Nagoya Tour in Inuyama Castle, Ena George, Magome and Tsumagojuku

Inuyama Castle (Inuyamajō) was initially constructed in 1537, and its donjon is one of Japan's oldest extant. It is one of only twelve "original castles" left in Japan, i.e. a castle whose main keep has survived the post-feudal age since 1868 intact. Inuyama Castle is also one of only five castles whose main keeps have been designated as national treasures. The other four are Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle, Hikone Castle and Matsue Castle.

Ena gorge (Ena-kyo), is the lake and surrounding area that was created behind Oi dam when it was built. It has been designated as one of Gifu’s prefectural parks. On the right-hand side of the gorge, there is “Sazanami park” which has beautiful flowers all year round. If you take one of the site-seeing boats on the lake, you can also see the strangely-shaped rocks and cliffs on the other side of the gorge.
In the spring there are Cherry blossoms, in the summer, beautiful free green colors, in the autumn, beautiful colored leaves and in the winter, many birds gather there. The area around Ena gorge also has many places to stay, so you can enjoy the location all year round.

Magome is a former post town in the Kiso Valley, which served travelers of the Nakasendo, a major route that connected Tokyo with Kyoto during the feudal ages.
While exploring Magome, visitors will surely come across the name Shimazaki Toson. Born in Magome in 1872, Toson is a highly regarded figure in Japanese literature. In his novel Yoakemae (Before the Dawn), he famously describes life in the area around the years of the Meiji Restoration. Its often quoted first line reads "The whole of the Kisoji lies in the mountains".

The town has been beautifully restored with a broad stone walkway lined with wooden buildings and carefully tended foliage. Magome's embellished preservation contrasts with the rugged authenticity of neighboring Tsumago. The two towns are connected by the Magome-Tsumago Trail, a route which was part of the Nakasendo.

Tsumago was a post town on the Nakasendo route between Kyoto and Edo. It is known today as one of the best preserved post towns in Japan. The town and its residents go to great lengths to recreate the ambience of the Edo Period. Cars are prohibited on the main street in the day and phone lines and power cables are kept concealed, allowing visitors to imagine they have slipped back to an earlier time.

Tsumago also recreates the post town atmosphere by maintaining its Honjin and Wakihonjin. In post towns, the Honjin was the principal inn and served government officials who were traveling through. When more lodging was required, the Wakihonjin served to accommodate the travelers of slightly lower status. Tsumago also maintains the office where laborers and horses were rented to aid in travel.