Arrive at Nagoya Chubu International Airport by flight from the city you live in and take the limited express JR on your own to Nakatsugawa, where you will be greeted by your tour leader. Nakatsugawa was the gateway to the Kiso Road for a long time, and the area around Honmachi in particular still retains the atmosphere of the old days. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel and listen to your guide's stories of the old road.

Our first night at Ena Station may be adjusted according to the low season. Ena Station is also home to the "Nakayamadori Hiroshige Museum of Art", which is not to be missed, and houses the complete collection of the "Nakayamadori Rokujuji" series of ukiyo-e paintings. Due to the fear of light on the real ukiyo-e paintings, the collection is only exhibited for a limited period of time each year. If you are interested, you can go there early and check in your luggage to visit the works of art that are rare to see in Tokyo and Kyoto (self-funded, closed on Mondays).

It is recommended that you take a flight that arrives earlier than 13:00, and the JR drive takes about 2 hours.

Accommodation : (or similar)

Meal : (On Own); Supper (Welcome Dinner)

- Reference Hotel Pictures

After breakfast, we will take a bus to Ochiai-juku, where we will start our hike, the only three sections of the Nakasendo where there are ruins of old roads, and then continue to Magome, the best preserved and most memorable section of the route over the Magome Mountain Pass to Tsumago.

The streets of Magome are paved with the same stone pavement as in the old days, and the wooden houses on both sides are lined with stores, tea stores, izakaya (Japanese-style pubs), art stores, and inns with an old-fashioned feel. Strolling along the nostalgic streets, you may see old women in traditional kimono, which makes you feel as if you have entered a time tunnel back in the 17th century, during the time of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The streets of Tsumagojuku are lined with two-story old houses, some of which are still in business and maintain their original appearance, while others are on display as monuments. In the evening, you can spend the night in one of Japan's famous hot spring hotels.

Transport : Fengtian (1-1.5 hours)

Accommodation : ryokan (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch (Feature Lunch); Supper (Hotel Restaruant)

Trekking Distance : 14 kilometers

Trekking Time : 6-7 hours

Altitude Gains & Losses : +500 meters

- Reference Hotel Pictures

The hiking trail from Nagiso (Minami Kiso Town) to Nojiri Juku (Nojiri Juku) is the longest part of the trip. The Kiso area is a general term for the area centered on the upper Kiso River valley, and Kiso is located in the southern and western part of Nagano Prefecture, which is in the center of Honshu, Japan. Kiso is a mountainous region surrounded by high mountains called the Chuo Plateau. This trail takes us through small valleys, through bamboo forests and forests full of Japanese cedar, and leads us to some off-the-beaten-path spots. Check into a local Japanese onsen ryokan in a peaceful valley in the town. This winter day may also be adjusted to suit the conditions to explore the secret places of the Kiso Valley.

Transport : Fengtian (0.5 hour), Public Bus (0.5-1 hour)

Accommodation : あてら荘 (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch (Picnic); Supper (Hotel Restaruant)

Trekking Distance : 16 kilometers

Trekking Time : 6-7 hours

Altitude Gains & Losses : +400 meters

- Reference Hotel Pictures

Today we will begin our day's trek by train to Yabuhara, hiking through Torii on the way to Narai, where we will first explore the evocative village of Nara Isuzu before beginning our short trek to the historically famous town of Kiso-Hirasawa in Kiso Town.

Nara Ijuku is located at the top of Torii Ridge, the biggest obstacle on the Nakasendo Road, and was known as "Nara Ijuku Senka" (Nara Ijuku Thousands of Homes) due to the countless travelers who crossed the ridge and stayed there at that time. Today, both sides of the street are still intact with the old, simple and elegant buildings of the past, and it is as if you have stepped into the corridor of history. Most of the buildings here are two-story wooden buildings in the lattice style, which are lower than the average two-story building, and their architectural features include a porch that extends from the second floor and a long, deep eave that protrudes from the roof with a small slope, giving Nara Ijuku the unique flavor of an old town with a poetic atmosphere.

Here, people can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery, but also learn about Japanese folklore. Naraizu is famous for its lacquer ware, and lacquered wooden chopsticks are a specialty here; also, the store signs here are cartoonish with animal motifs; and the water from the wells here is still clear enough to be drunk raw, with six drinking points along the entire old street. Finally we take the train to Matsumoto for overnight.

Transport : Public Bus (0.5-1 hour)

Accommodation : Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch (Picnic); Supper (Farewell Dinner)

Trekking Distance : 8.7 kilometers

Trekking Time : 3-4 hours

Altitude Gains & Losses : +345/-270 meters

- Reference Hotel Pictures

Wake up early today for the City Walk segment and visit Matsumoto Castle, also known as Ushiro, which is the oldest national treasure among the five-story, six-story Tenshukaku (castle) that still exists in Japan. The most unique feature of Matsumoto Castle is its ink-painted architectural tones, with contrasting black and white colors that are stark and reserved, and its backdrop of the vast Northern Alps Mountains, which creates a picturesque landscape.

In addition to the castle architecture of Matsumoto Castle, the second largest city in Nagano Prefecture is loved by backpackers for its sophistication and reputation as "the most European city." With the Chubu Mountains at its back, the city is a beautiful place where you can spend time exploring the city's secrets, and where cafes and boutiques on the streets are likely to keep you coming back for more. The art museum here is also home to Yayoi Kusama's paintings.

At the end of the day, you can choose a JR train back to Nagoya Chubu Airport for departure or transfer from Matsumoto Airport, depending on your flight time. You can also start an extended exploration of the Chubu Alps. It is open from mid-April to mid-November and will be closed in winter.

Accommodation : Own arrangement

Meal : Breakfast