Winter Nakasendo Trail

 Winter Nakasendo Trail Tour from Australia |Japan’s Snowy Post Towns, Hot Springs, and Scenic Walking Routes | JTB Travel

A small group guided winter tour to the Nakasendō trail. Walk or snowshoe for 1-3 hours over five days on this historical route.

From AUD $5,426 per person, twin share

Traditional wooden inn along the Nakasendo Trail in Magome-juku, Japan, covered in winter snow – a historic post town offering scenic mountain views and cultural charm.
Shizume-jinja Shrine in Japan – a peaceful Shinto shrine surrounded by forest, offering cultural insight and spiritual atmosphere along the historic Nakasendo Trail.
Hikers trekking through snowy forest along the Nakasendo Trail in Japan – a scenic winter adventure on a historic route connecting Kyoto and Tokyo.

Highlights

  • Walk or snowshoe from village to village on the loveliest parts of the Nakasendō Trail
  • Soak in natural thermal onsen hot springs – indoors and outdoors!
  • Escape the crowds of busier seasons and enjoy a magical perspective on Japan
  • Visit beautifully preserved old post towns in the snowy Kiso Valley
  • Enjoy hearty, warming seasonal cuisine at welcoming Japanese inns
  • Ride the world-famous bullet train

Winter is a terrific season to visit Japan. Most winter days are crisp, clear and cold, with brilliant sunshine. Snow falls rather rarely in the cities of Tōkyō and Kyōto – but if you are lucky enough to catch Kyōto’s Golden Pavilion dusted by fresh snowfall, it’s a truly magical sight. Further into the mountains and towards the Japan Sea coast, snow falls deeply. There is nothing more enchanting than the winter landscapes of traditional wooden villages like Magome and Tsumago against a backdrop of snowdrifts. Imagine the comforting warmth of a steaming-hot Japanese bath after a day outside. Imagine the wonder of sitting in an outdoor thermal water pool known as a rotenburo as snowflakes glide gently through the air around you. There are endless reasons to choose winter for your Japan walking adventure: fewer visitors, special seasonal foods, and the stunning illumination of particular gardens, temples or shrines.

The Nakasendō linked Kyōto to Tōkyō during Japan’s feudal period. It was the ‘road through the mountains’ travelled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai warriors, merchants, and travellers. Along the route were 69 post towns where weary travellers could rest before continuing on the next leg. We spend five days walking on the loveliest parts of the trail, enjoying the peace and serenity of the winter landscapes. Depending on the depth of snow, we may use our snowshoes to follow the route. We follow quiet village roads and unpaved hill trails through the picturesque Kiso Valley where there are some beautifully preserved old villages. We stay overnight in traditional country inns, enjoying exquisite, warming regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients. We soak in natural thermal onsen hot springs and enjoy the warm hospitality of our hosts. A Japanese bath is the perfect way to end a day walking on the snowy trails!

NOTE: 

Tour itineraries are subject to change. We will inform you of any amendments as soon as we become aware of them.

 

 

  • Day
  • 1
Meet in Kyoto to Begin the Tour
  • Hotel Western-style Hotel
  • Meal Welcome Dinner

Meet at the tour hotel in the centre of Kyōto. There will be a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.  
  • Day
  • 2
Travel to Nakatsugawa and walk to Magome  
  • Walking 8.3 km / 5.2 mi
  • World Heritage site 400 m / 1,300 ft of ascent and 200 m / 650 ft of descent
  • Walking 3 hours   
  • Traditional Japanese Ryokan Inn Minshuku (family-run guesthouse)
  • Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we travel by train to Nakatsugawa, one of the old post towns on the Nakasendō Trail. The original main road through the town retains its Edo Period heritage with traditional sake shops, restaurants in period wooden buildings, and old storehouses. We start our walk here and head towards the next post town of Ochiai. From Ochiai we ascend through cedar forests and traverse a section of the trail whose cobblestones date right back to the Edo Period. Over the next four days we explore the best-preserved portions of the ancient Nakasendo Trail through villages and hamlets, all set against the magical winter scenery. Our lodging tonight is a charming family-run inn in the post town of Magome.
  • Day
  • 3
Walk from Magome to Tsumago 
  • Walking 8.3 km / 5.2 mi
  • World Heritage site 325 m / 1,070 ft of ascent and 430m / 1,410 ft of descent
  • Walking 3 hours   
  • Traditional Japanese Ryokan Inn Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)
  • Meal Breakfast, Dinner

