PRIVATE / customized
  • The Fuji Five Lakes and Nakasendo Trail Hike
  • Gifu / Nagano / Yamanashi / Shizuoka
  • Hike through the Nakasendo Trail and explore the Fuji Five Lakes with majestic views of Mt. Fuji

Tour Concept

    This tour includes a dedicated guide throughout the itinerary and is designed for active travelers seeking to hike for both nature and cultural immersion. The first part focuses on nature hikes: while we won’t climb Mt. Fuji, you’ll enjoy scenic walks around the Fuji Five Lakes, offering Japan’s most breathtaking views of the iconic mountain.
    Next, you’ll discover the historic post towns along the Nakasendo—walking in the footsteps of Edo-period wayfarers through streetscapes that preserve the charm of medieval Japan. The itinerary offers a well-balanced journey, combining hiking and strolls through traditional townscapes and mountain trails with the use of local trains and buses for segments with modern road traffic, ensuring both efficiency and an enjoyable travel experience.

Highlights

Enjoy scenic hike around Fuji five lakes

In the Fuji Five Lakes area, a private vehicle will be used to explore the region’s highlights over the course of the day. Leaving behind the more tourist-heavy Lake Kawaguchi, you’ll head toward quieter spots such as Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji, where you’ll also enjoy a scenic two-hour hike with stunning views of Mt. Fuji.

Nakasendo Route and Kiso Valley

The Nakasendo is one of five major historic highways built over 400 years ago to connect Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Kyoto. During the Edo period (1603–1867), there were sixty-nine post towns along this roughly 540-kilometer (336-mile) route, where travelers could rest, eat, and stay overnight. The Tokaido route was often impassable during heavy rains, as flooding rivers could close the path, leaving people stranded for days until they received permission to cross. The Nakasendo, by contrast, traversed steep mountains and deep valleys but remained passable—making it a preferred route for many travelers, from commoners to powerful lords. Today, while most of the post towns have lost their original function and vanished, several in the Kiso Valley still preserve the atmosphere and remnants of those bygone days.

Visit the three best-preserved post towns of the Kiso Valley along the Nakasendo Route

The Kiso Valley is the most well-preserved section of the historic Nakasendo. On this tour, you'll explore the post towns of Narai, Tsumago and Magome, where traditional buildings and cobblestone streets still evoke the charm of Japan’s bygone eras. Wandering through these timeless towns will make you feel as if you've stepped back into the medieval days of Edo-period travel. You will enjoy a guided hike along key sections of the historic Nakaseno route, including the well-maintained mountain paths between Narai and Yabuhara as well as between Tsumago and Magome.

Itinerary

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01
Tokyo - Mishima - Lake Kawaguchi

Meet your guide at Tokyo Station at 12:00, then take a bullet train to Mishima. Upon arrival, transfer to a private vehicle and head to Lake Kawaguchi. En route, stop at Lake Yamanaka and Oshino Hakkai, which is famous for its crystal-clear ponds fed by underground spring water from Mt. Fuji.

Meals included: Dinner Overnight at Route Inn Kawaguchiko or similar
02
Lake Kawaguchi (Fuji Five Lakes)

Spend a full day exploring the Fuji Five Lakes by private vehicle with a dedicated guide. Escape the crowds of Lake Kawaguchi and venture out to the quieter shores of Lake Sai, Lake Motosu, and Lake Shoji, each offering unique views of Mt. Fuji’s majestic form. As we move away from Kawaguchi, the number of tourists drops dramatically, allowing for a more relaxed and intimate sightseeing experience.

On clear days, we’ll enjoy a scenic hike (approximately two hours) with panoramic views of Mt. Fuji. The journey also includes a visit to Narusawa Ice Cave, a natural lava cave nestled in the Aokigahara Forest at the northern base of Mt. Fuji.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner Overnight at Route Inn Kawaguchiko or similar
03
Lake Kawaguchi – Kofu - Shiojiri

We will drive to Kofu station and take an express train to Shiojiri. On arrival, walk to your hotel to leave your luggage. Afterwards, we will visit Narai post town by local train, one of the historic post towns along the Kiso valley. Stroll through streets that still retain the atmosphere of Japan’s Edo period and enjoy the charming townscape of Narai-juku. Afterwards, return to Shiojiri for hotel check-in. Dinner is not included on this day, so please enjoy your evening meal by yourself.

