(888) 810-7447

Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Tour, Escorted tour

Kyoto, Japan to Tokyo, Japan

Slideshow offer placeholder
This enchanting journey through Japan combines stunning vigorous walks with timeless tradition. Beginning in the old imperial city of Kyoto and ending in modern Tokyo, follow the historic Nakasendo Way, a network of ancient trade routes once used to travel between these important cities. By way of temples, shrines, and hamlets, take in ethereal landscapes of lush gardens, misty forests and possibly cherry blossoms. Along the way, enjoy generous Japanese hospitality in a shukubo (temple lodging) and family-run inns, and the contrasts between old and new in this magical land.

Highlights:
  • Explore Kyoto's ancient temples, UNESCO-listed Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, and the bamboo forest of Arashiyama
  • Journey to Nara's Todai-ji, scenic and sacred Mount Koya, and electric Tokyo
  • Follow shoguns' shadows along the spectacular Nakasendo Way through medieval towns, lush valleys, and misty forests

Important Trip Details:
You will be walking 1-3 hours and 5–9 miles a day through the Japanese countryside, visiting idyllic villages, ancient temples, traditional inns, and renowned artisanal workshops. Elevations are between 500 and 3,500 feet. You need to be in good health and physical condition for this trip.

Minimum Age: 12

Interests
  • Adventure and Active
10 Nights Starting At

CALL

November 03, 2024 through November 13, 2024
Book by:
October 30, 2024 7:00 PM
Itinerary Overview
Day 3
Travel the Scenic Nankai Railway and Follow the Pilgrim’s Trail to Mount Koya
Day 4
Ride the Train to Nara
Day 5
Explore Nara and the Kiso Valley
Day 6
Discover Magome & Hike a Forested Trail to Tsumago
Day 7
Follow the Old Nakasendo from Tsumago to Nenoue Toge
Day 8
Climb to Torii Pass & Explore Narai-juku Village
Loading Itinerary Content...
Dates & prices
Additional
Offers
Starting From Additional Details
10 Nights from CALL
October 30, 2024 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
March 19, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
March 26, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
April 02, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
April 11, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
May 07, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
September 10, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
September 24, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
October 08, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
October 15, 2025 7:00 PM
10 Nights from CALL
October 29, 2025 7:00 PM
Additional
Offers











Accommodations
MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Guides
MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Tomomi Shimazu
Tomomi was born and raised in Tokyo. After completing her degree in international relations, she studied in the UK and the US. Later she lived in Hawaii and Israel for years and traveled extensively in Europe, the US and Middle East. She now lives in Tokyo, close to its center and loves gardening, walking, cycling and yoga. Tomomi enjoys guiding and sharing her knowledge of both traditional and urban cultures of Japan. Meet Tomomi on MT Sobek's adventures in Japan.





Toshi Kida
Toshiyuki was born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and grew up in Sekiyama in Niigata Prefecture. His interest in travel became apparent from the very moment he played with a globe as a child and it turned into a life-long passion. After graduating from university in 1978, he moved to Canada and now divides his time between Canada and Japan. Toshiyuki has guided the Nakasendo and Kumano Kodo trails since 2013. He has traveled to over 200 cities in 25 countries in America, Europe, and Asia.





Atsuko Iketsu
Atsuko was born in Osaka, an old merchant city, and brought up in Kamakura, an ancient capital of samurais. Since childhood she has visited many temples and shrines, which might have fostered her love for Japanese culture. She majored in French at Sophia University in Tokyo and lived in Los Angeles, Bangkok, London and Paris for 11 years because of her husband's work. She loved to talk with locals in these places and enjoyed communication wherever she lived. After coming back to Japan, Atsuko was passionate about introducing Japanese culture to foreign visitors, and worked at Edo-Tokyo Museum as a volunteer guide for 7 years. Now she guides throughout Japan. On each trip, she enjoys communicating with her group members and always tries her best to show the real beauty of Japan and theJapanese way of thinking and living.





