The Nakasendo is an ancient road dating back hundreds of years that once connected Kyoto and Tokyo. Most of the path has been completely lost to modernization, but here in the Kiso Valley, it remains almost exactly as it was. Hike in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of samurai come before. And enjoy the sights of rural Japan just as they were hundreds of years ago.

This is the most popular hike on the Nakasendo and for very good reason. It starts and ends with two of the most stunningly well preserved ancient villages in Japan, Magome and Tsumago. Many of the stunning, rickety old wooden buildings of Magome and Tsumago date back to the Edo period (1603-1867), where locals operated inns and tea houses to serve travelers, much as they still do to this day.

The hike between them is equally as stunning with its varied views of sprawling mountains, ancient forests, crystal clear rivers, cascading waterfalls, and more. Sections of the trail are pathed with historical cobblestones known as ishidatami. And Tateba Tea House, located in a tiny hamlet in the middle of the hike, is a tea house that once served travelers and gave them somewhere to rest. It is still open to this day and allows visitors a glimpse of ancient times.

On the day of the tour, we will meet in front of Nakatsugawa Station and catch a bus together to Magome Juku for the start of the hike. If this isn’t convenient for you we can customize the plan to fit your needs. After strolling through the historic town of Magome Juku and grabbing some traditional street food, we will enter the deep mountainous forests of the Kiso Valley. The goal of this 8km hike is the town of Tsumago Juku, the shining jewel of the Nakasendo. Tsumago Juku is unchanged since the Edo period and a place of unparalleled historic beauty. From Tsumago Juku we will hike 4km to Nagiso Station to finish the trip (if times work out buses may be an option).

During the trip, I will provide hot drinks and snacks and you can even try on my own handmade waraji (traditional Japanese straw sandals), which I specialize in making.