Stage 1 of 1 · Nakasendō: Yabuhara to Narai over the Torii pass
Yabuhara → Narai
Complete mapped route
Route tools availableThe Kiso Ontake Tourism Office gives about 2.5 hours for the Torii pass hike; Kiso village and Shiojiri's tourism association give the pass road as about 6 km, and the Kiso-mura tourism association about 2 hours at a brisk pace and 3 at a relaxed one. OpenStreetMap has no route relation for this stretch, so the line here is our router's walk over the mapped paths from Yabuhara's old centre (its honjin site) over the pass (1,197 m) and along Narai's old street to its north end by the station, 5.5 km (planet of 27 September 2026). Bears are seen on the pass: the information centres in Narai and Yabuhara lend bear bells free against a refundable deposit (Shiojiri tourism association). Two junctions are easy to miss (Kiso-mura tourism association, September 2026): near the top, where a paved lane goes on to an antenna, turn left onto the footpath signed for Narai; just past the Mine-no-chaya teahouse, leave the old national road and go down to the right on the footpath. After rain, water runs over the path above the stone paving on the Yabuhara side and at the first stream below Mine-no-chaya. The pass stays open in winter, but its toilets close and the path is snowy and icy. Yabuhara has no luggage storage or coin lockers: leave bags at Narai station's luggage room and take the train one stop to Yabuhara to start.
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Where this stage starts and ends
Facts read from the guide's sources and OpenStreetMap on 29 September 2026. A page can change after we read it, so confirm with your accommodation before you rely on a date or a bed.
Stage start
Yabuhara
Town
Yabuhara (藪原), an old post town below the Torii pass; Yabuhara station on the JR Chūō West Line is about 800 m from the old centre, where the walk starts. Yabuhara has no luggage storage or coin lockers: leave bags at Narai station's luggage room and ride one stop here. Warankan, the information centre, lends bear bells free against a refundable deposit, as do the centres in Narai: bears are seen on the pass. OpenStreetMap maps no place to stay within 1 km: Narai, over the pass, has guesthouses in its restored houses.
A town or village: find accommodation yourself. TrailSplits has not checked what is open.
Stage end · overnight
Narai
Town
Narai (奈良井), the post town once called Narai of a Thousand Houses, whose restored buildings now hold guesthouses, restaurants and shops (Kiso Ontake Tourism Office); Narai station on the JR Chūō West Line is at the north end of the old street. OpenStreetMap maps none of its guesthouses: find them through the tourism office or a booking site. Narai station keeps luggage for walkers starting at Yabuhara, one stop down the line.
A town or village: find accommodation yourself. TrailSplits has not checked what is open.
Walking time for this leg
- Yabuhara to Narai: about 2 hr 30 min. Our estimate for this stage is 2 h 30. en.visitkiso.com, read 29 September 2026
Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, descents, water, huts and access in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Yabuhara
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-09-29
About 0 min in
5.5 km remaining
+308 m remaining
Climb
0 m
279 m climb
2.2 km at 12.9% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-09-29
About 0 min in
5.5 km remaining
+308 m remaining
Water
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Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-09-29
About 0 min in
5.5 km remaining
+308 m remaining
Access
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藪原
Train station
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-09-29
About 0 min in
5.5 km remaining
+308 m remaining
Access
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Yabuhara (藪原)
Train station
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-09-29
About 0 min in
5.5 km remaining
+308 m remaining
Finish
5.5 km
Narai
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-09-29
About 2h 30m in
0 m remaining
Access
5.5 km
奈良井
Train station
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-09-29
About 2h 30m in
0 m remaining
+0 m remaining
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Getting Here
Yabuhara (藪原) (train station)
803m from trailhead · ~11 min walk
Getting Out
Narai (奈良井) (train station)
194m from trail end · ~3 min walk
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Yabuhara → km 1.8 (1174m) 938–1,174m | 1.8 km | +236m / -0m | 1h 05m | 🔺 Steep Climb |
km 1.8 (1174m) → km 3.7 (1078m) 1,062–1,218m | 1.8 km | +61m / -157m | 46 min | 📉 Descending |
km 3.7 (1078m) → Narai 940–1,083m | 1.8 km | +5m / -143m | 38 min | 📉 Descending |
| Total | 5.5 km | +308m / -306m | 2h 30m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
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Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Nakasendō: Yabuhara to Narai over the Torii pass Stage 1: Yabuhara → Narai is usually best from April to June and September to October. Snow is likely at the high point (1230 m) in January to February; July is the wettest.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (936 m) and high point (1,230 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this stage: at the lowest point (936 m) and the highest point (1,230 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Good | Mixed | Mixed |
| High point, day / night | 2°/-7° | 3°/-7° | 7°/-4° | 14°/2° | 19°/7° | 21°/11° | 25°/16° | 26°/17° | 22°/13° | 16°/7° | 11°/1° | 5°/-4° |
| Low point, day / night | 3°/-6° | 5°/-6° | 9°/-2° | 15°/3° | 20°/8° | 23°/13° | 27°/17° | 28°/18° | 23°/14° | 18°/8° | 12°/2° | 6°/-3° |
| Rain, mm | 50 | 60 | 104 | 130 | 135 | 170 | 202 | 174 | 192 | 156 | 78 | 50 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Possible | Frost | – | – | – | – | – | – | Possible | Possible |
| Daylight | 9 h 58 | 10 h 52 | 11 h 54 | 13 h 04 | 14 h 02 | 14 h 35 | 14 h 23 | 13 h 34 | 12 h 28 | 11 h 20 | 10 h 18 | 9 h 44 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 5.5 km, 308m ascent, max altitude 1229.5m, ~3h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 500ml water bottleShort route, stay hydrated
- 🍫 Snack or energy barEst. 648 kcal burn
- 🧴 SunscreenBasic sun protection
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🥢 Trekking poles30% steep terrain, 308m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Yabuhara to Narai (5.5 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
🚏 Transit stops along this stage
- 🚌 笑ん館前 155m off trail
- 🚌 キャンパス 324m off trail
- 🚌 藪原 803m off trail
- 🚌 奈良井宿 km 5.4 · 179m off trail
- 🚌 奈良井駅 km 5.5 · 146m off trail
- 🚌 JR奈良井 km 5.5 · 174m off trail
- 🚌 奈良井 km 5.5 · 194m off trail
- 🚌 中学校前 km 5.5 · 768m off trail
🛖 Shelters
- Shelter km 1.9 · On trail
- 峠の茶屋 km 2.6 · On trail
- 中の茶屋 km 3.5 · On trail
- Shelter km 5.1 · 54m off trail
- Shelter km 5.4 · 128m off trail
💧 Water Sources
- Drinking Water 327m off trail
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