Overview
Discover the timeless beauty of rural Japan on a guided private journey along the historic Nakasendo Trail, once traveled by samurai and merchants. Departing from Nagoya, this full-day tour combines cultural insight, scenic landscapes, and sustainable travel. Begin with a visit to a museum showcasing the work of Utagawa Hiroshige, where you can learn traditional woodblock printing techniques used to paint each post town along the trail. Then explore the beautifully preserved post town of Tsumago-juku before embarking on an 8 km guided hike through forests, farmland, and waterfalls. Along the trail, enjoy peaceful moments in nature and connect with local traditions at a historic teahouse. Arrive in the charming hillside town of Magome-juku, where you can sample regional foods and browse handcrafted souvenirs. This experience offers an authentic and immersive way to connect with Japanās cultural heritage at a relaxed and meaningful pace.
Why travelers book this
What's Included
- Transportation during the tour
- English speaking guide
- Entry fees at all tour stops
What's Not Included
- Accommodation
- As lunch options are limited, please purchase a bento box or other food items before the tour starts, and bring them with you. Time will be allotted to eat while on the trail.
Meeting & Pickup
Meeting point, pickup options and start time are confirmed on Viator before checkout.
Itinerary
Stop 1
Our first destination is an art museum dedicated to one of Japanās most famous landscape artists and his iconic works of the historic Nakasendo route. There you will discover not only how culturally significant this trail once was, but also all the work and techniques that go into making ukiyoe (woodblock) paintings. You will even get the chance to create a simple print yourself. After learning about the importance of the Nakasendo trail, we will travel to our next stop where you will see one of the best-preserved post towns along the Samurai Road.
Stop 2
Tsumago-juku was the forty-second of the sixty-nine post towns on the Nakasendo trail. The charming town consists of inns, houses, and shopsāmany of which were built in the Edo era. You will be able to imagine what life was like for a samurai or a traveler as your guide leads you through this historic village. Before starting the hike, you will receive a hiking certificate which you can get stamped in both towns to prove that you hiked this section of the Nakasendo trail. The certificate is made out of local wood, a specialty of the region, making it a truly unique souvenir.
Stop 3
We will then set off on our hike down the Nakasendo trailāone of five ancient roads connecting the de facto capital of Edo (Tokyo) with other regions in Japan. The trail was most prominent during the Edo era. Today, most of the original Nakasendo has been lost to time or converted into modern highways and railway lines. However, the section of the trail we will hike remains relatively unchanged from the time of the samurai. You will even see segments of the trail with original cobblestone.
Stop 4
At the end of the trek, you will arrive at the beautiful post town of Magome. Situated on a slope, this town offers stunning views of the surrounding mountain scenery and features a main street lined with traditional wooden buildings. There are waterways on either side of the street, and the fast-running water powers multiple waterwheels making the whole town feel a bit like it is out of a fairytale. The post town features many shops, selling popular local crafts and snacks such as oyaki dumplings, gohei-mochi rice cakes, and ice cream. We recommend looking for some of the wood crafts made from local trees, many of which are extremely fragrant and, just as importantly, small and easy to carry back home. Of course, your guide will be available to help you take photos that will make your friends and family envious. Your guide will then accompany you back to the tour bus back towards Nagoya, or if you wish, our team can drop your group off elsewhere in the Kiso Valley.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adultās lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The remaining time is allocated to transport
- The path to the waterfalls is currently under construction until February 2027. While we will do our best to include the waterfalls in the hike, there may be some days in which they are inaccessible.