Nakasendo Tsumagojuku
Nakasendo Tsumagojuku
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This historic footpath through the Kiso Valley connects the villages of Tsumago and Magome. The partially paved trail is approximately 8 kilometers in length and passes by several historic and natural wonders.
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LaurentT76
Paris, France1,076 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
This was our arrival point after our trip on the Nakasendo from Magome. Tsumago has in my opinion less charm than Magome... and especially passes for a "dead" city on this first Saturday of August. No food service appeared to be open, except for a café and a small shop run by a grandmother who sold salty brioche, which was very good. No big crush on this city so, maybe also the effect of fatigue.
Automatically translated
Written 5 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NOPPO185
Fujisawa, Japan1,346 contributions
May 2023
Since I'd come this far, I decided to go to Tsumago-juku, so I extended the trip from Magome. It was about a 15-minute drive.
I parked the car in a car park along the river and strolled around the town. It's less touristy than Magome, and there are rows of simple (modest) houses. However, since it was almost 5pm, everyone had closed their shops, so I could only peek out from the road. Hey, the guy at the car park, you should have told me before I paid. On my way back, the guy was gone and it was just like free parking.
There was no scenery that was particularly better than Magome. Well, I guess that's about it... I just left my footprints
I parked the car in a car park along the river and strolled around the town. It's less touristy than Magome, and there are rows of simple (modest) houses. However, since it was almost 5pm, everyone had closed their shops, so I could only peek out from the road. Hey, the guy at the car park, you should have told me before I paid. On my way back, the guy was gone and it was just like free parking.
There was no scenery that was particularly better than Magome. Well, I guess that's about it... I just left my footprints
Written 5 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zazabee
Cape Town Central, South Africa50 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
We took the hike from Magome to Tsumago. I am very glad we did it in this direction because its mostly downhill, and would have been quite exhausting if we did it from Tsumago to Magome.
We stopped at the tourist office in Magome and used their portage service which I was so grateful for as our luggage was very heavy. You have to get there before 11h30 though in order for your luggage to be delivered to Tsumago.
The hike is 8km long and absolutely beautiful! We did this hike in autumn, so the colours were incredible. We felt revived and relaxed in this beautiful forest. You pass many rivers and streams, as well as 2 waterfalls.
The trail is well marked and there are a few toilets along the way, as well as spots to fill up your water bottles. There is also a hut where the family serves tea to travellers for a donation.
Loved this hike and would do it over and over again!
We stopped at the tourist office in Magome and used their portage service which I was so grateful for as our luggage was very heavy. You have to get there before 11h30 though in order for your luggage to be delivered to Tsumago.
The hike is 8km long and absolutely beautiful! We did this hike in autumn, so the colours were incredible. We felt revived and relaxed in this beautiful forest. You pass many rivers and streams, as well as 2 waterfalls.
The trail is well marked and there are a few toilets along the way, as well as spots to fill up your water bottles. There is also a hut where the family serves tea to travellers for a donation.
Loved this hike and would do it over and over again!
Written 7 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex W
Singapore, Singapore1,426 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Having read that the Magome-to-Tsumago section of the Nakasendo trail takes only about two and a half hours, I didn't think it was necessary to spend the night before in Magome itself. As a small village it might prove immensely boring to me.
So I decided to spend the night before in Nagoya. The next morning, I took the 8:00am Shinano train from Nagoya railway station to Nakatsugawa (2,500yen), arriving at 8:49am.
(There is another Shinano train at 9:00am -- that might work too).
Just outside the railway station of Nakatsugawa are bus stops, and the one for the Magone bus is clearly marked (see my photo). The buses are not frequent, but there was one at 9:10am, which made it a relatively short wait.
This 9:10am bus took about 25 minutes (560 yen) to reach Magome, arriving at about 9:35am.
(If you took the 9:00am Shinano train from Nagoya, you'd arrive at 9:48am, so you'd have to wait a bit for the 10:15am bus to Magome.)
Magome is a two street village, and it is quite obvious that you should follow the street that goes uphill because the walking trail is supposed to go into the mountains. You sense that it's the correct street because all the houses look like they have been prettified for the tourist trade. Halfway up the street, there's a Tourist Information Centre on your right where you can pick up a map of the walking trail to Tsumago. At the top of that street, the trail begins.