Inclusions/Exclusions
MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Inclusions
Expertise and services of our experienced adventure guides
All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
Snacks and water between meals
Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
Baggage transfers and porterage

Exclusions
International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
Travel Protection Program
Personal expenses
What To Expect
MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Reason #01

MT Sobek has been operating award-winning adventures in Asia since 1969, working with best local guides to ensure an immersive and unforgettable adventure.

Reason #02

Perfected over 20 years, this popular 11-day Kyoto to Tokyo adventure is a well-paced walking tour into the heart of Japan. Explore idyllic landscapes and stay at charming shukubo and ryokan.

Reason #03

Our local expert guides go the extra mile and are the perfect travel companions. Come away with a deep understanding of Kyoto, Tokyo, and the historic Nakasendo Trail.

Activities

Moderately paced hikes up to 4-9 miles a day on paved and dirt trails, plus cultural touring and scenic train rides.

Lodging

Enjoy stays in traditional ryokans (inns) — many with onsen (hot springs) — and comfortable hotels with modern amenities.

Climate

Spring and fall temperatures range from 50°F to the high 70°'s F, and there is a fair chance of rain.

Who will meet me on arrival?

For guests arriving on Day 1 (or 1-2 days prior to Day 1 and staying at the group hotel), you will make your own way to the airport train station (if arriving at Osaka Kansai/KIX) to take the Haruka Express train to Kyoto Station, or to the airport limousine bus desk (if arriving at Osaka Itami/ITM) to take an airport limousine bus to Kyoto Station. Your guide will meet you at the Kyoto hotel in the evening for a trip briefing and dinner, and will reimburse you for your train or airport limousine bus tickets.

What days will I be without my luggage during this trip?

We use Japan's “takuhaibin” luggage courier system so you can travel light on train and bus journeys. To make this work seamlessly, we ask that you bring your regular suitcase (or duffel), your daypack, AND a small foldable duffel. Your larger suitcase will be sent ahead on two occasions - from Kyoto on Day 3, arriving to the Kiso Valley on Day 5; and from Tsumago on Day 7, arriving in Tokyo on Day 9. While your suitcase is in transit, you will carry your small duffel with your essentials for 2 nights at a time, along with your daypack, on the train or bus. Once you arrive at your destination, we take care of transporting your small duffel to your accommodation so you only ever need to carry a daypack on your hikes. We find this is a fantastic way to get an authentic travel experience, while still having access to your larger luggage for most of the trip.

Can I travel to Japan if I’m gluten-free?

We are unable to guarantee 100% gluten-free meals, as there is some gluten in soy sauce and in miso, which are core seasoning ingredients in Japan and very difficult to avoid. That said, we are happy to request meals that don't include wheat noodles, tempura, breaded items, or bread. Please let us know your needs as soon as possible so we can manage your request.

Can you manage vegetarian meals, or meals without fish or shellfish?

We are more than happy to request meals with no apparent animal products, but meals without any traces of fish are challenging to manage due to the ubiquitous nature of dashi (broth flavored with dried fish flakes). Dashi is foundational to Japanese cuisine and is a small component of many dishes. We are not able to arrange for all dishes to be prepared without dashi; you can decide not to eat them but may then need to supplement meals with snacks that you supply yourself. Many of our vegetarian guests who have doubts about dashi before coming to Japan find that they enjoy the delicious dishes made with this subtle flavoring.

What is staying in a ryokan, minshuku and shukubo like?

A shukubo is an authentic Buddhist temple lodging attended by young monks in training, and you'll have the chance to stay at a shukubo for one night (Day 3) at Mount Koya. These have simple guest rooms with sliding screens and you sleep on futons atop tatami mat floors. There are shared bathroom facilities - separate for men and women. You'll dine on Buddhist vegetarian food and will have the opportunity to attend morning prayers with the monks, as well as to enjoy traditional gardens.


