Way of the Samurai - Japan's Nakasendo Trail
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots*
Sandals or comfortable shoes*
Socks
Technical walking socks (2 or 3 pairs)
Spare laces
Lightweight ‘walking’ trousers / pants (not cotton)
Waterproof overtrousers / rainpants
Underwear
Trek-shirt (not cotton)
Shirts or T-shirts
Fleece jacket or warm jumper/sweater
Waterproof jacket
Gloves
Daypack of around 30 litres.
Torch / flashlight
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Water bottle (1 Litre)
Washbag and toiletries
Antibacterial handwash
Eyewear – Sunglasses
Warm hat
Sunhat
Small padlock (to lock trek bag)**
Basic First Aid Kit including plasters (band-aids), blister treatment, aspirin etc.
The following items are optional:
Wet-wipes
Shorts
Swimwear
Small towel
Travel clothes
Trekking poles
Insect repellant
Camera, film, batteries
Notes:
*Walking shoes: You will need good shoes or boots designed for walking on rough paths. You should also bring a pair of comfortable shoes or sandals which are easy to take on and off, as shoes are not worn inside most buildings in Japan.
**Luggage: For this trip you may wish to pack your travel items in a backpack or use wheeled luggage rather than your KE Trek Bag. We use the efficient Japanese rail system to travel around the country. In most cases your baggage will be transferred separately but on those occasions where we move from one region to another, you will be responsible for carrying your luggage on to and off the train. Whatever bag you bring we recommend travelling light as it will make your holiday much more relaxed if you don't have a large or heavy bag to deal with during these transfers.
