Kyoto & Nakasendo Walk - 9 Days
Two very different sides of Japan come together on this nine-day guided walk, which begins in the temples and backstreets of Kyoto and ends on the old Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley. Your first days are spent on foot in the ancient imperial capital, following the Kyoto Trail past the vermilion torii of Fushimi Inari, temples such as Kiyomizu-dera and Chion-in, and the preserved lanes of Gion, with your guide steering you away from the busiest streets. From Kyoto you head into the mountains to walk a section of the Nakasendo, the Edo-era road that once linked the imperial capital with old Tokyo. You cross forested passes and worn cobblestone paths between the restored post towns of Magome, Tsumago and Narai, where rows of dark timber houses line the streets much as they did centuries ago. It is a walk that sets Japan's cultural heart against its mountain quiet, in the company of a guide throughout.
Highlights
Day 1
Make your own way to Kyoto today, arriving in Japan's old imperial capital by train from Osaka or Tokyo. There is no walking, giving you time to settle in before the trip begins in earnest. In the evening meet our guide and the rest of the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, where we run through the route and get a feel for the walking days ahead. Kyoto rewards an early night, with temples, shrines and quiet backstreets waiting to be explored on foot from tomorrow.
3-star Hotel / Ryokan in Kyoto
Dinner
3-star Hotel / Ryokan (8 nights)
8 breakfasts, and 5 dinners
Auswalk Walking Grade
Moderate to Challenging
Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.
Regular hills and varied terrain. These walks involve more challenging sections. Regular walking beforehand is recommended.
View Fitness Guide7
Days on the trail
6-17 km
Daily distance range
388-1044 m
Daily ascent range
3/10
Trail difficulty
Your accommodation follows the character of each place. In Kyoto you settle in for four nights at a machiya-style ryokan in the centre of the city, a restored townhouse within easy reach of the temples and the river. After leaving Kyoto you spend a night in Nakatsugawa on the edge of the Kiso Valley, then base yourself for the walking days at a traditional onyado inn in Kiso Fukushima, with transfers arranged to and from the trailheads each day. The inn has an onsen to soak in after a day on the Nakasendo, a welcome ritual once the boots are off. Rooms in the mountain towns are limited, so if the Kiso Fukushima inn is full you stay instead at an alternative in Tsumago.
Meals here are a mix of eating out and eating in. The group gathers on the first evening for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Kyoto, a relaxed way to meet your guide and fellow walkers. Kyoto's evenings leave time to wander the city and take in its restaurants and the lantern-lit lanes along the river. Out on the Nakasendo, the walk to Narai pauses for lunch in the restored post town, and nights in the Kiso Valley end back at the inn, where dinner follows a soak in the onsen. Meals throughout are rooted in Japanese regional cooking, typically home-prepared and reflective of wherever you happen to be staying. Depending on the property, dinner may take the form of a Kaiseki set meal or a bento box where meals are not cooked on-site. Larger ryokans may offer a buffet option.
Note: Please note that this trip is unable to accommodate dairy-free, vegan or gluten-free diets, or those unable to eat fish stock. If you have severe dietary requirements, bringing some of your own specialist ingredients or snacks is recommended, as these can be harder to source in rural Japan.
The walk starts in Kyoto and finishes in Kiso-Fukushima, in central Japan. The most convenient airport is Osaka Kansai (KIX), with good international connections, from where a direct train reaches Kyoto in around 75 minutes. English-speaking staff are available at the ticket office. Tokyo (NRT or HND) is a well-connected alternative for those whose flights suit. During the walk, trains and occasional short bus rides connect the various stages; your guide will be on hand to assist throughout. Train tickets in Japan are purchased on the day and cannot be pre-booked.
The walk ends in Kiso-Fukushima, from where trains connect to Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Departing from the same city you arrived in may offer better value on return flights.
This guided group walk departs in spring and autumn, the two seasons that suit the trail best. Spring brings cherry blossom to the old post towns and sees the Kaida Plateau come back to life after winter, while autumn turns the forests of the Kiso Valley to gold. The autumn departures fall across October and November, when daytime temperatures sit in the high teens and there is little rain. Both seasons are popular, so book early to secure your place.
Paths are well-formed underfoot and include old cobblestone sections and some climbing over mountain passes such as Magome and Torii. Walking days run to roughly two to seven hours, with travel days between stages to move you on to the next section. Sturdy walking boots with good ankle support and grip are essential. To prepare, we suggest an exercise routine three to four times a week with a focus on hill work.
You travel as a group throughout, moving between the stages of the walk by train. The main journey takes the group from Kyoto out to Nakatsugawa in the Kiso Valley. This train is at your own expense, and while your guide is on hand to help you with the tickets and the connections, buying the ticket itself is left to you. Once you are on the Nakasendo, transfers to and from the trailheads are arranged for the group each day. We travel by train wherever we can, since it is the simplest and most eco-friendly way to move around Japan, and it keeps the group together from one section to the next.
The Japan Transit Planner is the best place to check information on prices.
Train transport from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa is not included in the package, but your guide will help with ticket purchasing.
Meals are included where it makes most sense throughout the walk, however, in Kyoto, with its extraordinary range of restaurants, the evenings are yours to explore independently, wandering and grazing is genuinely one of the great pleasures of the city, and our guides will point you in the right direction.
Cash is necessary for some purchases throughout the walk, so always carry some on hand.
Due to limitations of catering at certain accommodations unfortunately we are unable to cater for vegans on this tour.
You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.
A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.
Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.
A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.
Select a fixed group departure - places are limited
Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.
I would absolutely recommend the Nakasendo Way to anyone with a basic level of fitness. Auswalks made it straightforward & apart from Tsutamaraya the accommodation & food was wonderful. We would have liked the option of western breakfast in Kiso Fukushima. Not everyone loves Japanese breakfast but we were in Japan so it is all part of the experience.
Departure point process was quite ok and enjoyed time in Ena and the woodblock print museum. Excellent choice of accommodations diverse and friendly staff.
Auswalk support was great to help us organise our walking trip on the Nakasendo Trail in Japan. The accommodation was luxurious which was a total treat as well. We needed Auswalk support during the trip and they responded and supported us immediately which was very much appreciated. Thank you Auswalk … a great trip.
Fortunately there was sufficient information supplied. Seemed a bit ‘overwhelming’ when the package arrived in the mail BUT once you arrive at the destination it all falls into place. It was a fantastic walk- with comprehensive notes.
Thoroughly enjoyed our walk and the notes were very comprehensive. Accommodation exceeded our expectations All in all a great experience.
There were literally no dramas with any of the organisation of the trip - everything went really well. I have to say the app was great - it saved us a couple of times and I really wish I had it when I did the C2C! All of the accommodation was superb. The Nakasendo path itself was quite a different experience to C2C as it was not a continuous trail. I think personally if someone asked me, I would say not to worry about the very first leg from Ena to Nakatsugwa but overall we enjoyed seeing a different side to Japan.
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