From Magome, we walk to Tsumago along one of the prettiest and best-preserved parts of the Nakasendō Trail. We’ll likely encounter snow over the Magome-tōge Pass with fine opportunities for photographs. After the walk, there’s time for lunch in Tsumago and then an afternoon to explore the many small shops along the picturesque main street, with its lovely old wooden architecture. Try gohei mochi, skewered sticky rice covered in a sweet paste of miso, sesame and walnuts. Tsumago is a living museum, which is still home to residents whose families might have lived here for generations. We stay overnight in Tsumago or the nearby hamlet of Ō-Tsumago at a family-run inn with a real sense of history.
  • Day
  • 4
Travel from Tsumago to Kiso-Fukushima 
  • Walking 3.7 km / 2.3 mi
  • World Heritage site 100 m / 330 ft of ascent and 120 m /390 ft of descent
  • Walking 1 hour 
  • Traditional Japanese Ryokan Inn Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn)
  • Meal Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we continue our exploration of Tsumago including a visit to the Wakihonjin Museum housed in a building which dates back to the 19th century. Today’s walk begins after lunch and is a short but enjoyable stroll from Tsumago to Nagiso along country lanes. From Nagiso we board a local train for the brief journey to Kiso-Fukushima, a delightful post town which was once an important checkpoint on the Nakasendō. We stroll through the town before heading out to our comfortable ryokan. The ryokan prides itself on its wonderful cuisine and its terrific thermal baths – a perfect way to warm up on a winter evening.
  • Day
  • 5
Travel from Kiso-Fukushima and Walk from Yabuhara to Narai 
  • Walking 6.2 km / 3.9 mi
  • World Heritage site 345 m / 1,130 ft of ascent and 270 m / 885 ft of descent
  • Walking 3 hours 
  • Traditional Japanese Ryokan Inn Minshuku (Family-run Guesthouse) 
  • Meal Breakfast, Dinner

On our fifth day on the Nakasendō Trail, we walk from Yabuhara to Narai over the Torii-tōge Pass. This section is likely to have the deepest snow on the tour and if the snow is deep enough, we’ll provide snowshoes to make the crossing of the pass easier. This is a rewarding journey through trees to the charming village of Narai. We arrive in time to explore Narai and have lunch at one of the small local restaurants. Our overnight accommodation is in Narai at a family-run inn in the village.
  • Day
  • 6
Walk from Narai to Kiso Hirasawa then travel to Matsumoto
  • Walking 2.5 km / 1.6 mi
  • World Heritage site negligible ascent and descent 
  • Walking 1 hour 
  • Traditional Japanese Ryokan Inn Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn)
  • Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our walk on the Nakasendō Trail ends today with a short stroll from Narai to Kiso-Hirasawa. Kiso-Hirasawa is famous for its locally produced acquerware. The walk takes around an hour and there may be a chance to see the craftsmen at work. We then travel by train to Matsumoto; a castle town nestled in the Central Alps region. We visit Matsumoto Castle. This castle, one of the oldest in Japan and designated as a National Treasure, features a beautiful black exterior with lacquered walls. Later, we head to our onsen accommodation for the evening, with time to soothe our muscles before tomorrow’s travels.
  • Day
  • 7
Travel to Tokyo 
  • Hotel Western-style Hotel
  • Meal Breakfast, Farewell Dinner 

After breakfast, we depart from our accommodation and travel by train to Tōkyō. Upon arrival, enjoy a half-day walking tour of Tōkyō, visiting Nihonbashi, the starting point of Nakasendō Trail. This bridge marks the beginning of five major historical highways in Japan, including the Nakasendō, and served as a thriving post town where people and cultures from all over the country would come together. Visit some areas around Tōkyō’s older districts before checking in to your hotel. In the evening, there is a farewell dinner with your guide.
  • Day
  • 8
Complete Tour in Tokyo
  • Meal Breakfast

The tour ends today after breakfast. Your guide will be on hand to offer assistance and advice for travelling to the airport if you have homeward flights, or on onward travel in Japan if you are extending your stay.

 

 

Tour Length 

8 days
Cost

From AUD $5,426 per person, twin share
Type and Level of Trip

Type: Guided tour with an expert bilingual guide

Technical level: Trails include some uneven sections and extensive stone or wooden steps. They are only intermittently marked, requiring map-reading skills. A GPS device or application is recommended but not essential.

Activity level: Experienced – Our Experienced-level tours feature consecutive dedicated days of trail walking, with walks of six hours or more and significant ascents and/or descents.
What is Included
  • Full-time services of an English-speaking tour guide 
  • 7 nights in hotels and Japanese-style inns
  • Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, and 7 dinners
  • All transportation between tour locations
  • Entrance to museums, temples, and other sights on the group’s itinerary 
  • Forwarding of 1 item of luggage on 4 occasions
  • Rental gear (a pair of snowshoes, over gloves, gaiters, and walking poles)
What’s Not Included
  • Flights 
  • Airport transfers 
  • Pay locally for drinks with meals and for lunches
  • Entrance fees to museums, temples etc. not mentioned in the itinerary 
  • A single room supplement is required for solo travellers at hotels
Dates

2026: 

  • 06/01/2026
  • 23/01/2026
  • 10/02/2026
  • 25/02/2026
Important Due to the rural nature of this tour, slight alterations of the itinerary are possible.

Traditional wooden inn along the Nakasendo Trail in Magome-juku, Japan, covered in winter snow – a historic post town offering scenic mountain views and cultural charm.
Shizume-jinja Shrine in Japan – a peaceful Shinto shrine surrounded by forest, offering cultural insight and spiritual atmosphere along the historic Nakasendo Trail.
Hikers trekking through snowy forest along the Nakasendo Trail in Japan – a scenic winter adventure on a historic route connecting Kyoto and Tokyo.























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    Snow-covered street in the historic post town of Tsumago-juku along the Nakasendo Trail, Japan – preserved Edo-period buildings and traditional charm in winter.
    Magome-juku post town on the Nakasendo Trail in Japan – a beautifully restored Edo-period village with stone-paved streets, traditional wooden inns, and scenic mountain views.
    Traditional onsen hot spring bath in Kiso-Fukushima, Japan – a serene mountain retreat along the Nakasendo Trail offering relaxation and scenic views.