It's uphill for about 2 km, but not very steep. It was in fact easier than I expected. I wouldn't call this daytrip a "hike". It was just a walk. The elevation of Magome village (about 600m above sea level) is low enough not to present any altitude-adjustment problem. Even its highest point, the Magome-toge mountain pass, is just 810m above sea level.
The route is sometimes stone underfoot, sometimes dirt. At some places, it comes close to the (very quiet) vehicular road and even crosses it here and there, but it was a beautifully peaceful walk. It is well-marked, with signposts every 500m or so.
Most of the time, you're walking through forest, occasionally passing tiny hamlets and farms. Except for the start of the walk near Magome, and the towards the end of the route near Tsumago, you can't see any great vistas; you're mostly among trees. Nearer the Tsumago end however, you're accompanied by the sound of water rushing down rocky streams (very soothing!). At one junction, signs point to a detour to visit 2 nice waterfalls.
After the Magome-toge pass, the route is a gentle downhill one leading to Tsumago, which is another touristy village. It has a Tourist Information Centre too.
Since I started early, I had plenty of time to do the walk, doing it more slowly than I normally do and allowing me to make a couple of detours. Even so, I reached Tsumago a bit too earl, though on the other had, it allowed me time to have lunch there in one of the village's noodle restaurants. I was fortunate to be in a restaurant when it began to rain quite heavily.
I caught the 15:20pm bus from Tsumago to Nagiso (300 yen) -- Tsumago's bus station is a bit downhill from the main street of the village. From the same bus station, you could also catch a bus back to Magome.
The bus to Nagiso took only ten minutes. From Nagiso railway station, you have the option of taking a train back to Nagoya or another one onwards to Matsumoto.
The train to Nagoya (journey duration slightly over 1 hour) departs at 15:55pm, while that to Matsumoto departs at 16:00pm.
I bought the 16:00pm ticket for Matsumoto (2,670yen) arriving at 17:05pm.
Two signs at Nagiso railway station are worth noting: firstly, they only take cash, no credit cards; secondly the ticket window closes at 16:05pm. If you want to take the trains departing after that, pay on board or at the arrival station.
I would recommend the onward train to Matsumoto. It passes through very beautiful mountain scenery (especially with low clouds playing hide-and-seek with the mountains) and Matsumoto has a lovely castle (authentic wooden structure) worth visiting.
So I decided to spend the night before in Nagoya. The next morning, I took the 8:00am Shinano train from Nagoya railway station to Nakatsugawa (2,500yen), arriving at 8:49am.
(There is another Shinano train at 9:00am -- that might work too).
Just outside the railway station of Nakatsugawa are bus stops, and the one for the Magone bus is clearly marked (see my photo). The buses are not frequent, but there was one at 9:10am, which made it a relatively short wait.
This 9:10am bus took about 25 minutes (560 yen) to reach Magome, arriving at about 9:35am.
(If you took the 9:00am Shinano train from Nagoya, you'd arrive at 9:48am, so you'd have to wait a bit for the 10:15am bus to Magome.)
Magome is a two street village, and it is quite obvious that you should follow the street that goes uphill because the walking trail is supposed to go into the mountains. You sense that it's the correct street because all the houses look like they have been prettified for the tourist trade. Halfway up the street, there's a Tourist Information Centre on your right where you can pick up a map of the walking trail to Tsumago. At the top of that street, the trail begins.
It's uphill for about 2 km, but not very steep. It was in fact easier than I expected. I wouldn't call this daytrip a "hike". It was just a walk. The elevation of Magome village (about 600m above sea level) is low enough not to present any altitude-adjustment problem. Even its highest point, the Magome-toge mountain pass, is just 810m above sea level.
The route is sometimes stone underfoot, sometimes dirt. At some places, it comes close to the (very quiet) vehicular road and even crosses it here and there, but it was a beautifully peaceful walk. It is well-marked, with signposts every 500m or so.
Most of the time, you're walking through forest, occasionally passing tiny hamlets and farms. Except for the start of the walk near Magome, and the towards the end of the route near Tsumago, you can't see any great vistas; you're mostly among trees. Nearer the Tsumago end however, you're accompanied by the sound of water rushing down rocky streams (very soothing!). At one junction, signs point to a detour to visit 2 nice waterfalls.
