2024 Walking Tour of Nagano & Japan Alps

Welcome to Japan! On arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, you will be met by a Journey to the East guide and escorted to your hotel by an airport shuttle or Narita Express train.

Today is an arrival day and no group program is scheduled. Your hotel is located near glitzy Ginza and famous Tsukiji Market. Why not take a stroll and relax, ready to start the first full day of your 2024 Walking Tour of Nagano and Japan Alps.

*Many of our guests arrive a day or so early to settle in before the tour starts. We can arrange your additional nights accommodation in the same room as the tour.

A shinkansen (bullet train) whisks you away from Tokyo to Nagano in less than 2 hours.
Nagano is in the center of Japan's main island, Honshu, and at the base of the Japan Alps. Here you will;

• Visit the magnificent Zenkoji Temple complex, a National Treasure and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Japan,
• Walk through a 1.8 km approach leading to Zenkoji, lined with fascinating stores and little restaurants, 
• Join in with some of the many interactive experiences as you enjoy  the complex,
• Sample shojinryori, the Buddhist vegetarian cuisine for lunch, and local produce at an izakaya restaurant for dinner.

For the next two nights, you will stay at a hotel conveniently located at a central business district of Nagano City.

Today' trip takes you  to one of Japan's sacred peaks in the Japan Alps, Mt. Togakushi with its forests and shrine are steeped in legend going back some 2,000 years.

The walk today, in the Japanese Alps, is in an area quite inaccessible until modern times, for hundreds of years Mt. Togakushi was a haven of esoteric Buddhist practice. It was frequented by mountain ascetics. We pass by Togakushi-jinja Shrine, famous as a power spot where visitors can absorb the earth's energy of old. Reaching Kagami Ike Pond, you can walk in some of the best autumn scenery  in Japan.

It is free evening tonight. Enjoy one of the many restaurants around your hotel tonight. (your guide will make suggestions in accordance with your tastes.)

Aboard an express train, you head for Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, in the heartland of the Japan Alps. 

During Japan’s feudal period, Matsumoto became an important castle town ruled by a powerful local clan. Today, the city is popular for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, galleries, and stunning alpine setting. After arriving Matsumoto, you will;

• Visit Matsumoto Castle, one of the oldest Japanese structures with five external levels and six internal stories,
• Walk through the well-preserved old merchant district, Nakamachi and Nawate-Dori, to see the Namako-walled homes.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to tonight's destination, Kamikochi via the Norikura Highland, where you can walk among blazing autumn colours. It is a very pretty area dotted with a series of waterfalls.

You will then arrive at Kamikochi, one of the highlights of the 2024 Walking Tour of Nagano & Japan Alps. Kamikochi, literally translates as “where the gods descend”. True to its name, it is an alpine plateau is surrounded by mountain ranges exceeding 3,000 meters above sea-level.

You stay in a Japanese style room at one of the mountain lodges in the national park for the next two nights.

(Total walking distance today - about 10-15 km)

In the morning, surrounded by the snow capped Japan alps high above you, your guide will take you on a 6 km walk along boardwalks, which crisscross mossy ponds and streams, and listen to the wind call out through virgin beech forests ablaze in stunning autumn colours  as you walk to Myojin-ike Pond .

After relaxing back at Kappabashi Bridge area, you can either stroll at your leisure, or if you are up to it, your guide will be very keen to show another 4 km trek to an outstanding spot, the Taisho-ike Pond.

Another night at beautiful Kamikochi.

(Total walking distance today - about 6 -10 km)

Heading further into the heart of the Japan Alps by a private minibus you arrive at the Mt Hotaka area to :

• Ride the Shin Hotaka Ropeway, the longest ropeway in Japan. 
• Stand on the observation deck at the mountain’s peak where you will be stunned by the panoramic views.
• Take a guided walk on one of the best trails, to explore the area and enjoy more of the spectacular autumn scenery.

Your home tonight is Hirayu Onsen, one of the most popular onsen hot spring hamlets in Japan. Enjoy relaxing soak after spending a day in the mountain.
(Total walking distance today - about 6 km)

Start the day with another new experience, a traditional Japanese-style breakfast – a beautifully presented and nutritious, it is an experience in itself!

Your private minibus takes you towards Mt Norikura for one last chance to be amongst the autumn foliage and view the snowy peaks of the Japanese Alps.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to Takayama, heart of the rugged Hida Region. A guided tour of very historic town of Takayama, includes;

• A walk through the very photogenic streets of well-preserved timber merchant houses dating from the late 17th century, for you to see what this compact, atmospheric town known for,
• Visit Takayama Jinya to see the history packed, one-time prefectural office for the Tokugawa shogunate in feudal times, and
• Walk through the old streets where locals go for many traditional crafts, such as lacquerware, food items, timber crafts and sake at Sanmachi-suji.

In Takayama, you will stay at an traditional ryokan and enjoy kaiseki dinner, onsen bath and tatami mattress and futon bedding for the last time on the tour.

(Total walking distance today - about 10 km)

After breakfast, your 2024 Walking Tour of Nagano & Japan Alps concludes. Why not spend a little more time in Takayama?

You can return to Tokyo or head to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport for existing Japan.

Perhaps you might like to linger in Japan for a little longer. We will be delighted to plan your personal post-tour extension to show you a different part of Japan. Please see our Model Extension Itineraries to get some inspiration! Or just out knowledgeable travel consultants.

Note: The cost of your transfer to your departure airport is not included in our Small Group Tours (as we have found many guests choose to stay in Japan a bit longer), but we will be happy to arrange your transfer to next destination or to exit airport. Please see our FAQ for more details.

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