Meals included: Breakfast Overnight at Hotel Nakmuraya or similar
04
Shiojiri – Narai – Kisofukushima

We will take a local train to Narai post town, then, begin our hike to Yabuhara via the Torii Pass—one of the highest points along the old Nakasendō route (approximately a 3-hour hike). From Yabuhara, we'll take a local train to Kisofukushima, where we'll spend the night in a charming Japanese-style ryokan featuring its own natural hot spring.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner Overnight at Kisofukushima: Onyado Tsutaya or similar
05
Kisofukushima – Tsumago

Enjoy a morning stroll through the old town of Kisofukushima, then head to Tsumago by local train and bus. Upon arrival, explore Tsumago—widely recognized today as one of the best-preserved post towns in Japan.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner Overnight at Tsumago or nearby: Hanaya, Tsutamuraya or similar
06
Tsumago – Magome - Nakatsugawa

Hike the Tsumago–Magome Trail over Magome Pass. The trail is relatively gentle and well-maintained. This section of the historic Nakasendō lies between the post towns of Tsumago and Magome, stretches approximately 8 kilometers, and takes about three hours to walk at a leisurely pace. In the afternoon, we will visit the old post town of Magome, known for its historic atmosphere and charming streets lined with shops selling local crafts, souvenirs, and regional delicacies. Afterwards, you will be transferred by private vehicle to your hotel in Nakatsugawa Onsen. Enjoy a delicious Japanese dinner and relax in the soothing hot springs at night.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner Overnight at Nakatsugawa Onsen: Hotel Hanasarasa
07
Nakatsugawa – Nagoya

After breakfast, we will head to Nagoya by express train and tour will end around noon at Nagoya station.

Meals included: Breakfast

Price

Season: March to November

  Price per person
 Tour cost for 2025/2026
8nights 9days
JPY510,000
Group of 2 people
JPY400,000
Group of 3 people
JPY340,000
Group of 4-5 people
Single room supplement JPY450,000

**Prices are for reference only. Final costs may vary depending on actual travel dates, accommodations, and other factors. Please contact us for a customized quote.
** This itinerary serves as a general guideline for the tour. We are happy to customize the content—including activity types, tour duration, and accommodation upgrades—based on your preferences.

Fitness Level 1.5 out of 5

This tour is suitable for participants of all ages who are in reasonably good health.

Payment:

We require booking fee of JPY50,000 per person to hold the space at time of booking and the final payment is due 45days prior to departure.

Form of payment :

Bank transfer or credit card (Visa or Master)

Inclusions:

6nights accommodations
English speaking guide thorough out the tour
Bullet train (standard reserved seat) from Tokyo to Mishima
Express train (standard reserved seat) from Kofu to Shiojiri and Nakatsugawa to Nagoya
Local train and bus fares as mentioned in the itinerary
6 Breakfasts and 5 dinners
All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary
Luggage delivery service on Day4, 5 and 6.
- One suitcase per person will be delivered to your next hotel.

Exclusive of:

International & domestic Airfares
Meals that are not included in the itinerary
Travel Insurance
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Personal expenses such as laundry bills, extra luggage delivery service etc

Climate

Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) offer comfortable climate, while summer (June–August) can be hot. Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for walking. Waterproof hiking shoes are highly recommended, and don’t forget to bring a full set of rain gear (jacket and pants) as it may rain any time.

Accommodations

Due to the limited number of accommodations in Kiso Valley area, we strongly recommend making reservations well in advance. Some properties—particularly traditional Japanese-style inns—may offer futon-style bedding, where guests sleep on a mattress laid out on tatami flooring. In addition, certain accommodations may not have private showers, with communal hot spring baths available instead.

Dietary Restriction

Hotels in remote area may only accept requests for special meals to medical (such as allergy) and religious needs.

Note

** According to weather conditions and local information, we may be forced to adjust or change tour schedule as needed. Please note that any supplementary costs incurred in such cases will need to be covered by the guest.
  Contact us about this tour
Travel planning and implementation:SAIYU TRAVEL CO.,LTD.
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