The Nakasendo Trail or 'Road through the Central Mountains' was part of Japan's network of highways. Travellers moving between Kyoto and Tokyo took several days to travel the Nakasendo, staying overnight in Juku post towns. In the seventeenth century, the Nakasendo was crowded with travellers, including feudal lords, samurai, itinerant merchants, and pilgrims. Now largely forgotten and quiet, the road provides a pleasant trail through scenic countryside and the history of Japan.



Explore the fascinating city of Kyoto before starting the Nakasendo Trail, your trip ends in the sprawling city of Tokyo. Famous for its beautifully built Buddhist temples and traditional teahouses, Kyoto is a great introduction to your Japanese adventure. From here, you can visit the historical city of Nara, full of cultural treasures and tranquil gardens.



In Tokyo you can experience the whole breadth of Japanese arts and culture, not to mention the abundance of culinary treasures. An ever-evolving city, Tokyo is an explosion for the senses with a discovery around every corner.
  • Village to village walking on the loveliest parts of the old Nakasendo Trail in the picturesque Kiso Valley and Karuizawa
  • See Matsumoto castle, one of Japan's best historic castles
  • Visit the exquisitely preserved villages of Magome, Tsumago and Narai
  • Bathe in the thermal waters at a hot-spring Ryokan

Hotels: Modern western-style hotels are used. The rooms are generally smaller than equivalent hotels in the West. All have en-suite facilities, air-conditioning, TV, and fridges in rooms.



Ryokan: Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns. They may be in modern concrete or older wooden buildings, but the rooms are always in the Japanese style with tatami (straw) matting and futons laid out in the evening by the ryokan staff. Evening meals* are served together usually in the dining room and are exquisitely prepared multicourse meals. Many ryokans have both en-suite bathrooms (except for some older buildings) and communal hot spring style baths. They are the classic Japanese experience.



Minshuku: Minshuku are usually family-run traditional Japanese-style inns. They have tatami-mat rooms, with futons laid out in the evening for sleeping. Most minshuku do not have en-suite bathrooms as they are in older traditional wooden buildings. Compared with a ryokan, they are usually (but not always) slightly less formal, but the service and food* are just as good.



At these the inns and Shukubo, futon bedding on tatami mat is provided; toilet and bathing facilities may be shared.



*Most meals will be Japanese cuisine. Vegetarian options are available but limited. Strict vegetarian diets, vegan diets, or gluten free diets will be difficult to accommodate due to the pervasiveness of the fish-based stock dashi and the use of soy sauce and miso in Japanese cuisine. Tips are not required when dining in Japan.