Walk Japan's latest self-guided tour exploring the Salt Road
Walk Japan’s latest tour is a six-day, five-night self-guided exploration of an historic trading route through the Japan Alps in Nagano and Niigata Prefectures.
Walk Japan is pleased to announce its latest tour, the Salt Road Wayfarer, which explores a trail, once vital for trade, connecting the Sea of Japan with the landlocked castle town of Matsumoto.
Tour participants explore the central and northern sections of the Salt Road, through a largely remote and little-visited yet beautiful region surrounded by the Japan Alps, following in the footsteps of bokka porters. Their daily lives were undoubtedly tough but would only have been uplifted by the glorious surroundings of the snow-capped Japan Alps, pristine beech forests and crystal-clear streams; scenes that are equally enjoyable to this day.
Starting in Omachi, a charming rural town in Nagano Prefecture, the tour follows the Salt Road north through sleepy hillside villages and woodlands, aside lakes and over mountain passes to Itoigawa on the Sea of Japan coast in Niigata Prefecture for an authentic experience of a delightful area, its people, society and culture.
Key features include:
Tour suitable for experienced walkers following an historic rural trail in remote, bucolic countryside set against the beautiful backdrop of the Japanese Alps.
UNESCO-recognised Fossa Magna Park, which is part of a wide geological rift, running north to south and dividing Japan east to west.
Relaxing and reviving onsen hot spring bathing every day.
Hearty local mountain cuisine and deliciously fresh seafood sourced from the Sea of Japan.
Details:
Self-guided Wayfarer tour.
Comprehensive route booklet and tour notes, and 24-hour English-language support.
6 days, 5 nights.
May to June & September to November.
Daily walks between 17 to 21.5km (10.5 to 13.5 miles) with options to shorten or extend distances.
Activity Level 4 and Technical Level 4, suitable for stronger walkers.
Starting in Omachi and finishing in Itoigawa.
Main baggage transferred by courier between each accommodation.
From JPY238,000 (approx £1,120) per person, based on double occupancy.
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