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    • Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking)
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    • Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking)
      Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking) (Classic)
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    Self-Guided Adventure

    Classic
    Tailor-made

    Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking)

    4 Nights: from US$1196 per person (twin share) Trip Code: SET02

    This four-night module offers the best of both worlds: three days of hiking along scenic sections of the Shin-Etsu Trail, along with a rest day in rural Togarinozawa Onsen where you can enjoy a farm stay experience. This module can easily be tailored to fit into a variety of Self-Guided Adventures. Read more >

    At 70km (44 miles) long, the Shin-Etsu Trail is a multi-day hiking trail that snakes along the ridge of the Sekida Mountain chain that separates Niigata Prefecture to the north, and Nagano Prefecture to the south. The 16 passes over this historic trail has been used for centuries by traders from both prefectures, and nowadays it attracts hikers keen to enjoy the peaceful, uncrowded route.

    This four-night module includes three of our favourite sections of hiking, showcasing the varied terrain available along the Shin-Etsu from majestic beech forests in sections 4 and 5, to the wooded paths and marshland of section 2. As part of your hike you'll join an experienced local guide for your first day, giving you the opportunity to learn about the area and the trail, so you'll feel confident setting out on your own for the other two days of hiking.  Your accommodation staff will shuttle you to and from the trailheads each day.

    In between hiking we've included a rest day in Togarinozawa Onsen, a small town that manages to include ski slopes, hot springs, and farms, all in one place! During your day off at the ryokan inn you can enjoy a farm stay experience and try your hand at making a popular local dish, sasazushi, a type of sushi topped with fresh mountain vegetables, meat or fish, and wrapped in bamboo leaves.

    At the end of your trip you'll make your way back to Iiyama which is well-situated on the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line, and from there continue on to your next destination.

    At a glance

    What's Included

    What's included

    • Train travel to Iiyama on day one
    • All transport between your accommodation and the trail
    • Four breakfasts, three lunches, and four dinners
    • Shin-Etsu Trail orientation and maps
    • Guided hike of Section 2 (on your first day)
    • Luggage forwarding between Iiyama and Togarinozawa Onsen

    What's NOT included:

    • Lunch on day one after your arrival in Iiyama

    Trip Highlights

    • Hike three of the best sections of the Shin-Etsu Trail
    • Tuck into delicious homegrown food at a family-run inn
    • Join an experienced guide for day one of your hike
    • Enjoy a day off to experience rural Japanese life
    • Relax post-hike in hot spring baths
    • Take in panoramic sea and mountain views along the trail

    For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380

    What, where, when and how...

    • Map & Dest.
    • Day by Day
    • Accommodation
    • Experiences
    • How to Book

    Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking) - 5 Days

    Destinations

    • Iiyama
      Iiyama

      Read more >

    • Togarinozawa Onsen
      Togarinozawa Onsen

      Read more >

    Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking) - 5 Days - Day by Day

    • Day 1 Iiyama
      Day 1 Iiyama
    • Day 2-5 Togarinozawa Onsen
      Day 2-5 Togarinozawa Onsen
    View all days

    Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking) - 5 Days - Accommodation

    • Madarao Kogen Hotel
      Iiyama
      Madarao Kogen Hotel

      Moderate

    • Shikisai no Yado Kanoe Ryokan
      Togarinozawa Onsen
      Shikisai no Yado Kanoe Ryokan

      Moderate

    Shin-Etsu Trail Four-Night Module (Intermediate Hiking) - 5 Days - Experiences

    • Shin-Etsu Trail hiking
      Shin-Etsu Trail hiking

      Read more >

    • The Shinkansen bullet train
      The Shinkansen bullet train

      Read more >

    • Shinrin-yoku
      Shinrin-yoku

      Read more >

    • Day 1

      1

      Set off on your Shin-Etsu Trail adventure.

      After arriving in Iiyama by Shinkansen bullet train, you'll head to the information centre where you'll be provided with a thorough orientation of the Shin-Etsu Trail and given the maps you need for your hiking. From there a pre-arranged taxi will drive you 20 minutes up to Madarao Kogen, a ski resort that's popular with powder snow enthusiasts. After dropping your bags and meeting your guide, you'll then be taken by car to the trailhead to start the 10.7km-long Section 2 hike. Section 2 is the gentlest of the six sections and is the best way to ease yourself into the days ahead.

      After completing the 6-hour hike, you'll be met by your accommodation staff and transferred back to Madarao Kogen where a relaxing evening awaits.

      Overnight: Madarao Kogen Hotel

    • Day 2-5

      2-5

      Experience the slower pace of life with a day-off in between hiking.

      Day two is the start of your self-guided hike along Section 4. This is the shortest section of the trail but takes around 6 hours to finish due to the fairly steep start up the grassy pass alongside the ski slope. Once you're up on the ridge line it'll be easier going, and at various view points you can enjoy the photo-worthy vistas of the valley and mountains of Nagano Prefecture to your right, and Niigata Prefecture and the Sea of Japan out to the left.

      For the next three days your base will be a family-run ryokan inn in Togarinozawa Onsen where you can enjoy delicious homegrown cuisine and relaxing hot spring baths. On day three you'll have a day at leisure in Togarinozawa Onsen where you can get stuck in with farm stay experiences, such as helping with the harvest or making bamboo leaf-wrapped sasazushi.

