2018
The Shinetsu Trail Japan’s best long-distance woodland trail
The Shinetsu Trail is an 80km woodland trail that follows the ridge of the Sekida Mountain Range on the border between Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. The trail is unique because it showcases Japan’s primeval alpine forests of beech, birch, larch, maple and cedar in an abundance of flora and fauna. Inspired by the Appalachian Trail in the USA, the Shinetsu Trail was developed in 2003 by the Shin-Etsu Trail Club. They’ve been lovingly maintaining it ever since on a volunteer basis with the support of the Iiyama City Government.
ShinetsuTrail.com has been created by Riki’s Tours Japan so as to share this beautiful part of Japan with the world. We’re a Sydney-based operator that’s been happily running small group tours of Japan since 2013. Co-directed by Riki Inamura and Jason Longmore, we strive to provide friendly, professional and authentic tours that bring travellers closer to Japanese society, culture and its environment.
About our treks The Shinetsu Trail is located in the central alpine region of Japan, and takes under two hours from Tokyo on the Shinkansen super-express to Iiyama City. The 80km trail is divided into six sections and takes six days to complete at a leisurely pace. The trail is soft underfoot so it’s gentle on your feet, and because you trek mostly at an elevation of 1000m, with changes in elevation of no more than 470m, it’s suitable for most walkers. For 2018, we’ve scheduled six Half Treks and two Full Treks in the best walking months of June, September and October. If you’re reasonably fit and enjoy walking, you should be able to accomplish the Full Trek with relative ease. For walkers who prefer taking things a little easier, the 35km Half Trek would suit you well. All treks are fully supported with two experts: a local mountain guide, provided by the Shinetsu Trail Club, and an English-speaking escort, provided by Riki’s Tours Japan. This means we can give you the best information, look after your needs and ensure your safety. You’ll eat and sleep well in a delightful range of accommodation: a smart Tokyo hotel, a mountain-top onsen hotel, family-run minshuku, forest cabins and a luxury ryokan with kaiseki meals. There’s onsen baths (hot springs) to soothe the joints and hearty meals of local cuisine. Why not join us on this beautiful and rejuvenating trek?
Half Trek Our 2018 Half Trek is for travellers who want a first taste of the trail. It suits people who enjoy walking, but may not consider themselves serious hikers. The Half Trek is approximately 35km over four walking days; three on the Shinetsu Trail, plus one short hill-climb to reach the lovely Kosuge Shrine. We’ve scheduled tours for the new green season in June, as well as late summer in September, and for the Autumn colours in October. Enjoy gorgeous scenery, fascinating nature and beautiful beech forests by day, and delicious food and hot spring baths by night.
Shibata-san from Shinshu-Iiyama Tourism Bureau, Riki and Daisuke at Kosuge Shrine in October
8 day 7 night tour In Tokyo, out Iiyama City $3090 pp $3290pp1 7 breakfasts 4 bento box lunches 6 dinners 3 onsen (hot spring bath) 4 trekking days 2 Jun ~ 9 Jun 12 Jun ~ 19 Jun* 23 Jun ~ 30 Jun* 18 Sep ~ 25 Sep* 13 Oct ~ 20 Oct 23 Oct ~ 30 Oct*
Itinerary3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Travel to Tokyo Free day in Tokyo & welcome dinner Shinkansen to Iiyama, sightseeing & monk-led zazen temple experience Walk section 1: Mt Madarao to Akaike Pond (9km) Walk section 2: Akaike Pond to Wakui Village (11km) Walk section 3: Wakui Village to Hotokegamine trailhead (13km) Short hill-climb to Kosuge Shrine: 2km Return to Iiyama then explore elsewhere in Japan or head home Note that the Half Trek requires some walking along access paths and farm roads
Accommodation Tokyo (2nts): Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno Madarao (2nts): Madarao Kogen Hotel Togari Onsen (2nts): family run minshuku inn (varies) Nozawa Onsen (1nt): Sakaya luxury ryokan Maximum ten travellers each tour Note1: Other than at Tokyo, single travellers share with another whilst on the trail. You can upgrade to private room for the entire trip for $400. Contact us for details. Note2: Tour dates marked with a * (at left) go on sale once the previous tours have reached ten travellers. Note3:: In the case of severe weather, the itinerary may have to change.
