Walk the Nakasendo Trail: Self-Launched

Fly into Osaka Kansai International Airport. Take the Haruka Express train directly to Kyoto Station (~75 mins, ~£14 with an IC card or rail pass). Check into a central Kyoto hostel or budget guesthouse — plenty of excellent options cluster around Gion and Kyoto Station. Get your bearings with an evening wander through the Gion district.

🚌Haruka Express from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station (~£14 one-way). Load an IC card (Suica or ICOCA) at the airport for all future local transit.

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Kyoto, e.g. Piece Hostel Sanjo or K's House Kyoto (~£18–25/night dorm or private)

• →Haruka Express train: Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station (~£14)
• →Check in to budget hostel/guesthouse in Kyoto (e.g. Piece Hostel Sanjo or K's House Kyoto)
• →Evening stroll through Gion district and Hanamikoji Street

Spend the day exploring Kyoto's temples and gardens, and take a day trip to the ancient city of Nara (~45 mins by train, ~£5 return). In Nara, wander Nara Park to see the famous free-roaming deer, and visit Tōdai-ji Temple housing Japan's largest bronze Buddha. Back in Kyoto, explore Fushimi Inari's iconic torii gate tunnels in the late afternoon.

🚌Kintetsu or JR Nara Line from Kyoto to Nara (~45 mins, ~£5 return). IC card for all local Kyoto buses.

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Kyoto (~£18–25/night)

• →Day trip to Nara by local train (~£5 return)
• →Visit Nara Park and Tōdai-ji Temple (entry ~£5)
• →Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine — free to enter, torii gate trail
• →Explore Kyoto's Higashiyama district independently

Take the Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi Station to Kurama (~30 mins, ~£3). Hike up the steep stone steps to Kurama Temple — where samurai trained alongside mountain Buddhist monks in the 12th century — then walk over the ridge to the Kifune Shrine, sacred to water and said to bring luck in love. The trail is 4km and takes around 2–3 hours with stops. Return by Eizan Railway from Kibune-guchi to Kyoto. Spend the afternoon exploring Kyoto freely.

🚌Eizan Railway: Demachiyanagi to Kurama (~30 mins, ~£3). Return from Kibune-guchi (~£3).

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Kyoto (~£18–25/night)

• →Eizan Railway to Kurama Station (~£3 each way)
• →Hike from Kurama Temple to Kifune Shrine (4km, ~2–3hrs)
• →Visit Kifune Shrine (free entry)
• →Kurama Temple entrance fee (~£7)
• →Return by Eizan Railway from Kibune-guchi to Kyoto (~£3)

Today you join the ancient Nakasendo Trail. Take the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Nagoya (~35 mins, ~£35), then a local JR Chuo Line train to Nakatsugawa (~45 mins, ~£8). From Nakatsugawa Station, board a local bus to Magome (~30 mins, ~£3). Walk the beautiful 8km route over Magome Pass to the exquisitely preserved post town of Tsumago — one of the highlights of the entire trail. Book a family-run minshuku guesthouse in Tsumago directly online (try booking.com or Japanese guesthouse sites). Dinner is typically served by your hosts — a wonderful home-cooked Japanese meal.

🚌Shinkansen Kyoto→Nagoya (~£35), JR local Nagoya→Nakatsugawa (~£8), bus to Magome (~£3). Download Nakasendo trail maps free from the Nagiso Town Tourism website.

🛏Family-run minshuku in Tsumago or O-Tsumago — book direct or via booking.com (~£40–55/night including dinner & breakfast)

• →Shinkansen: Kyoto to Nagoya (~35 mins, ~£35)
• →JR Chuo Line: Nagoya to Nakatsugawa (~45 mins, ~£8)
• →Bus: Nakatsugawa to Magome (~£3)
• →Walk Magome to Tsumago over Magome Pass (8km, ~3hrs)
• →Explore Tsumago's preserved Edo-period streetscape (free)

Your biggest hiking day: a 16km walk from Tsumago (or nearby Nagiso) through small valleys, bamboo groves, and forests of Japanese cedar to Nojiri — some of the least-developed and most scenic trail on the entire Nakasendo. After reaching Nojiri, take the local JR Chuo Line train to Kiso-Fukushima (~20 mins, ~£4). Stay at a hot-spring ryokan in the peaceful valley above the town — book in advance on Jalan.net or Booking.com. Many ryokans provide a complimentary station pickup; call ahead to confirm.

🚌Walk to Nojiri (16km). JR Chuo Line: Nojiri to Kiso-Fukushima (~20 mins, ~£4). Many ryokans offer free station pickup — confirm when booking.

🛏Hot-spring ryokan in Kiso-Fukushima — book on Jalan.net or Booking.com (~£55–80/night including dinner & breakfast)

• →Walk Tsumago/Nagiso to Nojiri (16km, ~5–6hrs)
• →Pass through untouched forests of bamboo and cedar
• →JR Chuo Line: Nojiri to Kiso-Fukushima (~£4)
• →Soak in onsen hot spring baths at your ryokan
• →Traditional multi-course kaiseki dinner at ryokan

A gentler rest day based in Kiso-Fukushima with an optional 7km walk from the station to Gongentaki Waterfall. The trail combines a riverside path with a dirt trail up to the waterfall, then a gentle descent through a quiet neighbourhood with great views over traditional Nakasendo buildings. Alternatively, spend the day exploring Kiso-Fukushima's old checkpoint (sekisho) ruins and local sake breweries.

🚌Walking day — no transport needed. All sights accessible on foot from the ryokan.

