This value-packed trip with a licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way toexplore both of the ancient post towns! You can travel between Magome and Tsumago by infrequent direct bus. Nakasendo was one of the two highways during the Edo period connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, running through the Kiso Valley. Travelers at that time walked along the highway, stopping at “post towns” for rest. Some of those post towns have been well preserved and show tourists today exactly what Japan was like hundreds of years ago. Stunning forests, beautiful villages and traditions, we would love to recommend it to everyone interested in Japanese nature and history. This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis may be used. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs.
Highlights
Explore Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo in 6 hours!
Guided by english speking guide!
Duration
6 hours
Offered in
English
What is included
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Meet up with guide on foot at a designated meeting point
What is not included
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private Vehicle
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Start time
9:00 am
Explore for 6 hours, immersing yourself in the charm of a historic trail that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. As you journey through scenic landscapes, enjoy the tranquility of well-preserved villages, traditional architecture, and stunning views. This adventure allows you to step back in time, experiencing the essence of Japan’s past while strolling at your own pace, ensuring a unique and enriching experience filled with picturesque moments and fascinating stories.
Enjoy Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Full-Day Trip!
While Magome and Tsumago served the same purposes for old-time travelers, the city has been preserved and restored in a very different way than Tsumago, with a broad stone walkway lined with trees and many traditional houses and craft shops. Another difference is that it is on a slope, which leads to some beautiful views of the surrounding valley and is home to several small museums that showcase the history of the town, the artists that lived there and their way of living. I would recommend grabbing a drink or something to eat at the restaurants on top of the village and enjoy the views over the valley, or at the lower part to mix with the very interesting locals.
Tsumago is almost flat but also a very charming village that takes you back to the old Japan. The town was one of the first historical preservation projects in all Japan (if not the first) and it recreates the ambience with its unpaved streets and concealed cables. It keeps many of the traditional houses, like the original inn (the Honjin) that welcomed the merchants that traveled the Nakasendo, and the secondary inn (Wakihonjin), the old notice board used to publish the decrees from the Shogun, the Buddhist temple (built during the XVI Century) … But you’ll find it even more charming on its best enjoyed at night, when they lit up their lanterns and everything becomes quiet but, maybe, a drum beating.
JGA
