Shinetsu Trail – Nagano, Japan

11 Day Japanese Cultural Experience

Day 1: Meet in Tokyo

You will need to make your own way to the arranged hotel in Tokyo in time for the tour briefing at 5.00 pm. Upon arrival at the arranged hotel in Tokyo, you will be met by your tour leader in the lobby. In the evening, we will go to a group dinner. There, we will get to know each other and experience our first taste of Japanese culture.

Schedule: Meet at Hotel » Dinner in Tokyo
Stay:  Hotel in Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast [ NA ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

A complimentary tour in Tokyo.

If you are planning to arrive Tokyo a day before the tour departure date, not only you would like to have a bit more time to recover from jet lag, but also still want to make the most of your stay in Tokyo, your tour leader will be able to offer you a complimentary active tour before the tour briefing at 5:00 pm on Day 1. Please let us know if you would like to arrange this tour.

Day 2:  Learn the history of Ninja in Togakushi

We leave Tokyo behind and travel to Nagano via Shinkansen, the famous bullet train. You will speed through the country and arrive in Nagano in 1.5 hours.

After checking our suitcases at the train station, we will take a public bus to the most famous attraction in Nagano, Zenko-Ji, one of the finest temples in Japan.
After lunch in Nagano, we will be picked up by a private shuttle that will take us to Togakushi village.

After arriving in Togakushi, we will visit the Ninja Museum. The museum consists of multiple buildings, one of which showcases tools and weapons used by the Togakure Ninja clan and exhibits many interesting photos of them practising various techniques in warfare and infiltration. We learn about and experience Ninja history. Tonight, we stay in a temple lodge.

Schedule: Tokyo » Togakushi Village
Stay: Temple lodge in Togakushi Village
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Day 3: Hike the pilgrimage trail in Togakushi. (Hiking day)

Togakushi is a sacred spiritual spot located on Mt. Togakushi blessed with abundant nature and a rich culture that is thousands of years old.

Today, we hike the trail that connects sacred sites in Togakushi while enjoying the hike in the natural forest with its bright autumn colours reflecting on beautiful lakes.

We also walk through a primeval forest on a path that is lined with giant cedar trees which are hundreds of years old. At the end of this spiritual hike, we visit Okusha.

After the hike, we will be picked up by a private shuttle to return to our accommodation.

Trail Data:
Distance: 8.2km
Elevation gain: + 330m / – 200m
Time: 5 – 6 hrs

Schedule: Togakushi village » Hike in Togakushi » Togakushi Village
Stay: Temple lodge in Togakushi Village
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ ✔ ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Day 4: Explore temple town in Iiyama and blend in with the mountain community

We leave Togakushi by private shuttle to JR Nagano Station to catch a bullet train to Iiyama City. After checking our suitcases at the train station in Iiyama, we will take a guided walking tour to visit a Teramachi, which means temple town. There are many temples in Iiyama city. These temples were built at the same time when the castle complex was established specifically to protect the castle complex. The castle environs in Japan are called “Teramachi” (Temple town).

Pick your most enticing option for lunch, or ask your tour leader to recommend and arrange one for you. After lunch, we will continue our tour by visiting a local Sake brewery, Iiyama Castle ruins and a Martial arts gym to learn about Bushido.

After the tour, we head to our Ryokan with hot springs. Enjoy an amazing feast of food and drink prepared by a chef from our Ryokan.

Schedule: Tokyo » Iiyama » Togari
Stay: Ryokan, Togari
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔]

Day 5: Deeper into the wood (Hiking Day)

We travel along the oldest part of the entire trail today. Busaka-Pass and Nonoumi-Pass have been in use since the Nara Period (AD 710~) for trade and travel. It is one of the most scenic parts of the trail and features some short steep ascents and descents.

Our hike today ends at the end of the Shinetsu Trail. We return to the same accommodation.

Trail Data
Distance: 5.8km
Elevation gain: + 240m / – 470m
Time: 4 – 5 hrs

Schedule: Togari » Shinetsu Trail »Togari
Stay: Ryokan, Togari
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ ✔]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Day 6: Discovering the beech forest (Hiking Day)

Today we walk through a forest composed almost completely of beech trees. This part of the trail features many very large and majestic trees. On the hike, you will also see some distinctive curved beech trees that illustrate how heavy the snowfall can be in this area and explain why only beech trees are soft and strong enough to thrive in this climate.

At the end of the hike, we will meet our host and they take us to a luxury traditional Ryokan in Onsen village which is renowned for its hot springs.

Dinner tonight will be a Washoku Kaiseki which is a first-class Japanese dinner.

Trail Data
Distance: 5.2km
Elevation gain: + 450m / – 250m
Time: 4 – 5 hrs

Schedule: Togari» Shinetsu Trail »Nozawa-Onsen
Stay: Ryokan, Nozawa Onsen
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ ✔]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Day 7: Hike through the cedar avenue to Kosuge shrine (Hiking Day)

We hike historical trail today in Kusuge. We start our hike from the village of Kosuge, previously known as one of northern Nagano’s three sacred places for mountain ascetics.

