1-Day Tour from Matsumoto: Walk the Nakasendo Trail
Description
Prepare to experience Old Japan on foot with this exciting hike through traditional post towns, ancient forests, and dramatic mountain passes. Starting in Tsumago-juku post town, your guide will explain a bit about what kinds of people traveled the roads in Old Japan, where they were going, and how they lived. You will get a chance to enter some buildings including an old Inn and a horse-stable that perfectly illustrate what your guide has mentioned. Leaving Tsumago-juku post town, you will start out on an 8km trek to the next post town, passing by roaring waterfalls and quiet hamlets along the way. Keep an eye open for wildlife and wildflowers while you are led by your guide along what was once one of the main avenues of travel in Japan. Arriving at Magome-juku post town, you will be treated to far off views of fields and mountains as you descend to the bottom of this very vertical village. After having a little time for shopping, you will board the tour vehicle and head back.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our tour will begin in earnest when you and your guide step off the bus at Tsumago-juku Post Town. Once a vital station on a road connecting Tokyo (then called Edo) and Kyoto, the town's appearance has not changed since its heyday. Here you can find streets lined with traditional wooden buildings that have been meticulously preserved by their residents. Some buildings are open to enter, and allow you a look into how people used to travel in Old Japan.
Departing Tsumago, the Nakasendo Trail trek will begin. Totaling around 8km, this trail is a must-see for people looking to combine an outdoor experience with a cultural experience. Along the way you will be treated to breathtaking waterfalls, quaint hamlets, and dramatic mountain views. The trail covers a wide range of elevations, so prepare to use your legs and get your blood flowing. Your guide will be there to make sure you don't get lost, and to help enhance the experience with timely anecdotes and knowledgeable trivia about the sights you will see along the way.
With the 8km Nakasendo trek complete, you will arrive at Magome-juku, another amazing town on the Nakasendo Trail. More vertical than Tsumago-juku, this town is located on a steep hill providing views over the roofs of buildings below you and out onto the plain that lies at the bottom of the village. There are some gift shops and places to have a quick snack here, and your guide will give you a chance to peruse these establishments at your own pace.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Nagano: The pick-up at Nagano Station is inside Nagano Station in front of the information board right across the bullet train exit gates at 08:15 The pick-up point will be outside of the West Exit of Matsumoto Station at 9:45, at the bottom of the escalator. Look for the guide wearing a Snow Monkey Resorts tag who will help you to the bus.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Travel time is already included in the total duration of travel
- All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Reviews(51)
Alissa and Taka were amazing! We learned so much from them. We're not really tour people, and while we love hiking anyway, I think this experience is much better getting all the history and interesting information about the trail. Also the group size is pretty small which is really nice. Also Alissa and Taka found us as the meet up point right away, so that part was super easy.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed your journey along the Nakasendo Trail. While the trail itself of course offers beautiful scenery and a wonderful hiking experience, we believe that learning about the history, traditions, and stories connected to the route can make the journey even more meaningful. It's fantastic to hear that these elements helped bring the experience to life for you. We're also glad that the smaller group size and smooth meeting arrangements contributed to a relaxed and enjoyable day! Thank you again for choosing to explore Nagano with us. We would love the opportunity to welcome you again in the future!
Our experience was excellent. Alissa is extremely knowledgeable and clearly pointed out landmarks in such a way that we could enjoy them. She’s a delightful person who appealed to every one of our party, schoolteacher, professor and journalist. She answered all of our sometimes pesky questions. She respectfully kept us safe, moving along, and on time. Alissa is well connected to the social structure of the community. She knew the residents, shopkeepers and caretakers. Taka was an excellent presence as well, answering general questions about the prefecture and Japanese history and was a delight to be with. We’ve taken two other tours through TripAdvisor, in Australia and Portugal. This was even more fun than the others and we will definitely look for opportunities to book again.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience. It's especially rewarding to know that our guides' knowledge, enthusiasm, and connection to the local community helped bring the region to life for your group, and that they were able to answer your questions while ensuring the tour ran smoothly. It is an honor to hear that this tour was your favorite among your recent travels. We strive to provide memorable, engaging experiences that showcase the best of Nagano, and it's wonderful to know we achieved that for your group. Thank you again for your thoughtful review. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Japan and on another tour with us in the future!
This is truly a beautiful hike and Dillon really knew some interesting facts about the Nakasendo Trail. I absolutely loved this trip. You should be able to walk 5 miles and there are uphills and downhills to contend with. There’s a bathroom halfway and bathrooms at the beginning and end. Highly recommend hike for people in good health.
This is our second time to participate in the Chinese mountain road, from wife cage to horse cage along the beautiful landscape. Our guide this time was Jake, who very carefully and professionally explained the sights along the way. We love Jake's affinity.
It was a wonderful tour! Alissa was knowledgeable and provided a lot of historical and cultural context that would have eluded us otherwise. She was also attentive throughout the tour and was mindful of our pace, especially during the more challenging sections of the trail. Our driver Nishi-san was also friendly and warm.
Dillon was great. Highly recommend this trip for those that enjoy hiking and history. While you can do this own your own, public transit isn’t easy in this area and the guided tour made it much easier, relaxing, and enjoyable.
Thanks to our tour guide Alyssa we had a great trip. She stayed with us the entire day and gave us much information about the culture and history of the region. The hike was very nice and the post villages and mountains were impressive.
Great mix of culture, history and natural beauty. Our guide Alissa was informative and very warm and personable, and our driver was kind and funny. The experience offers a nice contrast to the urban focus of the larger tourist centers.
I happened to be the only participant of the day, but had great fun walking this trail with my two guides Jens and Alissa. Big thanks for touring me around and the information about the area/history/culture and food recommendation. Would recommend :)
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for the review! While we usually have a few more hikers on the trail, it’s always a treat when we can offer an experience like yours. There’s something special about having the trail all to yourself, and we’re glad you had a great time with our team. Come back and see us again soon in Nagano or some other part of Japan! Best regards, The Snow Monkey Resorts Team
Lovely walk from Tsumago to Magome with our congenial group of 12 + our guide Kieron. I enjoyed stopping for snacks and sights at the start and end. Long drive to get there, but worth it to experience part of the Nakasendo trail.
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your experience! We know it’s a bit of a journey to reach the Nakasendo trail from Nagano, but we’re so glad you felt it was worth the trip. It sounds like you had a wonderful group, and Kieron was delighted to guide you all. There is something so special about the atmosphere of Tsumago and Magome, and we’re thrilled you got to experience that history firsthand. We hope the rest of your time in Japan is just as lovely! Best regards, The Snow Monkey Resorts Team
