1-Day Tour from Matsumoto: Discover Old Japan on the Nakasendo Trail Trek

Embark on a 1-day tour from Matsumoto and discover Old Japan on the Nakasendo Trail Trek. Experience traditional post towns, ancient forests, and mountain passes on this exciting hike.

Duration: 8 hours, 55 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Tsumago Post Office - Our tour will begin in earnest when you and your guide step off the bus at Tsumago-juku Post Town. Once a vital station on a road connecting Tokyo (then called Edo) and Kyoto, the town’s appearance has not changed since its heyday. Here you can find streets lined with traditional wooden buildings that have been meticulously…
What's Included
  • Transport to and from all locations in a dedicated tour vehicle
  • English-speaking guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Prepare to experience Old Japan on foot with this exciting hike through traditional post towns, ancient forests, and dramatic mountain passes. Starting in Tsumago-juku post town, your guide will explain a bit about what kinds of people traveled the roads in Old Japan, where they were going, and how they lived. You will get a chance to enter some…

Location
Tsumago Post Office
2197-5 Azuma
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(13 Ratings)
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Richmum
Sep 21, 2024
Great day - Great experience start to finish. Guide Shawn was terrific--US ex Pat who spoke great Japanese. Walk was very interesting...and good to get out and get the heart rate pumping. Made pit stops for food, bathroom etc on way there and back. While not inexpensive, on our day it was just the 2 of us, Shawn and a driver (very professional) in a nice mini van...for 9 hours...so an actual bargain. Would recommend as an excursion from Matsumoto without hesitation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meldills
Jul 26, 2024
Knowledgeable, Enchanting Japan, Nature - The walk with our tour guides was lovely, like walking with a very knowledgeable local friend. The young men in our group thought it was “awesome”, “the guides were nice, approachable, knowledgeable”. The slightly older adults loved the pace and conversation about the local customs and sights. The route itself was beautiful. Amazing forests and village buildings and temple. It really transported you back to ancient Japan. You could imagine the people of centuries ago, walking your same path. We had impressive mountain views, roaring yet peaceful waterfalls. My favourite part was the halfway stop tea house, so simple, traditional, authentic. We highly recommend this tour!
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150marliesv
Jun 23, 2024
WOW! - We enjoyed this great tour with our tourguide Kevin and driver! We highly recommend this tour if you want to see stunning views, some history and een nice day!
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Companion58664705735
May 2, 2024
One day trip to Nakasendo - Enjoy the beauty of the mountains and forests and experience the life of the ancients. In addition, the guides gave a lively introduction to the tour. The whole trip was really great! Thanks again to Joyce for his professional and enthusiastic explanation, which helped us understand the beauty of the ancient trail! Sijung’s wealth of outdoor knowledge adds a lot to the journey! Jens’ thoughtfulness and familiarity with local culture made the whole trip even more perfect! I look forward to visiting Japan again in the future to join your company’s itinerary and enjoy the beauty of nature!
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Road49561898003
May 2, 2024
Nakasendo Tsumago-juku ~ Magome-juku one-day walking tour - We have been looking forward to this hiking trip on Nakasendo for a long time. Thank you to our tour guide for enthusiastically sharing the scenery, history and culture with us during the trip. We are so lucky! In addition to the good weather and the wonderful company of Joyce, Sijung, and Jens, we were full of laughter along the way and felt the beauty of Japan!
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Kathrinweg
Apr 26, 2024
Highly recommended - Lovely walk between two old towns through forests and hills. Joyce was an excellent guide and the itinerary was well paced with plenty of time on the walk and the towns.
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Ashleysh7033ul
Apr 9, 2024
Beautiful Day Trip to the Nakasendo Trail - Our family of four (kids ages 8 & 9) went on this tour in April 2024 and it was definitely a highlight of our trip in Japan! Our tour guide, Joyce, was fantastic and shared so much knowledge and history about the post towns along the Nakasendo trail as well as the Nagano region. The hike was stunning with amazing views of the mountains, waterfalls, and even tea houses along the route. We loved spending time in both Magome and Tsumago. An incredible experience and would highly recommend for anyone interested in visiting the area!
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446adij
Nov 17, 2023
Beautiful scenery and a fun day out - This tour had everything - history, architecture, walking in nature and friendly people. The walk was a perfect distance to get a feel for walking the trail, but not too hard, and lots of chances to stop along the way. Our guide was great and provided lots of information and insights.
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Trailblazer41253
Oct 12, 2023
Wonderful Tsumago to Magome Nakasendo Trail - The driver of the van was excellent. The guide, Piraya, was full of energy, information, and fun. The hike was easy, beautiful, and historical. Both towns were interesting to see. I encourage anyone intrigued by the Nakasendo Trail, Kiso Valley, and/or old post towns to sign up for this tour. It was a highlight of our 3-week adventure in Japan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomazg488
Apr 2, 2024
Fun & easy hike with lots to see - We took the tour from Matsumoto and were kindly received at the meeting point by our guide Kieron. The tour met all our expectations and the elaborate description was accurate. Kieron entertained us during the scenic walk and openly told us his curriculum vitae coming from Brisbane and living in Japan for 25 years. All in all we had a fun experience but we do feel the tour is somewhat pricey. Thanks Kieron!
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From $209
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).