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Tour Code: GTU3825841

Nakasendo and Kiso Valley Walking & Hiking Tour: Cherry Blossoms
1 Reviews
8 days 7 nights

fromUSD $3105.00 (Limit to 13 guests)

currency

Single Supplement: USD $605.00

More Details
Room Type Explained

Single Room

Single room types are rooms for single room occupants.
One person will be occupying the hotel room throughout the tour.

Twin Room

Twin room types are rooms set for two people who will occupy one room, but will have two separate beds.

Double Room

A double room is a room that has one bed for two people to share.

Triple Room

A triple room is one room where three people may share the same room. It has three separate beds.

Japanese Style Room

A Japanese-style room traditionally does not have a western-style bed, it is a tatami floor room with futon bedding. However, if you prefer a western-style bed, you may request one though we cannot guarantee it.

Please note: If you would like to request neighboring rooms next to your traveling companions, you and your traveling companions must have the same room types in order to be next to each other. For example, if you have requested a double room, but your traveling companions have requested a twin, or triple room, then neighboring rooms cannot be accommodated. However, if both you and your traveling companions match in room type, then neighboring rooms will likely be arranged for your convenience.

A short small-group guided walking tour with three hikes of 3-6 hours of village-to-village walking on the Nakasendo Trail.

The Nakasendo Trail served as a key route in feudal Japan's roads, which connected Kyoto and Edo, known as Tokyo today. Merchants and travelers would spend multiple days along the Nakasendo, staying in small post towns overnight or even to rest during the day. Many of these post towns have been well preserved, allowing you to experience the history and culture of past Japan. On this tour, we will explore parts of the Nakasendo Trail, traveling through the Kiso Valley. Enjoy nature, temples and shrines, and quaint villages as we trek through a piece of Japanese history. During late March and early April, you can also see the stunning cherry blossoms while traveling. Enjoy the spring weather while hiking or relax in an outdoor hot spring bath. Join All Japan Tours and your English-speaking guide, as we travel and hike from village-to-village along forested trails, resting overnight at family-run inns, and enjoying local cuisine and hospitality.

We will start our 8-day guided Nakasendo tour in Kyoto, where the trail begins. Enjoy sightseeing around the ancient city during a guided half-day tour. During our time in Kyoto, we will enjoy day trips to the nearby cities of Nara and Kurama. In each city, we will hike through small villages, enjoy the rural landscape, and take in the amazing scenery. Our journey then takes us on the bullet train to Kiso Valley, where we will start in the post town of Magome. Travel through well-preserved post towns of Tsumago and Narai by walking along the ancient route as travelers did long ago. Along the path, we will enjoy stunning forests, small shrines, and will stay at small country inns. From Narai, travel to Matsumoto, home to Matsumoto Castle, one of twelve original castles in Japan. The castle grounds are also a popular place to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. Enjoy a night in Matsumoto before heading to Tokyo, where our tour will officially end.

Note: this is an intense rated hiking trip with some steady steep ascents and hikes over 4 hours.

Activity Level: Intense
Our Intense tours generally have dedicated days of trail walking, with some days of over four hours and with some ascent and/or descent.

Who is an Intense tour designed for?
- We recommend our Intense tours for anyone who does regular walking or hiking, and is comfortable walking a full day with some climbing and descending.
- If you do not exercise regularly, please practice walking for three to four hours, about three to six months prior to the tour in order to get the most out of your trip.

Accommodations
This itinerary contains overnight stays at Hotels, Ryokans, and Minshukus. Ryokans and Minshukus are more traditional accommodations, with a more casual hospitality than you will find at a hotel. At both a Ryokan and a Minshuku, you will stay in a simply furnished room and sleep on a futon, which is laid on a tatami mat.
Some Ryokans may have private bathrooms attached to your room, but others only have public bathrooms used by all the guests. Minshukus usually offer only a public bathroom – meaning either a smaller bathroom used one guest at a time, or larger bathrooms separated by gender (male & female), and designed to be used by multiple guests at once.