We hike through a quiet cedar forest, the trail leads you up to Kosuge Shrine. The shrine relates to Japanese mountain asceticism in the Shugendo sect, which combines elements of Shintoism and Buddhism. The hike starts in a post-temple town, there used to be about 40 temple lodgings for pilgrims to train and stay.

Walking through the village and hiking up the ancient trail with a local guide who has extensive knowledge of the area will make your trip even more interesting. The trail to the inner shrine is lined with towering Japanese cedars, said to be 300 years old, and large moss-covered boulders. A warlord Kenshin’s rule encompassed the entire Kosuge area and he conducted prayer for victory in his battles against his enemies.

After the hike, we will return to Nozawa-Onsen and the rest of the day is yours. Enjoy your free time exploring this fascinating village. Dinner is on your own tonight, but your tour leader will be able to recommend several choices for the night.

Trail Data
Distance: 6.5km
Elevation gain: + 600m / – 520m
Time: 4 – 5 hrs

Schedule: Nozawa-Onsen » Kosuge Village » Nozawa-Onsen
Stay: Ryokan, Nozawa Onsen
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ ✔]      Dinner [ NA ]

Day 8: Rest Day! Take today to relax and meet the famous Snow Monkeys

We will take a day tour to visit the famous hot spring snow monkeys and Hokusai Museum in Obuse. They are a must-see attraction in the area and will be a highlight of your trip. For snow monkeys, since making the front page of LIFE magazine in 1970, these monkeys, who bathe in the hot springs in the area, have become one of the biggest attractions for tourists. Although it is a bit early in the season to see the monkeys in full force, it is still a more-than-worthwhile visit.

On the way to our accommodation, we will make a stop in Obuse city to visit the Hokusai Museum. The museum displays the works of famed ukiyo-e woodblock print artist Hokusai. The artist lived out the last years of his life here in the quaint town of Obuse, under the patronage of a local wealthy merchant. Besides woodblock prints, the museum also houses two parade floats that feature artwork by Hokusai on their ceilings.

Schedule: Nozawa-Onsen » Snow Monkey » Obuse » Madarao Kogen
Stay: Hotel in Madarao Kogen
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔]

Day 9: Climax of the adventure (Hiking Day)

This trail gets the steep stuff out of the way about one hour after starting. It is a fairly sustained climb that takes us to the top of Mount Madarao (1382 meters), the highest point of the trail.

We continue onto another mountain, Mount Daimyojin which is only 10 minutes from Mount Madarao. Resting after the climb, we enjoy stunning summit views. Heading on, we walk through beautiful beech forests intermingled with Japanese oak, maples and birches. We take our time to manage a fairly steep descent to the end.

We come back to our accommodation to wrap up our hiking portion of the tour with an amazing feast of food and drink.

Trail Data
Distance: 7.5km
Elevation gain: + 650m / – 600m
Time: 5 – 6 hrs

Schedule: Madarao Kogen » Shinetsu Trail » Madarao Kogen
Stay: Hotel in Madarao Kogen
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ ✔]      Dinner [ ✔]

Day 10: Kanazawa, the city made by Samura

After breakfast, we leave Iiyama behind and travel to Kanazawa by Shinkansen, arriving in Kanazawa in 1.5 hours. After checking our suitcases at the Hotel in Kanazawa, we will take a public bus to the most famous attraction in Kanazawa, Samurai district, ‘Nagamachi Samurai Yashiki’.

The city boasts many historical attractions such as Kenrokuen Garden, restored residences, the Nagamachi samurai district and Geisha entertainment districts. Enjoy the city that was built by Samurai.

Dinner tonight will be a Sushi dinner. Given Kanazawa’s proximity to the Sea of Japan, the city has access to a diverse variety of some of the best and freshest seafood in the nation.

Schedule: Madarao Kogen » JR Iiyama St. » Kanazawa
Stay: Hotel in Kanazawa
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔]

Day 11: Tour conclusion

Tour concludes after breakfast at our hotel.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy in Kanazawa. The tour leader will be more than happy to help you with all the information you need to be able to get around Kanazawa on your own. While you are in Kanazawa, here is the list you don’t want to miss.

Kenrokuen Garden – the most famous attraction in Kanazawa, one of Japan’s “three most beautiful landscape gardens”

Omicho market – an exciting and colourful network of covered streets lined by about 200 shops and stalls. It is the best place to have lunch.

Higashi Chaya district – a traditional place of feasts and entertainment, where geisha have been entertaining people by performing dances and playing Japanese traditional musical instruments since the Edo period. It is lined with preserved houses from the Edo period and features a variety of old tea houses, cafes, and many traditional crafts shops. Enjoy your free time here for shopping.

