JAPAN – Walk the Nakasendo Highway

 

 

 

The Nakasendo highway climbs past a secluded tea house.

 

 

Walk the old highways with expert guides and commentary.

 

Walking the old route of Japan, also known as the Nakasendo Way, is a unique 12 day, 11 night walking tour of Japan.  It explores one of the old highways of Japan: the Nakasendo -- "the road through the central mountains"; and is guided by Japan experts. Much of the Nakasendo highway is well preserved and in its seventeenth century form, when it was at its busiest, crowded with feudal lords, itinerant merchants and pilgrims.  Today, it provides pleasant walking through scenic countryside away from the bustle of modern city traffic. One of the joys of this trip is the opportunity to overnight in charming, traditional inns that have survived from the days when the Nakasendo was heavily travelled.  These are the kinds of places that, even for Japanese people, are "hard to find."  The inns that often date from the early 1600s still provide excellent meals, pleasant company, and the ambience of Hiroshige's woodblock prints of feudal Japan.

 

 

Walk Japan follows the most enjoyable, scenic and best-preserved parts of the old highway.  Seventeenth-century travellers insisted on a reasonably easy route for their journey and so do we: this is a walking tour not a trek.  The average daily walking distance is moderate, 10 to 26 kilometres, but transport is always close at hand for those who desire a more relaxed day.  Baggage goes by taxi except when we travel by train.  We climb several passes, but they have fairly gentle inclines and can be taken at a comfortable pace. At the end of the day, the sight of an inn in a post-town is a warm welcome.

Starting from Kyoto the journey take you through Hikone, Sekigahara, Magome, Tsumago, and Narai (the last three are to the north and east of Nagoya), before returning to Kyoto.  The intimate nature of the inns makes the optimum group size ten to fifteen, including a guide.

 

 

Itinerary.

This itinerary is "ground only," beginning and ending at the accommodation in Kyoto. 

Instructions will be provided on getting to the meeting point in Kyoto.

 

We will provide instructions on getting to the meeting point in Kyoto. Arrangements can be made by Walk Japan for extra time in Kyoto before or after the trip. Travelers are advised not to book themselves out on an early morning flight as it can take up to 2 hours to get from the Kyoto accommodation to the airport. The most convenient international airport to Kyoto is Osaka's Kansai International Airport (KIX). Domestic transport by Japan Rail to Kyoto Station or by air to Osaka's Itami Airport also gets travellers to Kyoto easily.

 

 

Day 0             Depart Hong Kong on flight to Tokyo; choice of flights and arrival times. Take bullet train to Kyoto, check into Hotel for overnight. (Costs for train and this hotel not included in the price as it depends on accommodation chosen).

 

Day 1        Meet in Kyoto at the inn in the evening; join the rest of the group for dinner at a nearby restaurant, cost of this meal is included.

 

Day 2        After breakfast, a brief visit the Kyoto Museum of Archaeology to set the seen, followed by a walk through Nishijin brocade-weaving district to Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Ryoanji (the famous rock garden). Transfer to Arashiyama for lunch by the river, then by foot through the bamboo groves and beautiful temples of this scenic part of NW Kyoto. Breakfast and dinner provided.                                                                             

 

Kinkakuji, or the Golden Pavilion, is located in the northwest corner of Kyoto. Built as a Zen Buddhist-inspired country villa, the building was later covered in gold, but it creates a beautiful, even subtle, impression despite its golden overstatement. Kinkaguji is often thought of in conjunction with Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion, which is located in the northeast corner of Kyoto (but is not covered in silver). While in Kyoto, Walk Japan spends a day visiting some of Kyoto's famous temples, usually including Kinkakuji.

 

 

 

 

Hikone Castle, located overlooking Lake Biwa, rises spectacularly above the old castle town of Hikone. The castle, which was used in the TV mini-series Shogun, saw renovations completed in December 1996.  At the entrance to the castle there is a museum dedicated to the arts of the Edo Period, the castle itself, and the Ii family who were high-ranking retainers of the Tokugawa family who effectively ruled Japan in the Edo Period from 1603-1867.

