International Tour:
Japan – Nakasendo Trail
Where
Japan
Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Fitness
NZ$7695
Tours to Japan filling fast
- Start Date Status
- 16 - 24 October 2026Available now
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Join Tuatara Tours on a fully guided walking tour of Japan
See Japan from a local perspective, not from a tour bus window. Our small group tours provide a more up close and personal experience of Japan , its culture and its people.
Nicky, our Tour Manager (and fluent speaker of Japanese) will take care of the details for you. Nicky spent several years living in Japan and looks forward to sharing her love of this fascinating country with you.
Your journey covers Japan’s capital cities, ancient and modern, and the most picturesque section of the Nakasendo, the ancient travellers highway that was a vital link between these capitals in the feudal era.
Tour Itinerary
NZ$7695
Day 1 Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Distance:
.
Accommodation: Modern City Hotel
On arrival at Narita Airport, please clear customs and immigration. You will then proceed to Narita Airport Station for your train ride in to Tokyo. This will take approx 1 hour. From Tokyo Station either walk or take a short taxi ride of 1km to our hotel.
If you wish to relax and have an early night, you may want to dine at the hotel, or those that want to venture out can try one of the local eateries this evening. Nicky will be on hand to help with suggestions.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: None
Day 2 Tokyo Highlights
Location: Tokyo
Distance:
6-7km
Accommodation: Modern Hotel
After breakfast at our hotel, we set out to explore Tokyo by foot, boat, and rail.
Today’s journey takes us through central and northern Tokyo, offering a glimpse of the city’s past before it spread to became the world’s largest metropolis.
We begin with a subway ride to Asakusa, home to Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temple. Stroll along Nakamise, a lively shopping street filled with traditional snacks and souvenirs, before boarding a Sumida River cruise for views of Tokyo from the water. Our trip ends with a walk through the tranquil Hamarikyu Gardens, followed by a visit to the bustling Tsukiji Market, still packed with food stalls offering tempting treats.
Once our walk is complete, the remainder of the day is free. Nicky will be on hand with directions and suggestions if you wish to explore further, or you may wish to spend some time relaxing before tomorrows hiking.
Optional afternoon ideas include the Tokyo Skytree (20 minutes from Asakusa, admission not included), browsing Ginza’s elegant stores, exploring the Imperial Palace grounds, or heading to Ueno’s markets and museums.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B
Day 3 Tokyo - Nagoya - Magome- O-Tsumago
Location: Magome
Distance:
8km
Accommodation: Local family run Inn
We begin with an early bullet train to Nagoya, then
continue to Nakatsugawa, once an important post town and now a charming regional hub — and the starting point for our Nakasendo journey.
We have a leisurely lunch and tour briefing here before
an afternoon walk in hilly countryside through the small post-town of Ochiai towards Magome, our destination for today. It’s a stiff climb, but the last section passes along one of the best-preserved parts of the old highway.
On arrival, our hosts will have the evening bath prepared, ready to soothe tired legs. We finish the day with a generous homecooked banquet and the warm hospitality of a traditional Japanese inn.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B, L, D
Day 4 Magome - O-Tsumago - Kiso Fukushima
Location: Kiso Fukushima
Distance:
13km
Accommodation: Japanese Inn
Today we begin by exploring Magome post town.
Perched on a hill and boasting grand views of the surrounding countryside, Magome retains a charming
character despite increasing numbers of visitors.
Leaving the town, we follow the trail up the Magome
Pass and meander slowly downhill through the woods, passing a pair of historic waterfalls before we reach the small hamlet of O-Tsumago and, about 20 minutes further on, the village of Tsumago itself.
Tsumago is the best preserved and arguably the most attractive of all the post towns. The inhabitants take great pride in their town and have banished telephone poles, electric lines and vending machines from the main street.
We follow the old highway on, passing idyllic hamlets and fields, until it descends to the town of Nagiso.
