Kyoto-based adventure operator Oku Japan, which offers a wide range of guided and self-guided walking & trekking itineraries, has just unveiled the newest addition to its line-up: a four-day Nakasendō Minoji self-guided walking tour.
Starting on the Mino Road, or Minoji, which is located further west than Oku’s classic Nakasendō Trail-based tours, in what was formerly known as Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture), guests will enjoy hikes of two to seven hours in duration over the course of four days, traversing some of the trail’s more remote post towns, namely Ōkute and Ōi in the mountains, and then on to Magome, perched on a steep slope, followed by Tsumago, one of the country’s best-preserved post towns. The journey will conclude in Narai, one of the most prosperous towns in its time, located in the famed Kiso Valley.
“Our goal with this new self-guided itinerary is to highlight a part of the Nakasendō that is far less traveled, less well-known, which we enrich further with cultural immersion through our fureai initiative,” says Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Oku Japan’s General Manager. “However, the Kiso Road is synonymous with the Nakasendō itself, so we wanted to ensure we included parts of the classic route too – offering the best of both worlds.”
One of the many Jizo statues found along the Nakasendō Trail
Mino has a history of pottery-making that dates back 1,300 years, and ceramics from this region (mino ware) account for around 50% of all Japanese pottery still produced today. Though far more remote than the post towns located in the Kiso Valley, the towns nestled in the mountains here were extremely prosperous during the Edo period, and so important strategically that the shōgun made sure that they were well defended.
Highlights of the area include a visit to Oni-iwa Park, known for its massive granite boulders that line the river, and the Biwa-tōge Pass, which contains one of Japan’s longest ishidatami stone-paved paths and many historical landmarks.
After traversing the Jūsan-tōge Pass between Ōkute and Ōi, which is a series of climbs and descents along the ridge that carried both the old Nakasendō highway and the 8th century Tosando before that, travelers enter Ōi via its impressive masugata structures, designed to slow down direct entry and thus protect the town from would-be invaders. The itinerary also features various fureai points where guests can meet and learn from local business owners, residents, and other community members.
“The fureai experiences are meant to bring our guests together with members of the community to create small, meaningful interactions, for our guests and the local residents and business owners alike,” concludes Kawaguchi.
Considered an ‘active’ level tour, accommodations on this itinerary include onsen ryokans (hot spring inns) and minshukus (family-run guesthouses). Price per person starts from US$1,480.00.
To learn more about Oku Japan’s full line-up of year-round self-guided and guided group tours, please visit http://www.okujapan.com/.