Tour Information

Dates & Price

2025

Start Date	End Date	Twin/Triple	Start City	End City	Style	Save	Status
Sat. Apr 5, 2025	Sat. Apr 12, 2025	USD $3105.00 Small Group Limited to 13 passengers	Kyoto	Tokyo	Active		Sold Out / Waiting List
Wed. Apr 16, 2025	Wed. Apr 23, 2025	USD $3105.00 Small Group Limited to 13 passengers	Kyoto	Tokyo	Active		Guarantee / Book Now

Please Note:

All prices are per person, based on twin (double on request) or triple occupancy.
International flights are not included on our tours - this allows you the flexibility to choose your own departure and get the best value for your money!

We can arrange international flights for US customers if needed, please ask for details.

Deposit

A 20% deposit is required to hold the space at time of booking and final payment is due 2 months prior to departure. At least 4 passengers minimum are required to guarantee the tour’s departure. Booked passengers will be informed 3 months before the starting date if the tour is not guaranteed, and they will have the option to either cancel and refund the amount already paid, or transfer the payment to another tour.

What's included

• Seven nights in hotels and Japanese-style inns (Ryokan and Minshuku)
• All transportation between tour locations
• Forwarding of one item of luggage on 2 occasions
• Comprehensive escorted with AJT professional English speaking tour guide

Meals
• Breakfast everyday
• 5 dinners

Admission fees and activities
• All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary

What's NOT included

• International Airfares
• Airport transfers
• Meals that are not included in the itinerary
• Travel Insurance
• Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
• Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
• For single travelers, this tour has a single supplement. The Single Supplement for this tour only applies to Western-style hotels. For Ryokan / Minshuku / Temple Lodging, you will be paired with another traveler of the same gender.

Additional Information

Transport

Public transportation

Arrival Departure Airports

For arrivals at Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX), this tour starts in Kyoto and ends in Tokyo, with departures at Narita Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND).

Meal Requests

Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.

Meet and Greet

Airport meet and greet and airport transfers are NOT included, but we will provide with full instructions in advance.

Itinerary In Brief

Day1 Meet in Kyoto
Day2 A day of sightseeing in Kyoto
Day3 Hike the Yamanobe no Michi in Nara
Day4 Hike from Magome to Tsumago
Day5 Hike from Tsumago to Nojiri
Day6 Hike from Yabuhara to Narai
Day7 Sightseeing in Matsumoto and Tokyo
Day8 Tour ends this morning

Click here for detailed itinerary

Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice

Day1

Meet in Kyoto to begin the tour

Welcome to Kyoto! Meet your guide and group members at the tour hotel in central Kyoto in the evening. We will enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

Welcome Dinner

Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day2

A day of sightseeing in Kyoto

Today we will explore the ancient city of Kyoto, once Japan's capital city. Enjoy a guided half-day walking tour this morning, where we first visit the Sanjo-ohashi Bridge, the western end of the Nakasendo Trail. After exploring Kyoto, we will travel to Kurama, which lies north of Kyoto and is famous for its mountain temple. We will then take an easy walk through the Kitayama Mountains from Kurama to Kibune, enjoying the sight of mountains and the cool shade from bamboo or maple trees.

Walking distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: About 2-3 hours walking

Breakfast

Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day3

Hike the Yamanobe no Michi in Nara

After breakfast, we will travel to Japan's first permanent capital city, Nara, by train. As the city was named the first permanent capital in 710, Nara contains some of the country's largest and oldest temples. With such a rich history, the city also contains many historic treasures and beautiful natural scenery. Once we arrive, we will hike the historic Yamanobe no Michi trail, the oldest road mentioned in Japanese records. Enjoy the calming rural landscape as you pass through small villages and by shrines and temples. In the evening, we will return to Kyoto for one more night.

Walking distance: 13.6 km / 8.5 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: About 5 hours walking

Breakfast

Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day4

Hike from Magome to Tsumago

From Kyoto, we will travel by the world-famous shinkansen, or bullet train, to Nakatsugawa. Once we arrive at the beautifully preserved post town, we will board a local bus for a short ride to Magome. This post town served many travelers during the Edo Period, as they journeyed along the Nakasendo Trail, which connected Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Enjoy a walk through Magome Pass to Tsumago, considered the best-preserved post town on the Nakasendo Trail. Tonight, we will enjoy the warm hospitality from a family-run Minshuku in Tsumago, with a delicious home-cooked Japanese dinner. After dinner, guests can stroll through the village streets, wearing a yukata gown supplied by our inn.

