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The Nakasendo Trail was one of two routes that connected Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal era. While the other route, Tokaido route, spanned the Pacific coast, the Nakasendo Trail was the ‘road through the mountains’ and was traveled by feudal lords, samurai, merchants, and travelers. Along the route were 69 ‘post towns’ where tired travelers would rest before continuing onto their travels. The spring season of Japan is a fantastic time to go hiking as the weather is not too ... View More
The Nakasendo Trail was one of two routes that
connected Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal era.
While the other route, Tokaido route, spanned the
Pacific coast, the Nakasendo Trail was the ‘road
through the mountains’ and was traveled by feudal
lords, samurai, merchants, and travelers. Along the
route were 69 ‘post towns’ where tired travelers would
rest before continuing onto their travels. The spring
season of Japan is a fantastic time to go hiking as the
weather is not too hot nor too cold. This tour also
offers spectacular viewing of cherry blossoms,
allowing for an unforgettable scenic route as you
traverse through the land of the rising sun. All Japan
Tours will take you to the highlights along this
historical trail, providing valuable insight into each
town and attraction.
Our journey on this tour will begin in Tokyo, also
known as Edo during Japan’s period of rule by the
Shoguns. Enjoy exploring this marvelous city, visiting
Japan Bridge and the Meiji Shrine. We will then spend
four days walking along the Nakasendo Trail. During
the day, we will walk through the ancient route as it
passes through beautifully-preserved villages along an
easy path, while during the evening we will stay in
traditional country inns. Enjoy delectable regional
cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, soak in
natural hot springs, and enjoy the warm hospitality of
our hosts. You will also visit Yoshino, one of the most
famous places in all of Japan for viewing cherry
blossoms in the spring. You will be able to relax and
unwind in the refreshing hot spring water after a long
day of hiking trails and sightseeing! Visit the sacred
Mt. Koya for insight into a Buddhist Monk's lifestyle,
enjoying morning meditation and an overnight stay at
a temple. For those looking to explore a few popular
places while also exploring roads less traveled by, this
tour is a perfect option.
Note: this is an intense rated hiking trip with
some steady steep ascents and hikes over 4 hours.
Activity Level: Intense
Our Intense tours generally have dedicated days of
trail walking, with some days of over four hours and
with some ascent and/or descent.
Who is an Intense tour designed for?
- We recommend our Intense tours for anyone who
does regular walking or hiking, and is comfortable
walking a full day with some climbing and descending.
- If you do not exercise regularly, please practice
walking for three to four hours, about three to six
months prior to the tour in order to get the most out of
your trip.
Accommodations
This itinerary contains overnight stays at Western
Hotels, Ryokans, Minshukus, and Shukubo Temple
Lodgings. Ryokans and Minshukus are traditional
accommodations, with a more casual hospitality than
you will find at a hotel. At both a Ryokan and a
Minshuku, you will stay in a simply furnished room and
sleep on a futon, which is laid on a tatami mat. A
Shukubo is a lodging at a Buddhist temple, and, similar
to a Ryokan, rooms are simply laid with futon bedding.
Some Ryokans may have private bathrooms
attached to your room, but others only have public
bathrooms used by all the guests. At a Minshuku and
Shukubo, however, there are only public bathrooms –
meaning either a smaller bathroom used one guest at a
time, or larger bathrooms separated by gender (male &
female), and designed to be used by multiple guests at
once.
