Magome to Tsumago

I took the train from Tokyo to Nagoya then to Nakatsugawa.

Nakatsugawa itself is nothing special I think, but it has a special attraction which attracted me to come here. Magome and Tsumago, the two towns are connected by the Magome-Tsumago Trail, a route which was part of the Nakasendo.

Magome is a post town in the Kiso Valley, which served travelers of the Nakasendo, a major route connecting Tokyo with Kyoto during the Edo Period. The town has a broad stone walkway. Tsumago maintains its Honjin and Wakihonjin. Many minshuku and ryokan are located in the town, and a stay at one of them will greatly add to the illusion of having left the modern era. If time permits, it is highly recommended to hike a preserved trail of the former Nakasendo from Tsumago to Magome. I spend about two and a half hours to walk the trail from Magome to Tsumago. There are clear signs on the trail to tell you the direction and remaining kilometers. The walking is in the middle of strenuous, and has a lot ups and downs. I saw some old people in their 60s took the walk which greatly encouraged me to do the walk.