Walking distance: 8.3 km / 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 326 m / 1,069 feet of ascent and 430 m / 1,410 feet of descent
Time required: About 3 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Daikichi or similar class (Minshuku)

Day5

Hike from Tsumago to Nojiri

After enjoying a Japanese breakfast at our Minshuku, we will take a walk from Tsumago to Nojiri, considered a beautiful hike. If guests do not feel up to the longer hike, they may choose a shorter alternative to Nagiso instead. The main trail passes through small valleys and forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar, allowing guests to enjoy the natural nature of Japan. Once in town, we will take a train to Kiso-Fukushima, where we stay at a lovely hot-spring Ryokan for the night. Enjoy the night views from above the town or enjoy a soak in the Ryokan's lovely indoor and outdoor hot- spring baths.

Walking distance: 18.4 km / 11.5 miles
Elevation gain: 723 m / 2,275 feet of ascent and 644 m / 2,112 feet of descent
Time required: About 6 hours
A shorter alternative of 1 hour (3.7 km / 2.3 miles) is also possible.

Breakfast / Dinner

Nezame Hotel or similar class (Onsen Ryokan)

Day6

Hike from Yabuhara to Narai

Today, we take a short train ride from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara, which is located near the Torii Pass. The Torii Pass from Yabuhara leads to Narai, a post town that served as the half way mark on the Nakasendo Trail. Once we arrive in Narai, we will have some time to explore the town and visit local shops or restauramts. In the evening, we will board a train to the castle town of Matsumoto, where we will stay at a Ryokan for the night.

Walking distance: 8.7 km / 5.5 miles
Elevation gain: 344 m / 1,128 feet of ascent and 270 m / 885 feet of descent
Time required: About 4 hours
The final hour of the walk is skippable by train.

Breakfast / Dinner

Kikunoyu or similar class (Minshuku)

Day7

Sightseeing in Matsumoto and Tokyo

In the morning, we will explore the castle town of Matsumoto by first visting Matsumoto Castle. The castle is one of twelve original castles in Japan, meaning it has never been destroyed by fires, war, or natural disasters. After lunch, we will leave Matsumoto for Tokyo by train. Tokyo serves as both the end point of the Nakasendo trail and where we will spend our last night together. Once we arrive, we will check-in to our comfortable Japanese-style hotel before enjoying a final farewell dinner together at a local restaurant.

Breakfast / Farewell Dinner

Niwa no Hotel or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day8

Tour ends this morning

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Your guide will be happy to offer advice for traveling to the airport if you are returning home, or for onward travel in Japan if you are continuing your journey.

Breakfast

Experiences

Accommodations

PLEASE NOTE: These are the hotels All Japan Tours generally uses on the touring styles and regions shown. There is no guarantee that you will stay in the lodgings listed on the website. We encourage you to check your travel documentation for confirmation of the exact accommodation you will be staying in.

