Located at the midpoint between Edo and Kyoto, Narai was the wealthiest of the 69 towns that marked-out the Nakasendo Road. Today, much of the town remains and visitors relish in the extent of the preservation. Historic buildings stretch on much further than any of the other extant post towns which now serve as guesthouses, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Once known as "Narai of a Thousand Houses" due to its size, visitors to the town will get a strong sense of its past significance. For detailed information regarding the trail, please refer to our 'Walk the Nakasendo Trail' page. In February, the Narai-juku Ice Candle Festival is a quiet yet beautiful festival that should not be missed.
For visitors heading to Narai - or the other attractions of the Kiso Valley - we recommend basing yourself in the area around nearby Kiso-Fukushima Station. It has the greatest variety of accommodation in the Kiso Valley and as a stop on all Limited Express Shinano services running between Nagano, Matsumoto and Nagoya, it is the most convenient point from where to explore the region including the nearby Kiso Ontake Mountain Range. For accommodation listings in the area, see our 'Kiso-Fukushima & Narai Area' hotel page.
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1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Hiking the Historic Nakasendo Trail
- Spots:
- NagoyaKiso Valley
- Pick-up:
- Nagoya
- Drop-off:
- Nagoya
1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Experience Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku / all year round
This engaging one-day tour takes you to Matsumoto Castle – one of the few remaining original castles in Japan and a registered National Treasure – before heading to the beautifully preserved, 1-km long post town known as Narai-juku, located on the Nakasendo road. Led by a locally-based guide and including direct transport to Narai-juku from Matsumoto and Nagano, this tour captures the essence of Old Japan at two of its best preserved historical sites.