From here, a local train takes us to Kiso-Fukushima and we end the day with a short walk to our accommodation, a welcoming inn complete with relaxing onsen thermal baths.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B, L, D
Day 5 Kiso Fukushima - Kaida Plateau
Location: Kaida Plateau
Distance:
14km
Accommodation: Local family run Inn
Departing our inn, we transfer part-way to the Kaida Plateau by bus, where our morning’s walk follows an ancient path, up over the Jizo Pass. The plateau is dominated by Mt. Ontake, an active volcano that is considered sacred by Esoteric Buddhists.
After lunch, our afternoon’s excursion takes us over another high pass that, on a clear day, provides views over the plateau to Mt. Ontake. We descend from here to our accommodation: another delightful, modern Japanese inn with onsen baths.
MEALS INCLUDED: B, L, D
Day 6 Kaida Plateau - Narai - Matsumoto
Location: Matsumoto
Distance:
11km
Accommodation: Local Hotel
Returning from the Kaida Plateau to Kiso Fukushima we transfer by a short rail journey to Yabuhara, where we begin our climb of the Torii Toge (Torii Pass). The pass is named after the Shinto torii, or gate, that marks one of four protective sites surrounding the sacred Mt. Ontake. At 1,197 meters, Torii Pass is also the second highest point on the Nakasendo.
The descent into Narai post-town takes us along narrow mountain paths until we emerge at the outskirts of this famous post- town next to a joyato, stone night lantern.
We have some time to explore Narai. This is an area well known for its lacquer ware and we will have some free time here to explore, relax in cafes and do some local shopping before transferring by train to Matsumoto. Matsumoto is set in Japan’s Central Alps on a plateau famous in Japan for its apples, grapes, and wine.
Our final night in the Central Alps region is spent at a modern hotel, dining together at a restaurant in the city this evening.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B, D
Day 7 Matsumoto - Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Distance:
5-7km
Accommodation: Modern City Hotel
Breakfast is followed by a guided visit to Matsumoto Castle, the keep of which is an impressive structure, symbolic of the powerful samurai clan that once controlled this region. Now a rarity, it is one of only 4 castle keeps listed as National Treasures in Japan.
The Kiso Valley walking section of our tour finishes after exploring the castle but you may wish to include a visit to the Matsumoto Art Gallery, which has an excellent permanent collection of works by Kusama Yayoi, probably Japan’s most famous living artist, or explore the merchant houses, with their beautiful stone masonry.
We have some time free in Matsumoto before travelling back down the Kiso Valley towards our next destination, Kyoto.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B
Day 8 Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Distance:
6-7km
Accommodation: Modern City Hotel
After breakfast, we head out today to explore Kyoto on foot. Our focus today will be on the eastern fringes of Kyoto. Kyoto was the Imperial Capital of Japan for more than 1000 years and is steeped in history and tradition. It has 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shrines and among those we will visit is Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most famous temples in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we will also pay a visit to Sanjusangendo, the temple of 1001 statues.
Walking through the city along the narrow back streets of Gion, we may catch a glimpse of Kyoto’s famous Maiko-san, the elegant and mysterious geisha.
Our last night together will be spent in Kyoto’s entertainment district enjoying a final farewell dinner where we can try some local specialties and perhaps a few sake’s to celebrate your visit to Japan.
MEALS INCLUDED: B , D
Day 9 Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Our tour finishes after breakfast today, and you will have your own arrangements in place for onward travel.
For those staying in Kyoto, please ask Nicky for some suggestions on how to maximize your stay. Nara, Kanazawa and Hiroshima can be visited as day excursions out of Kyoto if you wish to extend your stay and explore further and there is plenty more to see and experience in and around Kyoto as well.
For those interested in extending their travels in Japan please ask Nicky about our October 2026 Western Japan itinerary which follows on after the Nakasendo Trail.
We hope you have enjoyed your time in Japan and thank you for travelling with Tuatara Tours.
MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B
Gallery
What’s Included
Accommodation
Accommodation for the 8 nights of the tour is included on a double/ twin share basis.
Tokyo: We stay at a modern western style hotel in central Tokyo, handy to the Ginza district and its elegant department stores. Rooms are twin share with ensuite facilities.
