Kiso Valley, best known for the Magome and Tsumago traditional villages, is another beautiful spot in the Japanese Alps. With one of the most famous hiking paths in all Japan, we set foot there on our quest for traditional Japan. Magome and Tsumago are two beautifully preserved traditional villages. This value-packed Nakasendo trail day hike between Magome and Tsumago with a licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore both of the ancient post towns! It is about 8 kilometres (5 miles) long and has only gentle elevation changes which takes around 2 hours to easy walk at a leisurely pace. This private tour is a hiking day tour. Please wear hiking boots and gear for this tour. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. 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
Enjoy hiking daytour in Magome & Tsumago in 6 hours!
Guided by english speaking 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
10:30 am
Enjoy a 6-hour hiking day tour through scenic landscapes, where you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty and historical charm of the region. As you trek along well-preserved paths, you'll pass through tranquil villages and enjoy stunning views of lush greenery and traditional architecture. This hike offers a perfect balance of outdoor adventure and cultural exploration, allowing you to step back in time while taking in the peaceful surroundings at a leisurely pace.
Enjoy Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Trail Day Hike!
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