After the Magome-toge pass, the route is a gentle downhill one leading to Tsumago, which is another touristy village. It has a Tourist Information Centre too.
Since I started early, I had plenty of time to do the walk, doing it more slowly than I normally do and allowing me to make a couple of detours. Even so, I reached Tsumago a bit too earl, though on the other had, it allowed me time to have lunch there in one of the village's noodle restaurants. I was fortunate to be in a restaurant when it began to rain quite heavily.
I caught the 15:20pm bus from Tsumago to Nagiso (300 yen) -- Tsumago's bus station is a bit downhill from the main street of the village. From the same bus station, you could also catch a bus back to Magome.
The bus to Nagiso took only ten minutes. From Nagiso railway station, you have the option of taking a train back to Nagoya or another one onwards to Matsumoto.
The train to Nagoya (journey duration slightly over 1 hour) departs at 15:55pm, while that to Matsumoto departs at 16:00pm.
I bought the 16:00pm ticket for Matsumoto (2,670yen) arriving at 17:05pm.
Two signs at Nagiso railway station are worth noting: firstly, they only take cash, no credit cards; secondly the ticket window closes at 16:05pm. If you want to take the trains departing after that, pay on board or at the arrival station.
I would recommend the onward train to Matsumoto. It passes through very beautiful mountain scenery (especially with low clouds playing hide-and-seek with the mountains) and Matsumoto has a lovely castle (authentic wooden structure) worth visiting.
Written 5 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Knightwind
San Francisco, CA158 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
We visited this town back in December 2015. We did a one-day excursion along the Nakasendo Trail and hiked from Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku. Compared with Magome, Tsumago was less touristy and quieter, but both towns deserve a visit. Both are historically postal towns, so if you want some souvenir, you can buy some stamps at the post office.
Recommendation: This is a must-visit town if you want to see what Japan looked like 200 years ago. If you are thinking about doing the Nakasendo Trail hiking but not sure whether to start from Magome or Tsumago, I recommend starting from Magome, because the uphill walk from Magome is shorter. On a separate note, if you want to go from Tsumago to the nearest train station (JR Nagiso), I recommend taking the (very infrequent) bus or arranging taxi in advance. The hike from Tsumago to JR Nagiso was not fun. The road signs were not consistent, and there were hardly any light when it got dark. In any case, do some research about this leg of the journey before visiting Tsumago.
Recommendation: This is a must-visit town if you want to see what Japan looked like 200 years ago. If you are thinking about doing the Nakasendo Trail hiking but not sure whether to start from Magome or Tsumago, I recommend starting from Magome, because the uphill walk from Magome is shorter. On a separate note, if you want to go from Tsumago to the nearest train station (JR Nagiso), I recommend taking the (very infrequent) bus or arranging taxi in advance. The hike from Tsumago to JR Nagiso was not fun. The road signs were not consistent, and there were hardly any light when it got dark. In any case, do some research about this leg of the journey before visiting Tsumago.
Written 16 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alks_travaddict
Sydney, Australia12 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
This review is specific to the walking trail from Magome to Tsumago. We did this as a day trip (from Nagoya) however there are several Ryokans in Magome and Tsumago where you can stay the night. Here's a few notes on the logistics: we caught the train from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa and from there a bus took a bus to Magome. It's all pretty straightforward, however make sure you catch the fast train from Nagoya - Hyperdia will help you out. The walk from Magome to Tsumago is under 8kms and mostly down hill. From Tsumago you'll need to catch a bus to Nagiso station and from Nagiso you'll be able to catch a train back to Nagoya. Buses run infrequently so make sure you get a bus timetable from the Tourist Information Centre. We caught the 9 am train from Nagoya and made it back by 7 pm. The walk probably takes 2-3 hours including stops.
We really loved this walk as it allowed us to see some beautiful rural landscapes and the quaint little towns of Magome and Tsumago are really well preserved and lovely to stroll through. Even though we went in late spring, we were delighted to see blooms of cherry blossom along the way near an old tea shop. Highly recommend it!
We really loved this walk as it allowed us to see some beautiful rural landscapes and the quaint little towns of Magome and Tsumago are really well preserved and lovely to stroll through. Even though we went in late spring, we were delighted to see blooms of cherry blossom along the way near an old tea shop. Highly recommend it!
