1. Nakasendo Magome-juku
DAY 1 : Away from the city
• Transportation : Take the train to Nakatsugawa station. From Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and change there for the JR Shinano Limited Express towards Nagano (if you have the JR Pass, all is included inside the pass)
• Starting time : Start walking from Nakatsugawa station at no later than 13:00. Please have lunch before hand at a local restaurant or buy food at the convenience store at the train station.
• Walking time: about 3 hours
• Walking distance: about 7 km
• Elevation gain: about 250 meters
• Elevation loss: 50 meters
• Lodging : Japanese traditional inn (Minshuku). You will experience a traditional family run lodging with tatamis rooms and futons. Share toilets and bathroom.
• Meal included : Japanese traditional dinner cooked with fresh local ingredients : salt-grilled seafood, salmon sashimi, edamame beans, bamboo shoots, caramelized crickets, taro, miso sauce boiled wild boar meat, tempura of vegetables, simmered pumpkin, miso soup, rice and orange jelly. Menu can change depending on the season. Drinks are not included. You can order your own soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
In the morning, take the JR train to Nakatsugawa station to get started on the trail. After lunch, head out on your journey and, all the while passing residential areas, leave the city behind. A perfect walk for familiarizing yourself with the daily life of the Japanese countryside. On the outskirts of a bamboo forest, you will come across the original part of the Nakasendo road, which, like Roman ancient roads, is cobble stoned. It is in these rural surroundings that you'll find the inn where your hosts will welcome you with a restful meal. Once you've had your fill, relax in a hot bath before a Japanese-style sleep: futon and tatami.
4 hours
2. Nakasendo Tsumagojuku
DAY 2 : Walk on the Nakasendo
• Transportation : Your trek ends at Tsumago. From there, take the bus to Nagiso (15 minutes ride, 300 yen) or the taxi (roughly 1400 per taxi). Then, take the train from Nagiso station to your next destination. If you want to go towards Nagoya take the Limited Express Shinano. If you want to go towards Matsumoto take the Local train Chuo Line for Matsumoto. You can then transfer from Nagoya or Matsumoto to Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo,...
• Walking time: about 4 hours
• Walking distance: about 11 km
• Elevation gain: 360 meters
• Elevation loss: 440 meters
• Meal included : Japanese traditional breakfast. Menu may vary according to seasons but will likely consist of: fried eggs, cabbage salad, simmered radish, salt mackerel, stir-fried sweet pepper, black beans, miso soup, rice and fruits.
• Meal not included : Buy a picnic lunch at the supermarket located on the left side at the entrance of the village of Magome.
Once out of bed, a Japanese breakfast awaits you. Get ready for your second day of adventures! By following the path of the samurai, you'll pass the picturesque village of Magome. Well-preserved wooden houses that line the main street give you the feeling of having traveled back in time. Make a stop at a deli to purchase an afternoon picnic to eat en route, in one of the tea-houses that dot the road. Afterwards, a pleasant walk interspersed with photo stops right up to the last village: Tsumago. Here, you can visit an original inn: Wakihonjin, built in the late 19th century and host to the Meiji Emperor himself. Lastly, take the bus towards Nagiso station to take the train to either Matsumoto or Nagoya and continue with the rest of your travels.
5 hours
English
French
Spanish
Free Cancellation