Destinations

Kyoto / Nara / Magome / Tsumago / Nojiri / Yabuhara / Narai / Matsumoto / Tokyo

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Group Tour Style	< View Tours	< View Tours	< View Tours	< View Tours	< View Tours
Feature	Our Budget Tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget. Explore the must-see sights and enjoy a hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price.	Sample all Japan has to offer, from unique locales to must see tourist attractions. Our Deluxe Tours are fully guided, and use our luxury coaches for your convenience and comfort.	Experience Japanese culture at a slower pace, and with a smaller group size than our deluxe tours. Stay in each city longer so you can soak in the culture and fully appreciate the destinations.	Enjoy upgraded hotels, a slower pace, and a smaller group size for a more intimate experience. Access to a wide range of unique activities that immerse you in authentic Japanese culture.	Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape.
Advantage	Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a set of quick stops to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or if you plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys, these are the tours for you.	Our most popular tours for everyone. Fully-escorted - the most hassle-free way to visit Japan for the best value. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, the duration of our Deluxe Tours range from 5 to 27 days. Whether you want to see the best of Japan in a shorter time, or take your time in each city, you will find a tour package that suits your preferences.	Smaller group sizes enable our guests to access more of Japanese culture and traditions. Our Deluxe-Plus Tours are carefully balanced for you to discover the unique Japanese culture, history, arts, food and spectacular scenery Japan has. If you love Japan and want to appreciate the best of everything Japan can offer, these are the tours for you.	Dive into the cultural aspects of Japan at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy more than just sightseeing. All of our Signature Small Group Tours feature a wide range of cultural experiences through interaction with the people and places that represent all that is authentic about the destination. Get an alternative, more in-depth understanding of Japanese culture and art.	Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best cultural locations with off-the-beaten-path destinations via Japanese public transportation. Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes.
Group Size	20 to 45 people	10 to 35 people	6 to 24 people	4 to 16 people	4 to 13 people
Fully-escorted	Comprehensively escorted by AJT's professional English speaking tour guide				Your guides are local experts and residents of the city you are visiting, they do not always escort the group when traveling between cities
Pace	Fast pace to see as much as possible while in Japan	Perfect pace to see as much as possible while in Japan	More leisurely pace to soak in and fully appreciate the destinations, plus free time to explore on your own
Airport Transfers	Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified	Airport transfers are included* (If no options are taken: hotels are not requested to be changed and passengers use the correct airports)	Airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour	Private airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour	Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified
Transfer between cities	Transfer between cities via private coach and Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary			Transfer between cities via private coach and first class Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary	Transfer between cities via Shinkansen (bullet train) or express train. Private minivans are also used occasionally where public transport is not available or practical
Sightseeing	Sightseeing by private coach with an escorted guide		Sightseeing by private coach and public transportation with an escorted guide		Sightseeing via public transportation (local train, subway & local bus) with local guides
Admission fees and activities	All entry fees to sites and activities listed in the itinerary are included
Luggage Transfers	Luggage transfers by private coach from hotel to hotel, plus separate luggage transfers are included on select tours				Separate luggage transfers are included
Meals	Breakfast every morning, plus meals as indicated (vegetarian or special meals can be arranged)
Accommodation	Carefully-selected budget hotels and ryokans	Carefully-selected superior/deluxe hotels and ryokans	Carefully-selected deluxe/boutique hotels and ryokans	Carefully-selected deluxe/luxury hotels and ryokans	Accommodations range from local Japanese inns (minshuku) to budget hotels, to superior/deluxe hotels depending on the tour and destination
Ages	4 years old and above			6 years old and above
Health & Activity	In order to enjoy our tour, you should be able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing activities can only be accomplished on foot. Wheelchairs can be arranged upon request. However, we regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.				These tours are tailored to the energetic traveler; guests should feel comfortable walking from 4 to 10 miles a day depending on the tour and destination.

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Nakasendo and Kiso Valley Walking & Hiking Tour: Cherry Blossoms 1 Reviews 8 days 7 nights fromUSD $3105.00 (Limit to 13 guests) currency Single Supplement: USD $605.00

A short small-group guided walking tour with three hikes of 3-6 hours of village-to-village walking on the Nakasendo Trail.

Tour Information

Dates & Price

Deposit

What's included

What's NOT included

Additional Information

Itinerary In Brief

Day1

Meet in Kyoto to begin the tour

Welcome Dinner

Day2

A day of sightseeing in Kyoto

Breakfast

Day3

Hike the Yamanobe no Michi in Nara

Breakfast

Day4

Hike from Magome to Tsumago

Breakfast / Dinner

Day5

Hike from Tsumago to Nojiri

Breakfast / Dinner

Day6

Hike from Yabuhara to Narai

Breakfast / Dinner

Day7

Sightseeing in Matsumoto and Tokyo

Breakfast / Farewell Dinner

Day8

Tour ends this morning

Breakfast

Experiences

Accommodations

The Golden Route Japan: Cherry Blossom Tour

The Golden Triangle of Japan: Cherry Blossom Tour

The Golden Triangle of Japan (Reverse): Takayama Spring Festival & Cherry Blossoms

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Nakasendo and Kiso Valley Walking & Hiking Tour: Cherry Blossoms
1 Reviews
8 days 7 nights

fromUSD $3105.00 (Limit to 13 guests)

currency

Single Supplement: USD $605.00

Why Travel on Our
Group Tours