Travel Back to the Edo Period! A Sightseeing Guide to the Nakasendo Trail

The Nakasendo was developed by the Edo shogunate from 1602 over time, together with the other Five Routes.
In 1716, following the recommendation of scholar Arai Hakuseki, the route’s name was unified as "Nakasendo" and became established.
Before that, it had been known by various names depending on the region, including "Tosando," "Kiso Kaido," "Nakasanro," and "Nakasendo" written with different characters.
Because it passed through mountainous areas, the Nakasendo had the advantage of avoiding floods and the dangers of sea travel, and it played an important role as a key transportation route during the Edo period.
Merchants, travelers, and even daimyo processions frequently passed along it, greatly contributing to the development of local economies.
In the Meiji period (1868–1912), however, traffic on the Nakasendo declined as railways and new roads were developed.
Its historical value was reassessed in modern times, and today there are still many spots along the Nakasendo where traces of Edo-period history remain, drawing attention as sightseeing destinations.

Magome-juku is the 43rd post town on the Nakasendo, located in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture.
The entire town is steeped in the atmosphere of the Edo period, making you feel as if you have stepped back in time.
Its biggest highlight is the stone-paved street that runs along the slope.
On both sides of the uphill road, which stretches for over 600 m, are old wooden buildings as well as traditional-style cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops, making it perfect for strolling and sampling local food.
Traditional events such as the "Nakasendo Magome-juku Festival" and the "Magome Kisoji Ice and Snow Lantern Festival" are held throughout the year, offering another great way to experience local culture.
It is also known as the birthplace of novelist Shimazaki Toson and as a place connected to his memorial museum and his work Before the Dawn.
The main highlights and access information are summarized in the table below.

Tsumago-juku is the 42nd post town on the Nakasendo, located in Nagiso Town, Nagano Prefecture.
The town has preserved its precious streetscape, unchanged since the late Edo period, across the entire community, and in 1976 it became the first district in Japan to be designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Its orderly rows of historic buildings have been featured by overseas media, including the BBC in the U.K., as the "Samurai Road," and it has become a famous sightseeing destination around the world.
The scenery of stone-paved roads and houses with lattice windows still conveys the appearance of the old post town, and staying at a guesthouse lets you experience a sense of life from that time.
Surrounded by mountain streams and mountains, it is also an appealing place to relax away from the noise of the city.
It is about a 3-hour walk from the above-mentioned Magome-juku and is popular as a hiking course, so it is well worth trying.
The main highlights and access information are shown in the table below.

Narai-juku is the 34th post town on the Nakasendo, located in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.
It developed at the foot of a hill at the highest elevation in Kisoji, 940 m above sea level, and was once such a lively post town lined with so many houses that it was called "Narai Senken."
Today, it is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and many visitors come in search of its scenery filled with the atmosphere and charm of the Edo period.
The biggest attraction of Narai-juku is its old townscape, the longest in Japan, stretching for about 1 km north to south along the Nakasendo.
From the south side, it is divided into three areas: Kamimachi, Nakamachi, and Shimomachi.
Along the way, there is plenty to see, including the distinctive dashibari-zukuri architectural style, lanterns under former inns’ eaves, senbon-goshi latticework, local cuisine restaurants, and folk craft shops.
The main highlights and access information are summarized in the table below.

Spend the morning sightseeing in Magome-juku and the afternoon in Tsumago-juku.
From JR Nakatsugawa, take a bus to Magome-juku. From Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku, it is about a 3-hour walk along the Nakasendo.
Stay overnight at an accommodation in Tsumago-juku, where you can experience the atmosphere and lifestyle of the Edo period.

On Day 2, take a bus for about 10 minutes from Tsumago-juku to the nearest station.
From there, take a train and arrive at JR Narai Station, the nearest station to Narai-juku, in about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
From JR Narai Station, it is about a 3-minute walk to Narai-juku.

Nezame no Toko is a nationally designated scenic spot located in Agematsu Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture.
It is known for its white granite rock formations created by erosion from the Kiso River, and its beautiful scenery is counted among Japan’s five great gorges and the Eight Views of Kiso.
The spectacular scene of unusual rocks spread along the riverbank and crystal-clear water flowing through them could be called a work of natural art.
It is especially beautiful on sunny days, when the contrast with the blue sky stands out, and in the early morning and at dusk, when the angle of light causes the rock surfaces and water to change moment by moment.
Nezame no Toko is also famous as the setting of the legend of Urashima Taro.
Nearby is Urashima-do, where Urashima Taro is said to have secluded himself after opening the jeweled box, making it a great place for a romantic stroll.

Atera Valley is a beautiful gorge in Okuwa Village, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, stretching for Approx. 15 km.
It is one of the leading sightseeing spots in Kisoji, where you can refresh both body and mind while surrounded by quiet, untouched nature.
Its greatest highlight is the crystal-clear emerald-green stream known as "Atera Blue."
Surrounding it are waterfalls and suspension bridges where you can enjoy Atera Blue, along with activities such as playing in the stream and barbecuing, letting you fully experience the area’s abundant nature.
Among them, Tanukigafuchi and the Akahiko Suspension Bridge are especially recommended for their spectacular views.
Because walking paths are well maintained, it is also a great place to enjoy the uniquely beautiful scenery with the sound of the clear stream as background music.

Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest, located in Agematsu Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, is home to the Kiso hinoki forest, one of Japan’s three most beautiful forests.
This vast area, covering about 760 ha at elevations of 1,080–1,558 m, has a long history and was highly valued by the Sengoku warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
As the trees of the Kiso mountains were cut down with the development of castle towns during the Edo period, this area was protected at an early stage, and after the war it was managed as a national forest. It is also known as the birthplace of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
The sight of giant hinoki trees over 300 years old standing in rows is breathtaking, and one of its great attractions is being able to experience the beauty and history of Kiso hinoki up close.
There are seven walking routes that both adults and children can enjoy, and the sounds of babbling brooks, birdsong, and the scent of hinoki help soothe both body and mind.
*Sightseeing season: usually from late April to early November

Located on the border between Nagano and Gifu Prefectures, between Narai-juku and Yabuhara-juku, Torii Pass is a mountain trail of Approx. 6 km known as one of the most challenging sections of the Nakasendo.
Today, trekking courses have been developed there, and many visitors enjoy walking the pass while feeling the traces of the old route.
The spectacular views from this pass, where history and beautiful nature meet, are breathtaking, and from the summit at about 1,200 m above sea level, you can see Mt. Ontake to the west and Mt. Kisokomagatake to the east.
The cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves that vividly color the mountains are especially unforgettable.
Along the trail, there are also many historical remains that stir the spirit of travel, including Edo-period signposts and small shrines, as well as stone monuments bearing poems by haiku and waka poets and stone Buddhas.
It is also recommended to stop by the tourist information centers in Narai-juku or Yabuhara-juku and rent a traditional Shinshu craft item called a hinoki sedge hat.

The Yamamura Daikan Residence, located in Kiso Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, was the magistrate’s office passed down through generations of the Yamamura family, who governed the Kiso Valley during the Edo period.
Part of its solid structure, built as the residence of upper-ranking samurai, remains preserved as a component cultural property of a Japan Heritage site.
Within the grounds, buildings are arranged to blend into Kiso’s rich natural surroundings, and the spacious main house and formal guest rooms convey the lifestyle and authority of officials from that time.
Highlights include the tiled roof and earthen walls that reflect distinctive Edo-period design, as well as the pond garden that incorporates the Kiso mountain range into its borrowed scenery.
Its historical value is high, and you are sure to be impressed by its beautiful structure.
Inside the residence, you can also learn about the role and lifestyle of the magistrate through exhibits such as calligraphy and paintings associated with the Yamamura family and replica banquet dishes.

The Fukushima Checkpoint Ruins and Fukushima Checkpoint Museum are historic facilities located in Kiso Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture.
Fukushima Checkpoint was one of the four major checkpoints established on the Five Routes by the Edo shogunate to manage traffic and maintain public order.
For about 270 years, it was known as a place where "incoming guns and outgoing women" were strictly controlled, meaning weapons entering Edo and women leaving it.
Today, the checkpoint ruins have been turned into a historic park, and the reconstructed gate and fences still evoke the atmosphere of the time.
Combined with the surrounding nature, it is a place where you can enjoy imagining the tension that once filled the area as you walk around.
At the Fukushima Checkpoint Museum, valuable materials are displayed, including travel permits, tools used by officials, actual models of the checkpoint, and dioramas.

Kakizore Valley, located in Nagiso Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, is a gorge stretching for Approx. 8 km formed by the Kakizore River eroding granite.
It is known as one of the most secluded scenic spots in Kisoji, with beautiful natural scenery featuring an emerald-green river and waterfalls sparkling with exceptional clarity.
It is also popular as a place where you can feel at one with nature while surrounded by the sound of water and rustling trees.
Along the way are many highlights, including a suspension bridge called Koiji no Tsuribashi that is Approx. 35 m long, walking paths with steep ups and downs, and scenic areas with a series of deep pools.
Among them, Ushigataki, where water drops straight into the basin below, is sure to impress you with its power and clarity.
Another attraction is the changing atmosphere with the seasons, from playing in the water in summer to the contrast with autumn leaves in fall.

Yabuhara-juku is the 34th post town on the Nakasendo and is located in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.
It prospered as a key transportation hub connecting the north and south of the Kiso Valley and was also called the "gateway to Kiso."
Even today, merchant houses and former inns that retain traces of those days remain along the old route.
Particularly unique to Yabuhara-juku are the demonstration performances at Orokugushi no Sato, designated as an intangible cultural property, and the remains of a kosatsuba, where official notices and proclamations were posted during the Edo period.
It is also known as a production area of Kiso lacquerware, which has a tradition of over 400 years, where you can purchase beautiful handmade crafts and daily-use items.

Samegai-juku is the 61st post town on the Nakasendo and is located in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture.
The Jizogawa River, which flows westward along Samegai-juku, has its source in Isame no Shimizu, the spring water that also gave Samegai its name, and the surrounding area still preserves a charming townscape.
Isame no Shimizu is a spring said to be where the hero of Japanese mythology, Yamato Takeru, washed away the poison from his body, and it has also been selected as one of the 100 Remarkable Waters of the Heisei era.

Kusatsu-juku is the 52nd post town on the Nakasendo and is located in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture.
It flourished as a key transportation hub where the Tokaido and Nakasendo intersected, and it was a historic place where many travelers and merchants came and went.
Even today, buildings and spots that retain traces of those times are scattered throughout the area, and the streets lined with old machiya townhouses are full of post-town charm.
Among them, the nationally designated historic site Kusatsu-juku Honjin is especially recommended.
It is one of the few remaining honjin, lodgings for daimyo and high-ranking officials, and its interior is open to the public as a museum.