🛏Hot-spring ryokan in Kiso-Fukushima (~£55–80/night including dinner & breakfast)

• →Optional walk: Kiso-Fukushima Station to Gongentaki Waterfall and back (7km, ~2.5hrs)
• →Visit the Kiso-Fukushima Sekisho (checkpoint) ruins — free entry
• →Browse local sake breweries in town
• →Second soak in the ryokan's onsen baths

After breakfast your ryokan may offer a drop-off at Kiso-Fukushima Station. Take the local JR Chuo Line to Yabuhara (~20 mins, ~£4), the start of today's walk over the Torii Pass to the wonderfully atmospheric village of Narai — one of the best-preserved post towns on the entire Nakasendo. Browse the lacquerware shops of nearby Kiso-Hirasawa, then take the train on to the castle city of Matsumoto (~45 mins, ~£7). Book a minshuku or budget guesthouse in central Matsumoto.

🚌JR Chuo Line: Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara (~£4). Walk to Narai (4km). JR Chuo Line: Kiso-Hirasawa to Matsumoto (~£7).

🛏Minshuku or budget guesthouse in central Matsumoto — e.g. Matsumoto Backpackers or a local minshuku (~£30–45/night)

• →JR Chuo Line: Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara (~£4)
• →Walk Yabuhara over Torii Pass to Narai (4km, ~2hrs)
• →Explore Narai's preserved Edo-period street
• →Browse lacquerware shops in Kiso-Hirasawa
• →JR Chuo Line: Kiso-Hirasawa to Matsumoto (~£7)

Spend the morning exploring Matsumoto. Don't miss Matsumoto Castle ('Black Crow Castle'), one of Japan's finest original castles with stunning panoramic views (~£6 entry). The city is also the birthplace of artist Yayoi Kusama and home to a major Ukiyo-e woodblock collection. In the afternoon, take the train to Karuizawa (~1.5 hrs, ~£12), a scenic mountain resort town. Check into a ryokan and enjoy the natural hot spring baths before tomorrow's final walk. Note: if you want your bags forwarded to Tokyo, ask your Matsumoto accommodation to arrange Takkyubin courier service (~£16/bag) — luggage arrives at your Tokyo hotel the following evening.

🚌JR Azusa/Shinonoi Line: Matsumoto to Nagano, then Shinkansen to Karuizawa (~1.5 hrs total, ~£12). Alternatively take JR direct services.

🛏Ryokan in Karuizawa or Komoro — book on Jalan.net or Booking.com (~£50–75/night)

• →Matsumoto Castle entrance (~£6)
• →Ukiyo-e Japan Museum, Matsumoto (~£6)
• →Yayoi Kusama Museum visit (book tickets well in advance online, ~£8)
• →JR Azusa Limited Express: Matsumoto to Karuizawa (~£12)
• →Onsen hot spring baths at Karuizawa ryokan
• →Optional: arrange Takkyubin luggage forwarding to Tokyo (~£16/bag)

Your final and most rewarding walk on the Nakasendo: 15km from Karuizawa over the dramatic Usui-toge Pass and down through one of the most untouched, forested sections of the entire trail to Yokokawa. From Yokokawa, take local trains to Takasaki (~30 mins), then board the Shinkansen to Tokyo (~50 mins, ~£20 combined). Check into a central Tokyo hostel or budget hotel. Your forwarded luggage should arrive at your hotel this evening if you arranged Takkyubin.

🚌Walk to Yokokawa (15km). JR local: Yokokawa to Takasaki (~£4). Shinkansen: Takasaki to Tokyo (~£16).

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Tokyo — e.g. Khaosan Tokyo or Sakura Hotel Jimbocho (~£20–35/night)

• →Walk Karuizawa to Yokokawa over Usui-toge Pass (15km, ~5hrs)
• →Enjoy the most forested, undeveloped section of the Nakasendo
• →Local train: Yokokawa to Takasaki (~30 mins, ~£4)
• →Shinkansen: Takasaki to Tokyo (~50 mins, ~£16)
• →Check in to Tokyo hostel and explore your neighbourhood

A full free day to explore one of the world's greatest cities. Wander the gleaming Ginza district with its food halls and department stores, lose yourself in the buzzing streets of Shinjuku, or explore the otaku culture of Akihabara. Visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa (free) for an iconic Tokyo experience. Eat your way through the city — ramen stalls, conveyor belt sushi, and izakaya bars around every station. Tokyo is made for solo exploration.

🚌Tokyo Metro day pass (~£5) covers nearly all city sights. IC card also works seamlessly.

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Tokyo (~£20–35/night)

• →Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa — free entry
• →Explore Shinjuku: Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho
• →Ginza district food halls and street-level architecture
• →Teamlab Planets or Borderless (book online in advance, ~£25)
• →Shibuya Crossing — the world's busiest pedestrian crossing
• →Dinner at a local izakaya or ramen restaurant (~£8–15)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Tokyo before heading to the airport. Walk or take the metro to Hamamatsucho Station (~10 mins on foot or one stop), then ride the Tokyo Monorail directly to Haneda Airport (~15 mins, ~£4). Allow at least 2 hours before your flight. Alternatively, Narita Airport is served by the Narita Express from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station (~£10).

🚌Tokyo Monorail from Hamamatsucho to Haneda (~£4), or Narita Express to Narita (~£10).

🛏None — departure day

• →Final breakfast in Tokyo
• →Tokyo Monorail: Hamamatsucho to Haneda Airport (~15 mins, ~£4)
• →Or Narita Express to Narita Airport (~£10)