IIYAMA – The Shin-etsu Trail
©JNTO
About
Situated in the far north of Nagano Prefecture, IIYAMA is a city lost in time where untouched beauty surrounds ancient tradition. In just two and a half hours by the Hokuriku Shinkansen, you can escape the hustle of Tokyo and take in the picturesque scenery of Japan.
JTB New Zealand Ltd
Phone: 0800-525-725
Tel: (09)-303-2887, Fax:(09)-366-0772
E-Mail : akl.nz@jtbap.com
IIYAMA – Shin-etsu Trail
Beauty surrounds ancient tradition. You will experience a unique and stunning walking trail called “The Shin-etsu Trail” which runs for 80 kilometres along the border between Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. During spring, the last traces of snow and the new season’s blossoming creates a picturesque scene never to be forgotten. In the fall, hikers can walk and take in the beauty of the brilliant autumn colours. This walking tour is sure to relax the mind and free the spirit.
Departures (from IIYAMA)
End of JUN – End of OCT 2019
Tour Inclusions
7 nights accommodation with daily breakfast, 5 Dinners, 6 Picnic Lunches Trekking guide (Day 2 only), map, trek-across certificate, luggage transfer on day 6 (need overnight bag)
Land Only Prices from (per person)
TWIN: NZ$2,070 / TRIPLE: Please enquire
*All prices are subject to availability.
*Train/bus fares and walking guide are not included.
*The weather in July and August can be very hot.
*All prices are subject to availability.
*Train/bus fares and walking guide are not included.
*The weather in July and August can be very hot.
City
Madarao, Togari Onsen, Nabekura Kogen, Tokamachi
Hotel
Madarao Kogen Hotel
Minshuku (shared bath & toilet)
Mori no ie (cottage)
Hinanoyado Chitose (No private bath)
*Accommodation is subject to change.
*Nabekura Kogen Mori no ie is closed every Monday & Tuesday except between 20Jul-30Aug2019.
Minshuku (shared bath & toilet)
Mori no ie (cottage)
Hinanoyado Chitose (No private bath)
*Accommodation is subject to change.
*Nabekura Kogen Mori no ie is closed every Monday & Tuesday except between 20Jul-30Aug2019.
Note
Note: Minimum 2 persons for tour to operate.
Day 1––D
IIYAMA – Madarao Kogen
Arrange own travel to JR IIYAMA Station. Visit Tourist Information Centre at IIYAMA and leave your luggage (at own cost). A staff member will provide a trail map and go over your tour schedule with you. After that, you have free time to stroll around IIYAMA. You have options of taking a stroll through the city or a variety of other activities, such as cycling, street walking (Buddhist Altar Street), making washi paper etc (at own cost).
Return to IIYAMA Station and pick up your luggage. Take a local bus to Madarao Kogen Hotel (at own cost).
Return to IIYAMA Station and pick up your luggage. Take a local bus to Madarao Kogen Hotel (at own cost).
Day 2BLD
The Shin-etsu Trail walk – Section 1 (Guided Walk)
After breakfast, pick up lunch and meet the Shin-etsu trail guide. This course is one of the most scenic of the six Sin-estu Trail sections, runs from the peak of Mt. Madarao, at the trail’s southern end, to Akaike Pond. The trail cuts through open meadows, and has little shade until the Mansaka Gap. The section between the Mansaka Gap and Mt. Hakama peak is especially pretty, shaded by towering beech and birch trees.
Section 1: Mt. Madarao – Mansaka Gap – Mt. Hakama – Akaike Pond
Walking time: 6 hours
Distance: 8.5km
Highest point: 1,382m
Lowest point: 910m above sea level
Walking time: 6 hours
Distance: 8.5km
Highest point: 1,382m
Lowest point: 910m above sea level
Day 3BLD
The Shin-etsu Trail walk – Section 2 (Self Guide)
From Akaike, walk over a small hill and through the beech-tree forest to Numanohara Wetlands, which blossom with flowers after the spring thaw, but is very pleasant at any time of year. There is a small gully with some spring water off the trail, the perfect treat for an exhausted hiker.