Written 1 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pipi_on_the_go
Whangamata69 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Although we were staying near Tsumago we caught the bus to Magome to begin the walk. Do check the bus schedule beforehand to time your walk as it does not run all that frequently.
We are an older couple in our 70s and completed the walk in about three and a half leisurely hours, of which about two hours were walking and the remainder were photo stops plus a stop at the lovely old rest house that gives free (leave a donation) cups of tea, sweets, and if you are early enough, plum wine.
It is definitely not an arduous walk and we recommend it for the forest scenery and sense of history.
We are an older couple in our 70s and completed the walk in about three and a half leisurely hours, of which about two hours were walking and the remainder were photo stops plus a stop at the lovely old rest house that gives free (leave a donation) cups of tea, sweets, and if you are early enough, plum wine.
It is definitely not an arduous walk and we recommend it for the forest scenery and sense of history.
Written 12 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mexicomango
London, UK170 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Glad I got to do this one - this is one of the few places I was able to go in Japan which wasn't overrun, crowded, jostling.
We took the train from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa, then got the bus to Magome.
From Magome, it's a pretty clear direction to walk in. You initially walk through an 'old' looking town with nice fronts. This is where most of the tourists are, they tend to visit this town and go to the viewpoint further up, then by coach to Tsumago (the destination) for a similar look.
There's a cafe somewhere there you can get bamboo walking sticks which you return at Tsumago (the destination). The initial part of the trail is an uphill climb across countryside and roads and a bit of woodland, but after that it's mostly level and not that difficult. It also goes through some small towns, forests and across small streams. Never a dull moment.
The woodlands were the best part of it, it really gave a nice feeling of solitude and isolation. Not that it's empty, there were definitely a few groups walking about there. Say hello and move on. But it's definitely peaceful and serves as a reset button if the crowds in the cities are overwhelming you. Autumn was a great time to go as there were the color changes that added to the atmosphere.
There were a few vending machines along the way, a few toilets and one trash can.
Some parts of the trail requires you to walk along the roads, but you don't have to worry about getting lost, Google Maps does have the walking directions which follows the Old Nakasendo trail.
There's also a waterfall you can detour to (it's signposted) along the way, pretty decent. It's shortly before Tsumago itself.
When you finally arrive at Tsumago, you can get a bus back to Nagiso Station. There's a train from Nagiso to Nagoya but it is infrequent, you can either wait for the direct one or change at Nakatsugawa.
We took the train from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa, then got the bus to Magome.
From Magome, it's a pretty clear direction to walk in. You initially walk through an 'old' looking town with nice fronts. This is where most of the tourists are, they tend to visit this town and go to the viewpoint further up, then by coach to Tsumago (the destination) for a similar look.
There's a cafe somewhere there you can get bamboo walking sticks which you return at Tsumago (the destination). The initial part of the trail is an uphill climb across countryside and roads and a bit of woodland, but after that it's mostly level and not that difficult. It also goes through some small towns, forests and across small streams. Never a dull moment.
The woodlands were the best part of it, it really gave a nice feeling of solitude and isolation. Not that it's empty, there were definitely a few groups walking about there. Say hello and move on. But it's definitely peaceful and serves as a reset button if the crowds in the cities are overwhelming you. Autumn was a great time to go as there were the color changes that added to the atmosphere.
There were a few vending machines along the way, a few toilets and one trash can.
Some parts of the trail requires you to walk along the roads, but you don't have to worry about getting lost, Google Maps does have the walking directions which follows the Old Nakasendo trail.
There's also a waterfall you can detour to (it's signposted) along the way, pretty decent. It's shortly before Tsumago itself.
When you finally arrive at Tsumago, you can get a bus back to Nagiso Station. There's a train from Nagiso to Nagoya but it is infrequent, you can either wait for the direct one or change at Nakatsugawa.
Written 14 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aiste L
7 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
We had very nice weekend walking from Magome to Tsumago and camping at Nagisosanrokuararagi Camping Ground. We took a train to Nakatsugawa from Nagoya (around 1 hour) and 30 min bus ride from Nakatsugava to Magome (bus goes every hour from 07:42 to 18:30). When left bags in Magome tourist information centre - for 500 Yen they will transfer it to Tsumago Information centre. You have to leave the bag till 11:30 and take bag from Tsumago till 17:00.
