Japan has numerous ancient footpaths, trade and pilgrimage routes crisscrossing the country, some of which have exploded in popularity in recent years amongst both domestic and international tourists.  Most notably the Nakasendo and the Kumano Kodo are now a part of many tourist's Japan itineraries.  These wonderful trails combine the perfect mix of hiking through both splendid scenery and culture, and it is easy to see why they have gained such prominence an recognition.

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Here in the village of Otari exists a portion of a much-lesser known trail of equal historical and cultural importance, the ancient Salt Road (塩の道).  The 120km long Salt Road began in Itoigawa, on the Sea of Japan coast, and climbed steadily upward through the deep forested  valleys and steep mountain passes of Otari, before continuing all the way to the landlocked castle town of Matsumoto in central Nagano.  As its name suggests, the trail was the major trade route linking the ocean to the plains, primarily for the purpose of transporting vitally important salt inland.  The road was in use since at least the Sengoku Period of Japanese history, in the mid 1400's, and continued up until the early 20th century. 

Very little English information or maps are available for the Salt Road, which has allowed it to fly well under the tourist radar to this point, but we expect that to change in the coming years as both tourism and trekking are currently booming.  Now is the perfect chance to explore the most scenic and well-preserved portion of this trail with us while it's still undiscovered, as we tread through both natural landscapes and small settlements that have remained mostly unchanged since the Salt Road's heyday.  We will educated you on the fascinating history of the area as we walk, going slowly so that you can engage your senses and truly feel as if you were stepping back in time.​  On this hike, we will cover a distance of roughly 10km, with approximately 600 meters of total elevation gain, and we should expect to be on the trail for more than 5 hours.

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​This full day active adventure combines the best of the area's local history, culture, nature, leisure and gourmet offerings, and will get you as far away from the beaten tourist path as possible.