Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Kansai Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival exit point and take you to your Kyoto accommodation by shared shuttle. After check in at your hotel, you will have free time to explore Kyoto -  Japan’s ancient capital.

Hotel:  Hearton Hotel Kyoto, or similar

This morning, head out to the designated departure point to meet your guide and embark on a morning cycling tour which will begin near Kyoto Station. Cycle through the backstreets of Kyoto city with the English-speaking guide to explore real Kyoto which cannot be accessed by cars. This 15km cycling tour visits Geisha Quarters Miyagawa-cho, Ishibei Koji Alley, the Gion district, Yasaka Shrine, Shirakawa River and Heian-jingu Shrine. The tour will end at Kyoto Station between 12:30 and 13:00. Please note participants on this tour must be between the ages of 12 and 70, and be 155cm in height or taller. The afternoon / evening is free to spend at your leisure exploring Japan’s ancient capital. We recommend taking in sights such as Arashiyama Sagano Bamboo Grove - Explore beautiful bamboo forests and historic temples set among the sublime natural environment.

Hotel:  Hearton Hotel Kyoto, or similar

Today, enjoy a full free day at leisure exploring Kyoto at your own pace. With an abundance of beautiful, and historically significant, gardens, temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures dotted around the city you are sure to have a full day of sightseeing ahead of you! *Please remember to collect your train tickets from your hotel reception for the journey to the Nakasendo Trail tomorrow.

Hotel:  Hearton Hotel Kyoto, or similar

Today, your adventure to Tsumago begins! Start the day by taking the bullet train from Kyoto to Nagoya, followed by a local train to Nakatsugawa. Once in Nakatsugawa head to the Magome Trail entrance by local bus (costs approx. 560 yen). A fantastic suggestion is to arrange a luggage transfer from your Kyoto hotel or Magome information centre (costs between 1,500-2,500 yen). With this service, you can just carry a small backpack with the necessities for 1-2 days. Once you reach the trail entrance, start your 8.3km walk from Magome to Tsumago. It is one of the best preserved and most evocative of the Nakasendo post-towns. Tonight you will spend the night at a family-run Minshuku in Tsumago, or in the nearby village of Otsumago. Enjoy a delicious home-cooked Japanese dinner and in the evening stroll through Tsumago Village in the magical peace of the evening, wearing a cotton yukata gown supplied by your inn.  

Hotel:  Tsumago Ryokan or Minshuku
Meals: Dinner

Following breakfast at the Minshuku, you will start the longest day of the trail which would take approx. 6 hours. The 18.4km trail is a beautiful and varied hike from Tsumago to Nojiri. There is the option to take a shorter 3.7km route to Nagiso instead (approx. 1 hour). The trail ventures through small valleys, and forests of bamboo and Japanese cedar. This goes through some of the least-developed sceneries on the tour. At the end of the route, transfer to Kiso-Fukushima Station where the Ryokan staff will pick you up. Stay at a lovely Ryokan in a peaceful valley. Relax your body in the natural hot springs and have local specialty dishes for dinner. 

Hotel:  Kiso-Fukushima Ryokan or Minshuku
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Following breakfast at your ryokan, pack up your luggage and continue the hike. Your Ryokan may also offer a luggage transfer service too if you have yet to use it and would like to offload any luggage to your Tokyo accommodation. The Ryokan staff will drop you off at Kiso-Fukushima Station. From there, start the journey to the Yabuhara Trail which is the starting point for the Torii Pass to Narai. Take the time to explore this atmospheric village before checking in to your family-run inn in the heart of the Narai Village. 

Hotel:  Narai Ryokan or Minshuku
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Following breakfast at your accommodation, hike for about 40 minutes to the famous lacquer ware town of Kiso-Hirasawa. There are many shops selling beautifully crafted table ware and furniture. Catch a train from Kiso-Hirasawa Station to Tokyo, arriving mid-afternoon. You have the option to have a break in your journey at Matsumoto to visit Matsumoto Castle (a small additional train fare is required on the spot). This evening check in at your accommodation in Ginza, the famous high-end shopping, dining and entertainment district in Tokyo. You will notice the huge difference between the bright neon metropolis of Tokyo and the old tranquil atmosphere of the Kiso Valley. 

Hotel:  Sunshine City Prince Hotel, or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Today, enjoy a free day at leisure in Tokyo, the bustling and exciting capital city that never sleeps! Recommended areas for self-directed sightseeing include TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN® where you can explore Japan’s tallest structure freely (admission fee required to access TOKYO SKYTREE® observation decks). The Odaiba area is perfect for taking photos of Tokyo’s beautiful rainbow bridge, and of course, Shinjuku and Shibuya provide ample opportunity to experience the heart of Tokyo and see the famed Hachiko dog statue and congested scramble crossing.

Hotel:  Sunshine City Prince Hotel, or similar

Today, spend part of the day further exploring Tokyo at your own leisure, until it is time to depart to Narita or Haneda Airport via shared shuttle. Pick up for shared shuttle services is generally 4 hours prior to flight departure.