From Magome to Tsumago walking takes around 2-3 hours and has very nice view. From Tsumago we took bus to Araragi Onsen (bus takes 10 min. goes every day 8:22;10:47;12:47;15:07;18:07). In Araragi they have two Onsen - one in hotel - big and nice and one small one - very local only indoor. After that we went camping to Nagisosanrokuararagi Camping Ground (http://nagiso-araragi-camp.com/). The owners are two old people, very firendly and helpfull. Walking from Onsen to camping site takes around 1 hour - 4 km, but you can make a call and the man will pick up with the car. They have also bangelow houses to rent - the camping sight with fire place cost 1000 Yen + 500 Yen per person. That old man english is poor, but he always ready to help and give a ride down the mountain or up if you need. Next day from the camping place we climb the mountain. The map for climbing you can get from camping site owner. Climbing trip takes around 6 hours - to go slowly up, have lunch on the top and go down. The mountain road up is quit difficult, but fun if you want some adventure, the view worth the hassle. From Araragi back to Tsumago or Nagiso Station bus runs every day 7:35;9:05,11:45;14:00;15:55 and cost 300 Yen. Also in the camping you can rent tesmall tent 1000 Yen and big 2000 Yen - you can rent sleeping bag, bbq staff and so on. They also sell 6 pack beer for 500 Yen. At night was a little bit cold, so take warm clothes. We had great time!
From Magome to Tsumago walking takes around 2-3 hours and has very nice view. From Tsumago we took bus to Araragi Onsen (bus takes 10 min. goes every day 8:22;10:47;12:47;15:07;18:07). In Araragi they have two Onsen - one in hotel - big and nice and one small one - very local only indoor. After that we went camping to Nagisosanrokuararagi Camping Ground (http://nagiso-araragi-camp.com/). The owners are two old people, very firendly and helpfull. Walking from Onsen to camping site takes around 1 hour - 4 km, but you can make a call and the man will pick up with the car. They have also bangelow houses to rent - the camping sight with fire place cost 1000 Yen + 500 Yen per person. That old man english is poor, but he always ready to help and give a ride down the mountain or up if you need. Next day from the camping place we climb the mountain. The map for climbing you can get from camping site owner. Climbing trip takes around 6 hours - to go slowly up, have lunch on the top and go down. The mountain road up is quit difficult, but fun if you want some adventure, the view worth the hassle. From Araragi back to Tsumago or Nagiso Station bus runs every day 7:35;9:05,11:45;14:00;15:55 and cost 300 Yen. Also in the camping you can rent tesmall tent 1000 Yen and big 2000 Yen - you can rent sleeping bag, bbq staff and so on. They also sell 6 pack beer for 500 Yen. At night was a little bit cold, so take warm clothes. We had great time!
Written 8 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mordecai12
Singapore, Singapore112 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
Prompted by TA community's reviews and National Geographic write-up on the above walk, we made our way from Kyoto, starting at 8am, took shinkansen to Nagoya, then the limited express Shinano train to Nagiso, the rail town stop closest to Tsumago and took a cab paying about 1400yen to the ryokan and dumped our luggages. This trip did worry me, coz I didn't want to spend more than 1 day at the ryokan, if necessary, and we needed to complete the 7.7km walk by 5pm that very day, coz the dinner at the ryokan would start at 6pm.
We were constantly worried about the time, so arriving at the ryokan at 11.10am and missing the last bus to magome at 10:12am, and being way too early for the next bus at 12:47, we decided to pay 3500 yen for the cab ride to Magome. Why ? Because you don't want to backtrack again to Magome, you would want to see the town too before you start the walk., take some photos etc. After all, people wrote that it's a pretty attractive town. By the way, ALL the reviews recommend starting the Nakasendo Walk from Magome.
Now The Walk itself : to be honest, the walk is pretty ordinary. Aside from the padi fields, some quaint houses ( which you can see in Kyoto or Takayama) small streams and woods you pass, the only attraction pointed out to us at the ryokan was the ordinary-looking twin waterfalls. At late May, with beautiful weather of 23 degrees, we met less than 7 people on the trail. All were young foreigners who must have read about the trail online like us. None Japanese. Think : that speaks a lot about the attractiveness of the walk to the local Japanese people. Many Taiwanese tourists descended on Magome town when we were there but none walked the trail. They were taken to the two towns by tour coaches.