Shinetsu Trail Club guide, Enomoto-san, with Riki and walkers on trail in September
Full Trek The 2018 Full Trek is the entire six sections of the Shinetsu Trail walked over six days. It provides the greatest range of scenery and includes a stay at the comfy forest cabins of Morino-ie. While not technically difficult, the Full Trek is suited to keen hikers with a good level of fitness, and those who relish the sense of accomplishment that comes with the completion of a full trek. We offer two tours - one at the end of summer, and the other at the beginning of Autumn. You’ll enjoy all the beauty of the trail including the best of the beech forests, a diverse range of accommodation, tasty food and hot spring baths.
Tada-san from Mori-no-ie, Riki & Jason on trail in September
10 day 9 night tour In Tokyo, out Iiyama City $3890 pp $4090 pp1 9 breakfasts 6 bento box lunches 8 dinners 4 onsen (hot spring bath) 6 trekking days 6 Sep ~ 15 Sep* 27 Sep ~ 6 Oct Note*: The 6 Sep tour will go on sale once the 27 Sep tour has reached ten travellers.
Itinerary2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Travel to Tokyo Free day in Tokyo & welcome dinner Shinkansen to Iiyama, sightseeing & monk-led zazen temple experience Walk section 1: Mt Madarao to Akaike Pond (9km) Walk section 2: Akaike Pond to Wakui Village (11km) Walk section 3: Wakui Village to Hotokegamine trailhead (13km) Walk section 4: Hotokegamine trailhead to Sekida Pass (8.5km) Walk section 5: Sekida Pass to Busuno Pass (12.5km) Walk section 6: Busuno Pass to Mt Amamizu (13km) Return to Iiyama then explore elsewhere in Japan or head home Note that the full 80km includes some walking along access paths and farm roads
Accommodation Tokyo (2nts): Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno Madarao (2nts): Madarao Kogen Hotel Togari Onsen (2nts): family run minshuku inn (varies) Nabekura (2nts): Mori-no-ie forest cabins Matsunoyama Onsen (1nt): Chitose luxury ryokan Maximum ten travellers each tour Note1: Other than at Tokyo, single travellers share with another whilst on the trail. You can upgrade to private room for the entire trip for $900. Contact us for details. Note2:: In the case of severe weather, the itinerary may have to change.
Daisuke with bento lunch in October
Wakui Shinike Pond, Shinetsu Trail section 2
Independent Treks
You can trek the Shinetsu Trail independently, but for your safety and well-being, we only organise treks with a Shinetsu Trail Club guide. You can do as many days and sections as you wish, and combine it with other local activities such as kayaking, cycling, mountain biking, river rafting, fishing or more. Talk to us about the things you enjoy.
Add-ons Talk to us about adding a fascinating destination to your journey, such as one of our suggestions at right. Or tell us where your interests lie and we’ll help you get there.
Tsumago Village cat, Nakasendo
Kamikochi: Explore a car-free highland valley in the Chubu Sangaku National Park.
Nakasendo: Walk the path once used by roaming samurai in pre-modern times.
Kanazawa: Visit Kenrokuen Garden, the 21st Century Museum & Omicho market.
Kyoto: Enjoy some of the best temples, shrines, food and gardens in all of Japan.
Riki’s Tours Japan Besides the Shinetsu Trail, we offer a variety of Japan-based tours for small groups of up to ten travellers. Riki Inamura guides each tour, and as a certified national guide with Australian qualifications plus more than fifteen years experience, he knows how to care for you in the land where he was raised. He’ll share great food, beautiful nature & joyful experiences with you. Visit our website for more details.
Lake Juniko, Shirakami Sanchi, Deep North Autumn Walks tour
North Sakura
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DeeP ORTH Autum WALKS
shinetsutrail.com facebook.com/shinetsutrail rikistoursjapan.com.au facebook.com/rikistoursjapan mail@rikistoursjapan.com.au [+61] 02 8188 1867 PO Box 3146 Marrickville Metro 2204 ABN 86606873223
Riki Inamura Co-Director & Tour Guide Jason Longmore Co-Director & Manager
Riki Inamura National Guide Certification (Japan) #EN00597 Dip Tourism & Cert IV Tour Guiding (NSW TAFE) Copyright Riki’s Tours Japan Pty Ltd © 2017 All pics taken on tour by Riki Inamura or Jason Longmore Brochure design by Jason Longmore Printed by Cosmoprint Marrickville Riki’s Tours Japan appreciates the kind help of:
Daisuke Inamura In-country Assistant Atlas (Sensei) Supervisor
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