Ryokans and minshuku are traditional inns that may have tatami mat floors, futon beds, and shared bathing facilities (divided by gender). We use these on four nights of the trip, while walking the Nakasendo Trail (Days 5, 6, 7 and 8). Some of the ryokans have private toilet and sink en-suite in the rooms, with only the bathing facilities shared; at other ryokans and all minshukus, all bathroom facilities are shared.

At all the above, bedding is stored during the day, and laid out in the evening. Japanese futons are laid out directly on the tatami; pillows are either western style or buckwheat-filled traditional Japanese pillows. You'll remove shoes once inside your room and change into slippers that are provided.

MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Tomomi Shimazu
Tomomi was born and raised in Tokyo. After completing her degree in international relations, she studied in the UK and the US. Later she lived in Hawaii and Israel for years and traveled extensively in Europe, the US and Middle East. She now lives in Tokyo, close to its center and loves gardening, walking, cycling and yoga. Tomomi enjoys guiding and sharing her knowledge of both traditional and urban cultures of Japan. Meet Tomomi on MT Sobek's adventures in Japan.





Toshi Kida
Toshiyuki was born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and grew up in Sekiyama in Niigata Prefecture. His interest in travel became apparent from the very moment he played with a globe as a child and it turned into a life-long passion. After graduating from university in 1978, he moved to Canada and now divides his time between Canada and Japan. Toshiyuki has guided the Nakasendo and Kumano Kodo trails since 2013. He has traveled to over 200 cities in 25 countries in America, Europe, and Asia.





Atsuko Iketsu
Atsuko was born in Osaka, an old merchant city, and brought up in Kamakura, an ancient capital of samurais. Since childhood she has visited many temples and shrines, which might have fostered her love for Japanese culture. She majored in French at Sophia University in Tokyo and lived in Los Angeles, Bangkok, London and Paris for 11 years because of her husband's work. She loved to talk with locals in these places and enjoyed communication wherever she lived. After coming back to Japan, Atsuko was passionate about introducing Japanese culture to foreign visitors, and worked at Edo-Tokyo Museum as a volunteer guide for 7 years. Now she guides throughout Japan. On each trip, she enjoys communicating with her group members and always tries her best to show the real beauty of Japan and theJapanese way of thinking and living.





MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Inclusions
Expertise and services of our experienced adventure guides
All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
Snacks and water between meals
Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
Baggage transfers and porterage

Exclusions
International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
Travel Protection Program
Personal expenses
MT Sobek: Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking

Reason #01

MT Sobek has been operating award-winning adventures in Asia since 1969, working with best local guides to ensure an immersive and unforgettable adventure.

Reason #02

Perfected over 20 years, this popular 11-day Kyoto to Tokyo adventure is a well-paced walking tour into the heart of Japan. Explore idyllic landscapes and stay at charming shukubo and ryokan.

Reason #03

Our local expert guides go the extra mile and are the perfect travel companions. Come away with a deep understanding of Kyoto, Tokyo, and the historic Nakasendo Trail.

Activities

Moderately paced hikes up to 4-9 miles a day on paved and dirt trails, plus cultural touring and scenic train rides.

Lodging

Enjoy stays in traditional ryokans (inns) — many with onsen (hot springs) — and comfortable hotels with modern amenities.

Climate

Spring and fall temperatures range from 50°F to the high 70°'s F, and there is a fair chance of rain.

Who will meet me on arrival?

For guests arriving on Day 1 (or 1-2 days prior to Day 1 and staying at the group hotel), you will make your own way to the airport train station (if arriving at Osaka Kansai/KIX) to take the Haruka Express train to Kyoto Station, or to the airport limousine bus desk (if arriving at Osaka Itami/ITM) to take an airport limousine bus to Kyoto Station. Your guide will meet you at the Kyoto hotel in the evening for a trip briefing and dinner, and will reimburse you for your train or airport limousine bus tickets.

What days will I be without my luggage during this trip?