The first 2.2 km stretch was no ordinary walk in a park - it was pretty tough, walking gingerly, watching your step over uneven trails, mostly climbing a little, over boulders. This is not a very suitable walk for children under 12 or people past 65. Think : if you miss a step or trip, or sprain an ankle, over mountainous trails, with nary a house or soul in sight, you can get into a lot of trouble so be realistic. in fact, we were in a bit of a hurry to complete the trail as logically it can get cold after dark and there are no street lamps on the trail. If you give up halfway for some reason, you probably have to pray for a kind soul to take you to the next town or wait forever for the infrequent bus. We took 3 hours 40 mins to complete the trail.
In fact, while walking on the trail, I wonder how in the world the Walk made it to the list of "1000 things to do before you die" People would definitely get a much better and more enjoyable experience hiking at Kamikochi, hiking haven for Japanese, with its boardwalks and well-marked and well-maintained trails.
So would I go for the Walk again ? Definitely not.
We were constantly worried about the time, so arriving at the ryokan at 11.10am and missing the last bus to magome at 10:12am, and being way too early for the next bus at 12:47, we decided to pay 3500 yen for the cab ride to Magome. Why ? Because you don't want to backtrack again to Magome, you would want to see the town too before you start the walk., take some photos etc. After all, people wrote that it's a pretty attractive town. By the way, ALL the reviews recommend starting the Nakasendo Walk from Magome.
Now The Walk itself : to be honest, the walk is pretty ordinary. Aside from the padi fields, some quaint houses ( which you can see in Kyoto or Takayama) small streams and woods you pass, the only attraction pointed out to us at the ryokan was the ordinary-looking twin waterfalls. At late May, with beautiful weather of 23 degrees, we met less than 7 people on the trail. All were young foreigners who must have read about the trail online like us. None Japanese. Think : that speaks a lot about the attractiveness of the walk to the local Japanese people. Many Taiwanese tourists descended on Magome town when we were there but none walked the trail. They were taken to the two towns by tour coaches.
The first 2.2 km stretch was no ordinary walk in a park - it was pretty tough, walking gingerly, watching your step over uneven trails, mostly climbing a little, over boulders. This is not a very suitable walk for children under 12 or people past 65. Think : if you miss a step or trip, or sprain an ankle, over mountainous trails, with nary a house or soul in sight, you can get into a lot of trouble so be realistic. in fact, we were in a bit of a hurry to complete the trail as logically it can get cold after dark and there are no street lamps on the trail. If you give up halfway for some reason, you probably have to pray for a kind soul to take you to the next town or wait forever for the infrequent bus. We took 3 hours 40 mins to complete the trail.
In fact, while walking on the trail, I wonder how in the world the Walk made it to the list of "1000 things to do before you die" People would definitely get a much better and more enjoyable experience hiking at Kamikochi, hiking haven for Japanese, with its boardwalks and well-marked and well-maintained trails.
So would I go for the Walk again ? Definitely not.
Written 3 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi , my son 32 and I 66 are preparing to walk sections of the Nakasendo trail in early May next year. We are planning to do this as self guided and not use a tour operator. We are looking for Ryokans on the way that you would recommend . We are finding that some are already booked out.
We have accom for Magome but think we need some for Tsumago and also Narai possibly. Any suggestions would be great. We are looking on varios links but difficult to see where the options are in relation to the trail. Many thanks.
Written 12 August 2024
what tour company did you guys do the self guided walking tour with? and do you recommend them
Written 30 July 2019
By the way, there is a tourist office at both ends who will supply walkers with a simple map and that is all you need other than a hat and a bottle of water.
Written 30 July 2019
Hi
I plan to walk from Magome to Tsumago this October with my husband and daughter's 23 & 10.
Is it enough to do the walk and explore the town at either end or is the walk enhanced by staying overnight in Tsumago in a traditional inn?
Just working out if we should make it a day or overnight trip in our 17 day journey...bext stop is Takayama for 1 night.
Thanks in advance
Written 27 July 2019
Tsumago is a delightful, original heritage town. Whilst not large is a delight to experience. we stayed in the Fujioto Ryokan which was a wonderful, authentic Japanese experience, and in retrospect the highlight of our Japanese experience. It's small, and you need to book early, but do go, its fabulous!