      Then it's time to strap on your hiking boots for your final full day, as you set off for the along 12.4 km-long Section 5. This part of the trail combines forest walks and ridge hiking, and the latter part offers some of our favourite views of the whole trail where you can look back and see the twin peaks of Mount Myoko and Mount Hiuchi in the distance.

      On the final morning you'll make your way back to Iiyama Station and then onwards to your next destination.

      Overnight: Shikisai no Yado Kanoe Ryokan

    View all days
    • Day 1

      1

      Set off on your Shin-Etsu Trail adventure.

      After arriving in Iiyama by Shinkansen bullet train, you'll head to the information centre where you'll be provided with a thorough orientation of the Shin-Etsu Trail and given the maps you need for your hiking. From there a pre-arranged taxi will drive you 20 minutes up to Madarao Kogen, a ski resort that's popular with powder snow enthusiasts. After dropping your bags and meeting your guide, you'll then be taken by car to the trailhead to start the 10.7km-long Section 2 hike. Section 2 is the gentlest of the six sections and is the best way to ease yourself into the days ahead.

      After completing the 6-hour hike, you'll be met by your accommodation staff and transferred back to Madarao Kogen where a relaxing evening awaits.

      Overnight: Madarao Kogen Hotel

    • Day 2-5

      2-5

      Experience the slower pace of life with a day-off in between hiking.

      Day two is the start of your self-guided hike along Section 4. This is the shortest section of the trail but takes around 6 hours to finish due to the fairly steep start up the grassy pass alongside the ski slope. Once you're up on the ridge line it'll be easier going, and at various view points you can enjoy the photo-worthy vistas of the valley and mountains of Nagano Prefecture to your right, and Niigata Prefecture and the Sea of Japan out to the left.

      For the next three days your base will be a family-run ryokan inn in Togarinozawa Onsen where you can enjoy delicious homegrown cuisine and relaxing hot spring baths. On day three you'll have a day at leisure in Togarinozawa Onsen where you can get stuck in with farm stay experiences, such as helping with the harvest or making bamboo leaf-wrapped sasazushi.

      Then it's time to strap on your hiking boots for your final full day, as you set off for the along 12.4 km-long Section 5. This part of the trail combines forest walks and ridge hiking, and the latter part offers some of our favourite views of the whole trail where you can look back and see the twin peaks of Mount Myoko and Mount Hiuchi in the distance.

      On the final morning you'll make your way back to Iiyama Station and then onwards to your next destination.

      Overnight: Shikisai no Yado Kanoe Ryokan

    Close all days

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    How to book

    Please note that these sections of the Shin-Etsu Trail are only open from the beginning of July until the end of October.

    If you would like to book this Self-Guided Adventure, all you need to do is make an enquiry using our online form or give us a call at one of our offices in Bristol (UK), Boulder (USA), Brisbane (Australia) or Nagoya (Japan) to begin planning your holiday.

    There are no blackout dates for this trip. However, please be aware that at the busiest times of the year the named accommodation may not be available, in which case the price can not be guaranteed. However, we will always do our best to match the prices you see here as closely as possible.

    All of our Self-Guided Adventures are completely flexible, so if you like what you see here but would like to make a few changes - where it's to add in destinations, request special experiences, upgrade accommodation or plan extra nights - please don't hesitate to get in touch and one of our expert consultants will help you tailor a trip to suit you.

    Self-Guided Adventure Styles

    To help you get a feeling for our Self-Guided Adventures, we have divided the itineraries into four grades outlined below. Of course this style of travel is fully tailorable, so it’s not a problem to mix elements and grades to suit you!

    Essential Tailor-made

    Just the basics included so you can choose how much you spend

    Style Facts

    • Two- to three-star accommodation
    • No airport transfers (but a city transport pass and detailed airport transfer instructions are provided)
    • Ordinary class Japan Rail Passes
    • Breakfast every day plus some dinners
    • Cultural experiences

    Classic Tailor-made

    Mid-range hotels and Japanese inns, some private guiding and cultural experiences

    Style Facts

    • Three-star accommodation
    • Local professional guides for sightseeing in key destinations
    • Airport meet-and-greet and transfers
    • Ordinary class Japan Rail Passes
    • Breakfast every day plus some dinners
    • Cultural experiences

    Superior Tailor-made

    Enjoy in-depth cultural immersion while staying in high-quality accommodation

    Style Facts

    • Four- to five-star accommodation
    • Local professional guides for sightseeing in key destinations
    • Entrance fees and lunch included with the private guides
    • Private airport transfers
    • Green car (first class) Japan Rail Passes
    • Breakfast every day plus several lunches and dinners
    • In-depth cultural experiences

    Deluxe Tailor-made

    Luxurious hotels and Japanese inns, fine dining and exclusive experiences with a focus on comfort and ease of travel

    Style Facts

    • The very best five-star accommodation
    • Exclusive cultural experiences
    • Local professional guides with drivers and private cars for sightseeing in key destinations
    • Entrance fees and lunch included with the private guides
    • Private airport transfers
    • Private car transfers between stations and hotels
    • Green car (first class) reserved seat train tickets
    • Breakfast every day plus several lunches and dinners

    Contact us

    • GB Inside Japan UK office

      + 44 117 244 3380
    • US Inside Japan US office

      + 1 303 952 0379
    • AUS Inside Japan Australia office

      + 61 7 3186 8800
    • JAP Inside Japan - Japan office

      + 81 52 253 6068

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