Path to the Past:
The Nakasendo Trail and
Ontake Pilgrimage Trail

Nakasendo Trail is a highway that stretches for approximately 540km, from Edo (old Tokyo) to Kyoto. Constructed during the Edo period, it consisted of 69 “post stations”, offering resting facilities for weary travelers to continue their long journey. With many of these facilities remaining to this day, the Nakasendo Trail is known as a true inheritor of sceneries from old Japan. Start your journey by walking from the quaint town of Magome to Tsumago, which are known as the highlights of the Nakasendo Trail.

Take a walk through the Nezame no Toko― or “The Bed of Awakening,” one of the five great gorges of Japan. Retrace the footsteps of predecessors who had traveled during the Edo period, while heading to the sacred Mt. Ontake. The trail to Mt. Ontake will give you a taste of the rich history of mountain worshiping and pilgrimage in Japan. Relieve the weariness of the travel while viewing the nostalgic rural scenery of Kaida Kogen.

You will have a full day to continue exploring the Nakasendo Trail. Challenge yourself at the Torii-toge Pass, which is known as the most challenging part of the Nakasendo Trail. Walk along the Kiso River, heading to Shiojiri Pass where you can get a panoramic view of shimmering Lake Suwa. We will arrange lunch for you at the Iwanami Family Headquarters; a grand residence with a magnificent garden where Emperor Meiji and “daimyos” of the Edo period used to stay.