Nakasendo Magome & Tsumago in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

5.0 (27 reviews) Gifu Prefecture, Japan
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Duration6h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesJapanese, English
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way toexplore both of the ancient post towns! You can travel between Magome and Tsumago by infrequent direct bus.

Nakasendo was one of the two highways during the Edo period connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, running through the Kiso Valley. Travelers at that time walked along the highway, stopping at "post towns" for rest. Some of those post towns have been well preserved and show tourists today exactly what Japan was like hundreds of years ago. Stunning forests, beautiful villages and traditions, we would love to recommend it to everyone interested in Japanese nature and history.

This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis may be used. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs.

What's included

  • Meet up with guide on foot at a designated meeting point
  • Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
  • 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.

What to expect

  1. Nakasendo Magome-juku
    2h
    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.
  2. Nakasendo Tsumagojuku
    2h
    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 it’s best enjoyed at night, when they lit up their lanterns and everything becomes quiet but, maybe, a drum beating.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Nagiso Train station

Bus Timetables: Nagiso Train station to Tsumago
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

Meeting point

Tsumago Bus station

Bus Timetables: Nagiso Train station to Tsumago
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

Meeting point

Nakatsugawa Train station

Bus Timetables: Nakatsugawa Train station to Magome
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

Meeting point

Magome Bus station

Bus Timetables: Nakatsugawa Train station to Magome
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

End point

Nagiso Train station

Bus Timetables: Nagiso Train station to Tsumago
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

End point

Tsumago Bus station

Bus Timetables: Nagiso Train station to Tsumago
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

End point

Nakatsugawa Train station

Bus Timetables: Nakatsugawa Train station to Magome
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

End point

Magome Bus station

Bus Timetables: Nakatsugawa Train station to Magome
https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/kiso.html

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
  • This is not a hiking course. This tour will use local busses. Please book Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Trail Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide if you wish to hike the trail. Please be aware that hiking is not available with us from December until the end of February due to icy conditions.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (27)
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23,500.00 JPY per person
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