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

The group will come together over breakfast at our hotel, after which we will set out to explore Tokyo, on foot, by boat and
using the rail network. Our travels will take us to central and northern Tokyo today, to see a glimpse of the Tokyo of old,
before it became the world’s most populous metropolis. Starting from our hotel we head out on foot past Tsukiji Market (the market has recently relocated but there are still many markets stall left on site ) to the Hamarikyu Garden and board our Sumida River boat for a 40-minute cruise up the river for a unique opportunity to view Tokyo from the water.

The ride finishes at Asakusa, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives. Asakusa’s main attraction is
Sensoji, Tokyo’s most famous Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. We will also spend time at Nakamise, a traditional
shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and souvenirs for centuries.
For those that wish to view Tokyo from a height, a 20-minute walk from Asakusa brings you to the Tokyo Skytree, the
second tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion. (Optional. Admission not included in today’s activities).
Those that prefer to keep their feet on the ground can choose to return to Ginza after our sightseeing tour and explore
its beautiful upmarket department stores or take a stroll around the grounds of the Imperial Palace, or you may wish to
journey to Ueno with its bustling market streets and museums and continue exploring here. Nicky can provide directions
and suggestions for the remainder of your day in Tokyo.

The rest of your day is free at your leisure to relax and prepare for the next few days of walking.

MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B

After an early start we travel on the bullet train to Nagoya and then on to Nakatsugawa , formerly an old post town and now a pleasant regional hub.

We have a leisurely lunch 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 Nakasendo highway, and perhaps one of the most photogenic too.

MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B, L, D

Today we begin by exploring Magome post-town, birthplace of Shimazaki Toson, Japan’s first modern novelist and author of “Before the Dawn”. Perched on a hill and boasting grand views of the surrounding countryside, Magome retains a charming character despite increasing number of visitors.

Leaving the town, we follow the way up the appropriately named 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 on the Nakasendo. The inhabitants
take great pride in their town and have banished telephone poles, electric lines and vending machines from the main
street.

We will enjoy time here to absorb the atmosphere and explore the streets and ancient buildings.

We follow the old highway on to Nagiso through picturesque hamlets and fields, passing by the site of Tsumago Castle.
As we enter Nagiso town, we catch a glimpse of Momosuke-bashi, an impressive wooden suspension bridge, lying
across the Kiso River.

From Nagiso a train journey takes us further up the Kiso Valley to Kiso-Fukushima.
Our centrally-located inn has a welcome attraction: its own onsen to relax in before dinner.

MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B, L, D

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

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 Kiso region is spent at a modern hotel, dining together at a restaurant in the city this evening.

MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B, D

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

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

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.

If you are considering a number of extra days in Japan and travelling further, it may well be worth considering a Rail Pass,
Nicky can provide further information on this if required.

We hope you have enjoyed your time in Japan and thank you for travelling with Tuatara Tours.

MEALS INCLUDED TODAY: B