Section 2: Akaike Pond to Wakui (via Numanohara Wetland and Mt. Kenashi)
Walking time: 6 hours
Distance: 10.7km
Highest point: 1,022m
Lowest point: 563m above sea level
Walking time: 6 hours
Distance: 10.7km
Highest point: 1,022m
Lowest point: 563m above sea level
Day 4BLD
The Shin-etsu Trail walk – Section 3 (Self Guide)
There are various interesting historical and natural points of interest on section 3. The whole mountain is listed as a natural monument of Japan, being a rare habitat area for both Gifu Butterflies and Hime Gifu Butterflies, as well as the frog species.
Section 3: Wakui to Hotokegamine Tozanguchi (via Tomikura Gap, Lake Sobu, Mt. Kuroiwa and Katsura Pond)
Walking time: 7 hours
Distance: 12.7km
Highest point: 938m
Lowest point: 563m above sea level
Walking time: 7 hours
Distance: 12.7km
Highest point: 938m
Lowest point: 563m above sea level
Day 5BLD
The Shin-etsu Trail walk – Section 4 (Self Guide)
Section 4 begins with an arduous 2hr climb to Hotokegamine Peak. There are also many narrow sections of track along the ridge with steep drop-offs. The trail will then lead you through a beautiful 100 year-old beech forest, a lovely spot to break for lunch. The climb to Mt. Nabekura (1288m) involves many narrow ridges but the effort will be well rewarded by the view of Mt. Myoko, Mt. Hiuchi and the majestic Chikuma River winding through IIYAMA Basin.
Section 4: Hotokegamine Tozanguchi to Sekida Gap (via Ozawa Gap and Mt. Nabekura)
Walking time: 6 hours
Distance: 8.2km
Highest point: 1,288m
Lowest point: 830m above sea level
Walking time: 6 hours
Distance: 8.2km
Highest point: 1,288m
Lowest point: 830m above sea level
Day 6BLD
The Shin-etsu Trail walk – Section 5 (Self Guide)
Section 5 is one of the wilder parts of the Shin-etsu Trail. From Sekida Gap, it takes about 2hr 15min to reach Maki Gap, and on a clear day, you can see the Sea of Japan and Sada Island. Maki Gap is also a well-known point from which to spot the rare Japanese Golden Eagle.
Section 5: Sekida Gap to Busuno Gap (via Maki Gap and Utsunomata Gap)
Walking time: 6 hours Distance: 12.4km Highest point: 1,140m Lowest point: 970m above sea level
Walking time: 6 hours Distance: 12.4km Highest point: 1,140m Lowest point: 970m above sea level
Day 7BL–
The Shin-etsu Trail walk – Section 6 (Self Guide)
This is the final section of the Shin-etsu Trail leading to Mt. Amamizu, the northern endpoint. It is also one of the most aesthetically
rewarding trails. This part of the trail is almost entirely shrouded in beautiful beech forests, with many viewpoints over the Niigata Delta.
Section 6: Busuno Gap to Mt. Amamizu (via Sugawa Gap, Nonomi Gap and Misaka Gap)
Walking time: 6 hours Distance: 12.7km Highest point: 1,151m Lowest point: 1015m above sea level
Walking time: 6 hours Distance: 12.7km Highest point: 1,151m Lowest point: 1015m above sea level
Day 8B––
NIIGATA
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Matsudai Station and end the tour.
B : Breakfast L : Lunch D : Dinner
A Walk in Kosuge Village
Kosuge village, previously one of northern Nagano’s three sacred places for mountain ascetics, still retains its historical atmosphere.