We use Japan's “takuhaibin” luggage courier system so you can travel light on train and bus journeys. To make this work seamlessly, we ask that you bring your regular suitcase (or duffel), your daypack, AND a small foldable duffel. Your larger suitcase will be sent ahead on two occasions - from Kyoto on Day 3, arriving to the Kiso Valley on Day 5; and from Tsumago on Day 7, arriving in Tokyo on Day 9. While your suitcase is in transit, you will carry your small duffel with your essentials for 2 nights at a time, along with your daypack, on the train or bus. Once you arrive at your destination, we take care of transporting your small duffel to your accommodation so you only ever need to carry a daypack on your hikes. We find this is a fantastic way to get an authentic travel experience, while still having access to your larger luggage for most of the trip.

Can I travel to Japan if I’m gluten-free?

We are unable to guarantee 100% gluten-free meals, as there is some gluten in soy sauce and in miso, which are core seasoning ingredients in Japan and very difficult to avoid. That said, we are happy to request meals that don't include wheat noodles, tempura, breaded items, or bread. Please let us know your needs as soon as possible so we can manage your request.

Can you manage vegetarian meals, or meals without fish or shellfish?

We are more than happy to request meals with no apparent animal products, but meals without any traces of fish are challenging to manage due to the ubiquitous nature of dashi (broth flavored with dried fish flakes). Dashi is foundational to Japanese cuisine and is a small component of many dishes. We are not able to arrange for all dishes to be prepared without dashi; you can decide not to eat them but may then need to supplement meals with snacks that you supply yourself. Many of our vegetarian guests who have doubts about dashi before coming to Japan find that they enjoy the delicious dishes made with this subtle flavoring.

What is staying in a ryokan, minshuku and shukubo like?

A shukubo is an authentic Buddhist temple lodging attended by young monks in training, and you'll have the chance to stay at a shukubo for one night (Day 3) at Mount Koya. These have simple guest rooms with sliding screens and you sleep on futons atop tatami mat floors. There are shared bathroom facilities - separate for men and women. You'll dine on Buddhist vegetarian food and will have the opportunity to attend morning prayers with the monks, as well as to enjoy traditional gardens.


Ryokans and minshuku are traditional inns that may have tatami mat floors, futon beds, and shared bathing facilities (divided by gender). We use these on four nights of the trip, while walking the Nakasendo Trail (Days 5, 6, 7 and 8). Some of the ryokans have private toilet and sink en-suite in the rooms, with only the bathing facilities shared; at other ryokans and all minshukus, all bathroom facilities are shared.

At all the above, bedding is stored during the day, and laid out in the evening. Japanese futons are laid out directly on the tatami; pillows are either western style or buckwheat-filled traditional Japanese pillows. You'll remove shoes once inside your room and change into slippers that are provided.

About MT Sobek
MT Sobek logo

This is where adventure travel began! Since our first Everest Base Camp trek in 1969, we’ve been connecting adventurers to the world through genuine, active and immersive experiences. We can’t think of anything more fulfilling than being outside and going deep into nature, exploring hidden places and getting to know local people. It’s what we love to do, so let us share it with you.

To feed your spirit of adventure, Mountain Travel Sobek offers a wide range of unique and perfectly paced itineraries led by incredible local guides. We keep groups small, usually fewer than 10 people, and seek out great food and characterful accommodations everywhere we go.

Beyond the seamless logistics and careful attention to detail, our aim is to create a space for truly special moments in unforgettable places.

We are the Adventure Company—come explore with us.

Read More

About MT Sobek

This is where adventure travel began! Since our first Everest Base Camp trek in 1969, we’ve been connecting adventurers to the world through genuine, active and immersive experiences. We can’t think of anything more fulfilling than being outside and going deep into nature, exploring hidden places and getting to know local people. It’s what we love to do, so let us share it with you.

To feed your spirit of adventure, Mountain Travel Sobek offers a wide range of unique and perfectly paced itineraries led by incredible local guides. We keep groups small, usually fewer than 10 people, and seek out great food and characterful accommodations everywhere we go.

Beyond the seamless logistics and careful attention to detail, our aim is to create a space for truly special moments in unforgettable places.

We are the Adventure Company—come explore with us.

Read More

Prices are per-person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted.