Walk Japan introduces a new series of tours centred on tradition and gustatory experiences titled Onsen Gastronomy: Kiso in Nagano.
This is the latest in a series of tours that pair the soothing nature of onsen hot spring bathing with Japan’s finest regional cuisines.
Kiso in Nagano takes intrepid gourmands into the verdant Kiso Valley, Kaida Plateau and Ontake-san, a towering and sacred active volcano.
Kiso has long welcomed travellers on spiritual and restorative journeys, and Walk Japan invites participants to explore this delightful region on foot, savour hearty rural cuisine and unwind in onsen hot spring baths.
A year-round experience
The Onsen Gastronomy: Kiso in Nagano tour is scheduled year-round, providing beautiful landscapes gloriously green throughout the spring and summer months, then vividly coloured with autumn leaves before being coated white with winter snow.
The tour’s key features are as follows:
- Luxurious onsen hot spring bathing;
- Refined regional cuisine, including handmade soba and locally foraged mountain vegetables, and sake from boutique breweries;
- Gentle strolls through Edo-period post towns including historic and atmospheric Kiso-Fukushima, Narai and Kiso-Hirasawa, a delightful small town famed for its centuries-old lacquerware craftsmanship; and
- Sacred shrines and pilgrimage paths leading to Ontake-san’s spiritual heritage.
Likewise, seasonal activities include an alpine cable car ride from spring through autumn, along with snowshoeing through placid woodlands in winter.