Departures (from IIYAMA)
25 APR – 30 NOV 2019
Tour Inclusions
2 nights accommodation with daily breakfast, 2 dinners, l lunch, Transfers (see itinerary)
Land Only Price from (per person)
TWIN $449
*All prices are subject to availability.
*Train/bus fares and walking guide are not included.
*The weather in July and August can be very hot.
*All prices are subject to availability.
*Train/bus fares and walking guide are not included.
*The weather in July and August can be very hot.
City
Iiyama (Togari Onsen)
Hotel
Shikisai no yado KANOE or Green Top Banba
*Minshuku is subject to change
*Minshuku is subject to change
Note
Note: Minimum 2 persons for tour to operate.
Day 1––D
IIYAMA – Togari Nozawa Onsen
Arrange own travel to JR IIYAMA Station. Visit Tourist Information Centre at IIYAMA Station and leave your luggage. A staff member will provide you with a town map in English and go over your tour schedule with you. After that, you have free time to stroll around IIYAMA. You have options of taking a stroll through the city or a variety of other activities, such as cycling, street walking (Buddhist Altar Street), apple picking, making washi paper etc (own cost). See page 15 for more details. Return to IIYAMA Station and pick up your luggage. Leave IIYAMA for Togari Nozawa Onsen Station via JR IIYAMA Line (about 10min. ride, own cost). Be picked up by Minshuku staff and transferred to your accommodation.
Day 2BLD
IIYAMA – Togari Nozawa Onsen
After breakfast, be transferred to Kosuge Village via Kogen in Temple (Hyandrea Temple / June & July). Enjoy strolling around the village and then start walking to the Kosuge’s inner shrine (takes about an hour). Through the quiet avenue of cedars, the path to the rock-wall-backed Kosuge shrine will make any traveller believe in Shugendo (Japanese mountain asceticism-shamanism). Wandering along the path to the shrine, the views call to mind the area’s former prosperity. The Kosuge Shrine inner sanctuary, where eight deities are enshrined, is located at an altitude of nearly 900 metre above sea level. Upon returning to the village, be picked up by Minshuku staff and then head back to the Minshuku. Have lunch over there and enjoy tea ceremony experience (or other activity).
Route: Kosuge Village – Kosuge’s inner shrine – Kosuge Village
Walking time : 3.5 hours
Distance : 3 km
Highest point: 840 m
Lowest point: 500 m above sea level
Difference in elevation : 340 m
Walking time : 3.5 hours
Distance : 3 km
Highest point: 840 m
Lowest point: 500 m above sea level
Difference in elevation : 340 m
Day 3B––
IIYAMA – Togari Nozawa Onsen
After breakfast, transfer to Togari Nozawa Onsen Station and end the tour.
B : Breakfast L : Lunch D : Dinner
Before and/or after the walking
Cycling(Spring-Autumn)
liyama offers plenty of opportunities to meet all levels of cyclists. In fact, the city is often called a “biking paradise” by those in the know. Various cycling routes run through liyama, with flat public roads providing easy cycling for road bikers, while rocky ridges challenge mountain biking enthusiasts. Bike tour is also available. Please enquire.
Kamakura Snow Hut Village(end of Jan-end of Feb)
liyama Snow Hut Village is located just outside of liyama city where there is abundant snowfall in the winter. For a limited time, you can enjoy a piping hot bowl of Noroshi Nabe (Hot Pot), served with locally grown liyama rice-balls inside the Snow Hut Village Restaurant. The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, and bookings are essential.
Snow Monkey Tour(Dec-Mar)
Sit and enjoy watching adorable Japanese monkeys bathing in hot springs while it snows at the famous Snow Monkey Park.
REMARKS
Please read the general booking conditions carefully as they incorporate the basis upon which bookings are accepted by JTB New Zealand Ltd. (“JTB”)
JTB New Zealand Ltd
Phone: 0800-525-725
Tel: (09)-303-2887, Fax:(09)-366-0772
E-Mail : akl.nz@jtbap.com