• Over the course of two days of an easy walk (self-guided tour) along the Nakasendo road and one overnight stay at a Minshuku (family run lodging), immerse yourself in Japan's folkloric landscapes between the villages of Nakatsugawa and Tsumago. During Japan's feudal period (1603-1868), the Nakasendo road was one of the five routes that linked the economic hub, Tokyo, to the imperial capital, Kyoto. Unlike the Tokaido road, which was replaced by today's Shinkansen train, the Nakasendo was saved from rampant modernization and still upholds an old-fashioned charm. Created by general Tokugawa in order to assert his political domination, the route spans a distance of 534 kilometers and includes 69 rest stops. Its name literally means "mountain road" and is a means of communication in case of a large flood on the Tokaido: the coastal road.
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

DAY 1 : Away from the city • Transportation : Take the train to Nakatsugawa station. From Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and change there for the JR Shinano Limited Express towards Nagano (if you have the JR Pass, all is included inside the pass) • Starting time : Start walking from Nakatsugawa station at no later than 13:00. Please have lunch before hand at a local restaurant or buy food at the convenience store at the train station. • Walking time: about 3 hours • Walking distance: about 7 km • Elevation gain: about 250 meters • Elevation loss: 50 meters • Lodging : Japanese traditional inn (Minshuku). You will experience a traditional family run lodging with tatamis rooms and futons. Share toilets and bathroom. • Meal included : Japanese traditional dinner cooked with fresh local ingredients : salt-grilled seafood, salmon sashimi, edamame beans, bamboo shoots, caramelized crickets, taro, miso sauce boiled wild boar meat, tempura of vegetables, simmered pumpkin, miso soup,