Hiking the Historic Nakasendo Trail [1 Day Tour from Nagoya]
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Description
Step into the past and experience life in rural Japan as you hike the Nakasendo trail from Tsumago-juku to Magome-juku on this small group tour with round-trip transportation from Nagoya. Your experienced guide will lead you through the historic post town of Tsumago, along the 8 km Nakasendo trail, past waterfalls and wildlife, and into the stunning post town of Magome. Shop for handmade crafts and sample local fare. This tour will reward those who like to take the road less traveled and enjoy an adventurous experience into the heartland of Japan. **A non-hiking option of this tour is available for individuals who are not able to hike or prefer a more leisurely pace.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After a quick stop at a roadside rest stop to stretch our legs, we will arrive at Tsumago-juku post town. Here your guide will explain the history and significance of the area and the Nakasendo trail before setting off on our hike.
We will then set off on our hike down the Nakasendo trail—one 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. The hike will also take you by two waterfalls—the perfect place to catch your breath, feel the cool mist on your face, and stop for lunch. Recharged, we will continue our hike past a lone teahouse run by a local volunteer. You’re welcome to stop here for a sip of tea or exchange stories with other travelers.
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. Even better, there are waterways on either side of the street, and the fast-running water powers multiple waterwheels. 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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- 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
- 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.
- The remaining time will be allocated for the transport
- Non-Hiking Tour Option: After the tour of Tsumago-juku, your guide will continue on the trail with those who have selected to hike the trail. Non-hikers will be given an hour of free time in Tsumago to enjoy the shops, take pictures, and explore at their own pace. You will then meet back up with your driver to continue on to Magome-juku. At Magome, you will have time to enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant, sample regional specialties, or shop for handcrafted souvenirs at your own pace before meeting up with your guide and the hikers at 16:30 for your return trip to Nagoya.
Reviews(170)
We did the route as a family; Israel was very good with experiences and anecdotes. It was very fun and patient since we were doing the route with children. Nakanishi, the driver, took us very well.
Gracias de nuevo por acompañarnos. Nos alegra mucho que hayáis disfrutado de vuestro día de senderismo por la ruta de Nakasendo y que hayáis podido aprender mucho de vuestro guía. Esperamos que disfrutéis al máximo del resto de vuestra estancia en Japón.
An unforgettable experience where we saw some incredible landscapes. Additionally, our guide Israel was charming; he explained everything with incredible kindness and professionalism, and we would definitely do a tour with him again. Nakanishi, our driver, was also very attentive and kind throughout the journey.
Nos alegra mucho que hayáis disfrutado de la ruta de senderismo por el Nakasendo y que hayáis quedado satisfechos con nuestro guía turístico de habla hispana y con el servicio de transporte de ida y vuelta. Esperamos que disfrutéis al máximo del resto de vuestra estancia en Japón.
We enjoyed the route through the Nakasendo immensely with Andrés and Kim. Close, fun, and attentive, they have made the experience much more special. Thank you for an unforgettable day and for showing us this beautiful route!
Nos alegra mucho que hayáis disfrutado de vuestra jornada de senderismo por la ruta de Nakasendo y que hayáis quedado satisfechos con el guía de habla hispana. Gracias de nuevo por acompañarnos y esperamos que tengáis en cuenta a Snow Monkey Resorts para futuras excursiones.
Vincent was a great guide, knowledegable, prepared and a very pleasant person. The structure of the tour is good, starting in Tsumago-juku and ending in Magome-juku. A fantastic day in our tour.
Thank you again for joining us and for taking the time to leave a review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your day and your guide. We hope you have a wonderful rest of your trip in Japan.
Great experience. Our guide Kim was very knowledgeable and helpful. I enjoyed learning the history of the trail while we were hiking it.
Yay! We are so glad you enjoyed your hike and was able to learn a lot about the local history and culture. We hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Japan. Safe travels!
It was a great day. Our guide Kim was very knowledgeable about the history of the 2 towns and everything around it. She kept a good pace and waited if needed. Very positive and willing to answer any questions. If you like hiking and history and seeing something other than the big cities in Japan I would definitely recommend! Also our bus driver was great!
Thank you for recommending our tour. It honestly means so much to us. We are so glad that you enjoyed your day exploring the Nakasendo trail and came away with a deeper appreciation for the history and culture of the region. We hope you have a wonderful rest of your time in Japan!
We had a great time on this hike with our guide Kim. We came as a group of 5 with the total tour group being 12 people. Kim was fantastic and explained the history behind the area and frequently pointed out great photo spots. At the end of the tour during town exploration she even assisted with ordering food from stands in the area. Our driver Fujita-san was also great and made the drive over very pleasant. Highly reccomended.
Thank you again for joining us and for taking the time to leave a review. We are so happy to hear how much you enjoyed your day and your guide. We hope you were able to create some lasting memories (and have some great photos to remember them by). Enjoy the rest of your time in Japan!
Kim and Fujita were great. Enjoyed the history explanations.
We're glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for choosing Snow Monkey Resorts!
I had an excellent day in the company of Israel and Iwasaki. The site is beautiful, and I received the best explanations from my guide. I highly recommend this hike.
Merci de nous avoir rendu visite et d'avoir pris le temps de laisser un avis. Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez passé une excellente journée. Nous vous souhaitons de profiter pleinement du reste de votre séjour au Japon et n'hésitez pas à penser à Snow Monkey Resorts pour vos prochains voyages.
The Nakasendo Trail has been on my bucket list for a while. We were so glad to have found the hike through Snow Monkey Resorts vs trying to figure out the way ourselves. The pickup/drop off in Nagoya went smoothly thanks to the clear instructions. Our guide Amir was terrific — very knowledgeable and patient -- skillfully managing the diverse needs and expectations of the different people in our group. We learned not just about the history of the Nakasendo Trail but also about Nagoya. Highly recommend! The only thing that I would suggest is to bring tools to counter the heat (hats/umbrella/cold towels, etc.). We happened to do the hike during a heat wave in May and it made the activity far more challenging than expected.
Thank you so much for joining us, and for taking the time to leave a review! We are so happy that you enjoyed your day and were able to just relax and enjoy the trail (instead of stressing about logistics). And thank you for mentioning the heat! Summers in Japan are very hot and humid and it is something that many travelers are not prepared for. We try to remind everyone to check the weather and dress accordingly, and we do our best to take frequent rest/water breaks when needed. We also make a stop on the drive to Tsumago where travelers are able to purchase any last-minute items at a convenience store if necessary. Thank you again for joining us and we hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Japan!
