Walk Japan has announced its Summer Nakasendo Way tour, an eight-day, seven-night walking tour of the country’s historical Nakasendo Way that starts in Nagoya and finishes in Matsumoto. It is a scenic, fully guided walk that explores the best parts of one of Japan’s ancient highways, the Nakasendo. It also traverses the beautiful Kaida Plateau, and the regional city of Matsumoto which is dominated by its castle tower, a Japanese National Treasure.
The Nakasendo Way is an old road that starts in Kyoto and finishes in Tokyo. In its heyday in the 17th century, the Nakasendo was crowded with travellers, including feudal lords, samurai, itinerant merchants and pilgrims. Today, the road provides a pleasant path through scenic countryside and, also, the history of Japan. Stays are in picturesque, old post towns en route, in much the same way the Japanese travellers of old did it. Traditional inns provide the perfect spot for charming accommodation and excellent evening meals. On the Kaida Plateau, at the southern end of the Central Alps, the accommodation is a lovely, family-run Japanese inn with onsen thermal hot spring baths. Matsumoto, the final destination, is an elegant regional city on a high plateau in the Central Alps, famous for its imposing tenshukaku castle tower.
This is a walking tour suitable for anyone who is a fairly frequent walker and can walk for more than three to four hours in comfort. It is not a trek, and the average daily walking distance is a moderate 10 to 16 kilometres. Forward transport, however, can be arranged for those who desire a more relaxed day. The main luggage is sent ahead each day. Accommodation is in Japanese inns and a hotel. The maximum group size for this tour is 12 people.
Walk Japan has also announced its Autumn Basho Tour: Narrow Road to the North, a 10-day, nine-night fully guided walking tour of Japan that begins in Tokyo and finishes in Kyoto. Seventeenth-century Japanese poet Matsuo Basho’s most famous travelogue, ‘Narrow Road to the North’, is one of the great works of Japanese literature and this unique, authentic experience follows in his historical footsteps.
Beginning in the great city of Tokyo, travel through the beautiful and iconic scenery of the Tohoku region, along the rugged Sea of Japan coast before reaching the cultured capital of Kyoto. Along the way the group travels through Nikko, Matsushima, Hiraizumi and Kanazawa. The walking is along quiet country lanes, forest trails and mountain footpaths; all easily enjoyed by regular walkers. Take delight and inspiration from some of the greatest scenery to be found in Japan including Matsushima, one of the classic Three Views of Japan, and the beautiful gardens found at Hiraizumi and Kenroku-en. Travellers also learn of the tumultuous history that wreaked destruction, but also nurtured the tough spirit and culture of the people of Japan’s northerly regions. The Basho Tour also features visits to onsen thermal hot spring resorts, stays in Japanese inns and sumptuous Japanese cuisine.
The tour is suitable for anyone who is an occasional walker and can walk for more than three to four hours in comfort. In general, the route is gently undulating but also includes some short, steeper climbs. Tour accommodation is in hotels, Japanese inns and a Shinto shrine lodging. The maximum group size for this tour is 12 people.