 

Day 3        Travel by train to the feudal period castle town of Hikone; walk through the city to see the structure of a castle town and the castle itself. Train to Sekigahara, site of a major battle in 1600 which marked the start of the last feudal period, and stay in traditional inn. Breakfast and "hot-pot" (nabe) dinner provided.

 

Day 4        Take trains to Mitake, then walk 8 kilometres to Hosokute post-town through countryside; stay in 17th century inn (rebuilt in the late 1800s). Breakfast and dinner provided.

 

Travellers on the Nakasendo will often see carved stones like these. Usually portraying a couple (married?), they were for the protection of pilgrims in the feudal period.  They seem to continue to do a good job today.

 

 

 Day 5                        Walk 22 kilometres to Ena along ridge-top route dating from the 8th Century; lunch near Okute, site of a 1200-year old cedar tree; stay in a modern hotel (2 stars) with private rooms; laundry opportunity. Breakfast and dinner provided.

 

 

Day 6        Walk across a rolling countryside, through the post-town of Nakatsugawa to Shinchaya teahouse, now a refurbished inn: about 18 kilometres.

 

Breakfast and dinner provided.

 

Evening meals are a “communal” affair with the bench type seating being the order of the day in most Inns.

 

 

 

Day 7        Walk to Magome post-town, home of Japan's first modern novelist, Shimazaki Toson (author of Before the Dawn); on to O-tsumago, a small cluster of inns; stay in traditional inn; about 11 kilometres. Visit the museums in Tsumago; evening bath at a mountaintop hot spring. Breakfast and dinner provided.

 

Day 8        Walk through post-town of Tsumago; and on to Nagiso via the old castle site, about 7 kilometers; walk another 18 kilometres through farm land and forested hills over a steep pass; take a train a short distance and stay in a Japanese ryokan (inn) in Kiso-Fukushima. Breakfast and dinner provided in traditional Japanese style.

 

Note the protective deity statue, to keep the trail safe, with rocks put at base by travellers for safe passage.

 

 

 

Day 9        Visit the Edo Period barrier station. Train to Yabuhara post-town and walk 7 kilometres over Torii-toge (Torii Pass) to Narai post-town; stay in a well-known inn with ancient lineage. Breakfast and dinner provided.

 

View of Narai town as you descent into it from the old route.

 

 

Day 10      Train to Matsumoto to see vibrant city and castle; train to Nagoya and transfer to "bullet train" to Kyoto; stay at Western-style hotel (3-stars). Breakfast and dinner provided.

 

Day 11      Free time in Kyoto. Breakfast provided.

 

Day 12      Free time until departure for airport. Breakfast provided.

 

Note: This itinerary is subject to change.

 

Departure dates for 2006

Depart            30th March;                finish trip on 10th April.

Depart            6th April;                     finish trip on 17th April.

Depart            13th April;                   finish trip on 24th April.

Depart            27th April;                   finish trip on 8th May.

Depart            11th May;                     finish trip on 22nd May.

Depart            25th May;                    finish trip on 5th June.

Depart            14th September;         finish trip on 25th September.

Depart            28th September;        finish trip on 9th October.

Depart            12th October;             finish trip on 23rd October.

Depart            26th October;             finish trip on 6th November.

 

Prices are based on two travelling together & sharing one hotel room.

 

This is a suggested Itinerary; it can be lengthened or made to include other destinations in Japan or even other countries.

 

COSTS, These costs are valid until June 2005, after which prices will be reviewed.

 

US$3,218 for all 2006 trips, covering local travel, accommodation, baggage transfers, meals, etc.,

No additional local payment to guide (tips or gratuities) is required.

 

Price Includes:-

Ø      Met at Kyoto with first nights dinner.

Ø      Train and other local transport, where required.

Ø      Accommodation, as per above itinerary, with meals.

Ø      Guided walk with English speaking guides/Japan experts.

 

Price Excludes:-

Ø      Round trip air tickets with Airways and seating class of your choice.

Ø      Train journey to Kyoto and return.

Ø      Airport Tax and Airport security Charges.

Ø      Japan Visa, if required.

Ø      Personal expenses for drinks etc.

 

Prices and schedules are subject to change by Airline or Operator without notice.