on to Miyajima, a pretty island in the Seto Inland Sea. Enjoy dinner this evening in your Ryokan.

Day 15
Miyajima - Osaka

Return to Hiroshima this morning to board the bullet train to Osaka. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Osaka before meeting by your guide for an evening food tour, introducing you to the splendours of Osaka’s street food culture.

Day 16
Osaka - Hakone

Today you will travel to Hakone at the foot of Mt Fuji. Take the bullet train to Odawara, the gateway to the Hakone region, before continuing by local train. Enjoy dinner in your Ryokan this evening.

Day 17
Hakone

With your Hakone Freepass, you can enjoy the “Hakone Loop”, at leisure. This sightseeing route incorporates a number of Hakone’s most-beloved sites and utilizing several different methods of transport—including a replica pirate ship. Dinner will again be served in your Ryokan.

Day 18
Hakone - UK

Travel back to Odawara and on to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

What's Included

  • International flights from London
  • 16 nights accommodation
  • All internal transportation and transfers, predominantly using public transport
  • English-speaking guides as listed in the tour itinerary
  • Breakfast daily and seven dinners
  • Entrance fees to sites and monuments as listed in the tour itinerary
flight

International flights from UK

apartment

Accommodations Included

Private English-speaking guides

Private English-speaking guides

fork_spoon

Breakfast daily

commute

All road travel and transfers using private, chauffeur-driven vehicles

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Entrance fees to sites and monuments listed in tour itinerary

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