Hotels in Japan are quite small compared to Western equivalents, an average double room is only 20-30sqm. The room typically contains a small private ensuite bathroom, known as a “unit bath”, with shower over Japanese bathtub, toilet and hand basin. The room will usually have a television, an electric pot for boiling water for a hot drink, phone and internet access, hairdryer, air conditioning and a fridge.
The Nakasendo: We stay in Japanese minshuku (B&B) and Ryokan (Inns). These are traditional rooms with tatami mat floors, futon bedding and yukata robes for wearing in the evenings and to dinner.
On our tours some of the inns are more rustic and atmospheric, while others more modern and luxurious. Most are family run and have been in the same family for several generations. As is traditional, in some inns bathing and toilet facilities are shared but others have en-suite facilities.
Kyoto: We stay in a Western Style Hotel close to Kyoto Station, and shops and restaurants. Rooms are twin share with ensuite facilities and the hotel boasts a restaurant specialising in Vietnamese, Japanese and European cuisine.
Single Supplement: Please enquire as single rooms are limited in number
Food
The tour includes a daily breakfast, 5 dinners and 3 lunches.
Japan is a food lovers paradise, as well as all the traditional local favourites, Japan offers an amazing choice of international
restaurants, coffee shops, bars and food outlets.
On your tour we provide a hearty breakfast each day to set you up for the day and you also have the opportunity to experience
traditional home cooked dishes during your stay at the inns.
Luggage & Transfers
Portage of your main luggage while on the Nakasendo Trail is included in the tour cost , so you only walk with a day pack during the day.
We provide a comprehensive list of gear for you in the tour trip notes (sent to you on completion of the booking process.) Because the tours are planned for the warmer months of spring , early summer and early autumn in Japan you will not need a large amount of heavy clothing however we do suggest a good rainproof jacket and a fleece, merino top or similar for the cooler evenings.
During your stay at the ryokans you will be provided with a yukata, or cotton kimono, which is your evening wear and can be worn around the inn and for dining.
We travel between the major cities using public transport and you need to carry your belongings with you on these trips (bullet trains and local trains) so luggage needs to be kept to one suitcase and one day pack for ease of handling. A medium size suitcase should be sufficient for all your clothing requirements, and ideally on wheels so that it can be pulled along.
Transport
Land transport in Japan is included. The tour starts in Tokyo and finishes in Kyoto. The tour cost includes Bullet train, local trains and buses from start in Tokyo to finish in Kyoto.
Airfares to Japan are not included in the tour cost.
Additional Info
Travel Insurance- not included in the tour price but compulsory.
Medical services in Japan are good but the cost of treatment is high and you can expect to pay the full cost of any treatment you receive. For this reason we require all tour participants to have a comprehensive medical insurance in place.
Further FAQ’s
When should I arrive and how do I get to the hotel?
If you are travelling to Tokyo on the day of the tour, Nicky can advise the best flights and times to book.
If you are arriving for an extended stay prior to the tour, Nicky will advise how to get into Tokyo and where to meet us for the start of the tour as well as tips on what to see and do to maximise your time in Japan.
Tipping
There is no tradition of tipping in Japan and it is not a requirement at restaurants or hotels that you tip for services provided. However if you feel you have been provided with excellent service and you would like to reward that, please feel free to offer a tip.
Tour cancellation
Cancellation
If a client wishes to cancel a Tour the following charges will be applied: (Unless stated otherwise)
1. 91+ days prior to departure – no fee
2. 90-60 days prior to departure – Deposit Non refundable
3. 59-30 days prior to departure – 30% of total package cost applies
4. 29-0 days prior to departure – 100% of total package cost applies
5. After tour commencement – no refund available.
These cancellation fees are not negotiable, therefore we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.
Testimonials
Very beautiful, calm, well-organised tour. I learnt and experienced more than I would coming to Japan alone.
Robyn M
The pre tour instruction was perfect, but the experience surpassed description.
Ian and Joan W
Well run and varied. I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Japan and look forward to returning for another trip.
Gill P
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