The Nakasendo Trail is more than just a cycling adventure—it’s a step back in time, a week-long journey to the Japanese Edo period, with well-preserved reminders along the trail. You will visit some of the most important and most beautiful post towns on the route, including Tsumago and Magome among many others. The rest of the cycling tour goes through serene woodlands, cobblestoned paths meandering through the mountains, remote villages, and a myriad of other landscapes. Join this guided journey and prepare for a total immersion into the Japanese Edo period, its culture, traditions, and its food.
The itinerary is just a sample—it is not set in stone, and neither are the daily distances, but you can expect to ride in these areas. Every tour is tailored to each guest’s riding style and preferences. While the general regions stay the same, the exact destinations vary to create a truly bespoke experience.
This day is all about arriving to the guide’s base for orientation and a bike fitting. Typically guests arrive before 3 pm so we have plenty of time to get bikes prepped. We’ll also go on a short orientation ride.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Guide’s base or similar
Nagawa sits in the Nagano highlands, mixing rolling farmland, forested slopes, and cool alpine air. Riders can expect quiet rural roads, gentle valley stretches, steady climbs, and wide mountain views, with historic post-town remnants, clear rivers, and open plateaus adding scenic variety.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokan or a modern resort hotel
The Suwa/Shiojiri area blends lakefront views, vineyard-covered hills, and forested mountain passes. Expect smooth riding around Lake Suwa, gentle vineyard slopes near Shiojiri, and occasional steeper climbs into surrounding highlands, with shrines, hot springs, and small craft villages adding local charm.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokan or a modern resort hotel
The Kiso area runs along a dramatic wooded valley framed by steep mountains, with serene rivers, deep forests, and stretches of the historic Nakasendō. Expect shaded roads, moderate climbs, and scenic gorges, with traditional post towns and old cedar-lined paths adding a timeless, atmospheric feel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokan or a modern resort hotel
The Ochiai/Nakatsugawa area follows the lower Kiso Valley, mixing riverside stretches, wooded hills, and sections of the old Nakasendō. Expect mellow valley riding with a few short climbs, historic post towns, stone-paved trails, and viewpoints overlooking terraced villages and forested ridges.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokan or a modern resort hotel
The Inuyama area offers gentle riverside terrain along the Kiso River, framed by low hills and castle views. Expect smooth, easy riding past shrines, old merchant streets, and Inuyama Castle’s iconic perch above the water, with quiet country roads leading into small villages and wooded backroads.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokan or a modern resort hotel
The Hikone area sits along the shores of Lake Biwa, offering flat lakeside routes with wide open views and breezy waterfront paths. Expect easy riding through historic castle districts, peaceful rice fields, and traditional neighborhoods, with Hikone Castle providing a standout cultural landmark.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokan or a modern resort hotel
The final day brings an afternoon arrival in Kyoto, where the ride transitions into a relaxed city welcome. Expect a gentle shift from countryside scenery to temple-lined streets, historic districts, and riverside paths, with time to settle in and enjoy Kyoto’s calm, traditional atmosphere.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Included:
Add-ons (possible to arrange at an additional fee, leave us a note at checkout):
Not included:
In order to join this Nakasendo bike tour, you need to be in great physical condition. You will be cycling for a week, anywhere between 50-72 km (31-45 miles) per day. Daily elevation gains can be found in the itinerary, but the biggest elevation gain in a single day will be around 1,200 m (3,940 ft).
What else is on the offer in Japan? Check out this biking & hiking Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage or a cycling tour of Hidden Japan on Shikoku Island.
Any diet or medical concerns need to be mentioned prior to the tour. Each guest is required to have personal medical and trip insurance.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Touring in Japan covers mountains, plains, and coastal areas, where rain is not uncommon. Weather in the winter can also get quite cold in the winter. Make sure to bring clothing appropriate for the season. Generally, pack light and use layers. Due to high humidity, a waterproof hardshell is great and effective as any membrane shell. High-quality Merino fabric base layers as well as high-quality bib or riding shorts are strongly recommended. You’ll be able to do laundry in most lodgings so you might not need as much clothing as you think.
All attendees should have their own smartphone device with local data provisioning (e-Sim or similar).Each rider is responsible for their own cycling clothes and shoes.
If you’re bringing your own bicycle or equipment, you will be 100% responsible for any spare parts, repairs, damages or losses. Your en-route guide is equipped for most mechanical issues, but they do not carry spares for bikes other than their own. Read more about this in the next question.
Rental bikes
High-end conventional bikers or e-bikes typically featuring 1×11 or 2×11 wide range components are included in the price of the tour. You also get a repair kit (pump, tool, patches, etc.), safety lights, and “rinko” bags for the train. Helmet, rental clothing or shoes are not provided. If you bring your own saddle and/or pedals, they will be installed for you. Please do not bring racks, panniers, or other components without consulting first. Rental bikes are suitable for bikepacking type saddle bags, frame bags, or front, and not old-school expedition racks and panniers.
Your own bike
You can also bring your own bike! However, please keep in mind that land logistics in Japan may be challenging for bike boxes or cases that are larger than 200 cm (LWH). If you have a question regarding your specific box or case, just let us know. Also, if you bring your own bike, you will have to pre-arrange your own liability insurance (if you take your guide’s rental, you will automatically have liability insurance).
For taking your bike on the train, you need to use a full coverage bag. They’re called “rinko” bags and they are generally provided with rental bikes on request. By removing wheels, the bike can fit easily into the bag and be placed in the designated area inside the train.
Group sizes and prices:
It may be possible to arrange Nakasendo bike tours for bigger groups, but the sooner you book, the better. Your guides wish to avoid high impact in small villages, and stays in Japanese ryokans are often severely limited. Contact us prior to booking if your group has more than 8 people.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to GS Astuto base, the starting point of your tour, most people fly into Tokyo and one of its two airports, Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND). From there, you can take a train or a bus, it will take you 1.5-3 hours.
Covering all your bases with insurance is mandatory for this tour. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.