Schedule: breakfast at the hotel
Stay: Not included
Meals: Breakfast [ ✔]      Lunch [ NA]      Dinner [ NA]

Optional Tours: If you would like to extend your time in this fascinating country, we have a selection of short tour options available on-demand. These are designed to assist you in getting the very most out of your visit. http://www.greathikesjapan.com/optional-tours/index.html

Hiking Difficulty

It is a Moderate hike. A moderate level of fitness is required for the hike. The trail is not technical however there are frequent elevation changes throughout the day with some steep climbs. You will need to be able to hike in a group over five days, averaging a comfortable 6 kilometres per day with a day-pack for 4 to 6 hours each day.

The majority of the trail is well-maintained and signed and pleasantly cushioned with fallen leaves, which your feet and knees will appreciate. It can be very slippery and muddy when wet with tree roots. Hiking poles and hiking boots with good ankle support are strongly recommended. The suitable age for the hike is over the age of 18.

Accommodation Info

If you would prefer a single room when available or you are a single traveller, you will be charged a supplementary charge of $520 CAD plus tax for certain nights. If you are a single traveller and are willing to share with another traveller of the same gender let us know and we will try to pair you up if possible.

Payment of the Single Supplement Charge does not guarantee a single room booking when staying in accommodations on the nights of Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 & Day 7 due to limited availability in those accommodations.

Single rooms are only guaranteed when we are staying in a hotel in Tokyo on Day 1, Togakushi village Day 2, 3, Madarao Kogen Day 8, 9 and Kanazawa Day 10.

In the event that a single room cannot be provided, Yamnuska Mountain Tours will refund the portion of the Single Supplement Charge relevant to the nights on which a single room cannot be provided to you.

Non-Smoking Policy: Yamnuska Mountain Tours will try to fulfill requests for non-smoking rooms. However, Yamnuska Mountain Tours cannot guarantee the availability of non-smoking rooms because some hotels and Japanese inns (Ryokan) do not have non-smoking rooms or such rooms are in very limited supply.

Meeting Place & Time

You will meet your Yamnuska tour leader at our hotel in Tokyo. There will be a tour briefing at 5 pm after which we will go out for our welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Getting to Tokyo & Transportation

Upon booking, you will receive an information package by email. It will include detailed instructions on how to get to our hotel from Tokyo Airport (Narita).  If landing at another airport or arriving in Tokyo by rail or other means send us your travel details so we can send you customized instructions.

Guides & Group Size

Yamnuska tour leaders are professional guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG), they are fluent in both English and Japanese. They have extensive experience in both Japan and in the Canadian Rockies. They have advanced wilderness first aid training and heritage interpretation accreditation. They carry emergency equipment including a group first aid kit and communication tools. A minimum group size is 8 guests.

What to Bring

You will need to bring your own daypack and personal clothing (guides carry first aid and emergency gear). Cotton clothing is NOT recommended as an insulating layer as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. Weather conditions can vary from hot to cold, rainy and even snowy meaning you need to be equipped appropriately. It also can be very slippery when wet, due to many tree roots and muddy terrain. We highly recommend that you wear hiking boots that provide firm ankle support. Walking poles are highly recommended and available for rent.

See a sample equipment list here.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A 35% deposit is required at time of booking. A $200 CAD non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required at time of booking. The final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the tour and that amount in Canadian dollars will be calculated using the current official Yen exchange rate. The Canadian Dollar price is subject to change without notice due to fluctuations in the exchange rate for the Japanese Yen.

Cancellation less than eight weeks before the program start and during the program results in loss of the entire amount paid. The entire amount you paid is non-refundable and non-transferable.

You are required to purchase travel medical insurance to participate in our Japan programs.

Travel medical insurance covers and protects you against unforeseen events during the tour in Japan. We appreciate not everyone wants the added cost of insurance, but in our experience, unplanned events happen regularly. Your tour leader will do their best to assist guests when unplanned events happen, but there are easily obtained policies that can protect your financial investment.

We are hiking through a rural, remote area in Japan. It is your responsibility to have appropriate travel medical insurance during your trip to Japan.

We strongly recommend that you check your insurance if it covers emergency medical – related assistance services such as, -locating local medical providers, -arranging transportation and translation services, -coordinating evacuations including ambulance and emergency air transportation, -arranging accommodations and meals for extension of your stay.

Because you are travelling in Japan and it can be difficult to find a medical facility that provides assistance services in your first language. When you don’t understand what the doctors and nurses are telling you about your conditions, translation service will be of great help to you.

If you have travel insurance with your credit card, please make sure you check on the coverage and if you think it does not cover for the type of your travel to Japan, you may want to reconsider.

We also strongly recommend you find a trip cancellation or interruption provider as we will not be in a position to credit or refund your fees.