Written 28 July 2019
We are planning to walk the following sections of the the Nakasendo Way - 5 days/4 nights in April.
(i) Magome - Tsumago-
(ii) Tsumago - Kiso Fukishimo
(iii) Yabuhara - Narai
(iv) Narai - Kiso Harasawa
(v) Karuisawa - Yokokawa
We are hoping not to use a tour operator. Please can you explain how we can transfer our luggage - I have found information regarding the transfer of luggage from Magome to Tsumago but not other information for other stages.
Many thanks in advance.
Written 24 January 2019
Jane,
I met a couple that had done this same route, but in reverse. They had placed their large baggage in a week long storage at a hotel they were staying at in Kyoto, and did the five day journey with smaller hiking backpacks. I know this doesn't answer your question exactly, but I thought it might be helpful to know that the other travelers I encountered doing this were carrying their belongings with them each day.
Written 24 January 2019
Hello!
We are trying to understand how to get to Magome and leave from Tsumago in the best and easiest way- we are arriving from Nagoya and want to head to Matsumuto. How shall this be done? Thank you
Written 17 January 2019
From Nagoya, there are buses from Meitetsu Bus Centre to Iida that stops at Magome highway bus stop on the way. It takes off on the hour every hour during the day and it takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to get to Magome. From the highway bus stop, just use google map to find your way to the Magome town (about 15 minutes walk).
Alternatively, take JR from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (48 mins). Then take a bus to Magome (15 buses each day, about 30 minutes one way). Search for the train schedule at HyperDia. For bus schedule, check out Go! Nagano.
From Tsumago, take a bus to Nagiso station. (10 buses each day, find the schedule on Go! Nagano.) Then it's 75 mins by express train or 140 mins by local train to Matsumoto. Note that Nagiso station does not accept credit cards. You must have enough cash with you if you don't have a JR pass.
Written 19 January 2019
We are planning a day trip to walk the trail between Magome and Tsumago around 20 - 21 Dec. Will shops/eateries and facilities be closed or limited? Will there be snow ie requiring us to wear snow boots?
Written 28 November 2018
Be ready for at least ice in the shady areas. Some of the trail could be a bit treacherous. Magome will be open, as will Tsumago. In between, nothing. Should be gorgeous.
Written 28 November 2018
HI, may i know who do you engage for this trail? is it possible to provide recommendation
Written 7 November 2018
Hello,
You do not need a to hire anyone. I would recommend staying nearby, and you can walk one end to the other. It is not a very long hike, but it only follows one path through villages and forest. It is a lovely walk.
There are buses at either end you can catch to the nearest town.
Written 29 November 2018
Hi we are doing the Nakasendo Walking Trail in October (Magome to Tsumago) heard that is the easiest hike? staying Kiso Fukushima. Just wanting advise on buses/trains to get us back to Kiso for nights accomodation.? We stay in Kiso on night before hike then return after the hike, whats best way to get back to Kiso after our hike ends in Tsumago? Suggestions please?
Written 16 September 2018
Hi - My son & I walked this last week as part of a 6 day walk along the Nakasendo. From Magome to Tsumago is a 12km hike, with the first section uphill over the Magome pass on the good and well-marked Nakasendo Way trail. We actually stayed the night at Tsumago and then continued walking next day to Nojiri via Nagiso. We then caught a train from Mojiri to Kiso Fukushima although you can also do that from Nojiri. Check the timetables for both to make sure that they fit your planned walking schedule. A shame you're only hiking for a day, the hike is fabulous.
Written 17 September 2018
I am going to the kisu valley for 3 days. One day will be dedicated to the nakasando track from tsumago to magome.
Any suggestios for the other 2 days
Where is a good place to pass each of the nights
How do i return to Tokyo
Many thanks
Written 7 April 2018
Hi...we caught the train from Tokyo to Nagoya...another train from Nagoya to Nagatsagawa, then a bus to Magome. We walked from there to Tsumago. If you are walking from Tsumago to Magome you just reverse the trip. The 8km walk is great...as is the tea room stop midway...make sure you do that. Some walk right past...there’s no rush as the 8km is an easy walk. We also walked on from Tsumago to Nojiri then train to Kiso Fukushima. We booked all our accom online ourselves, no problem. The little towns of Tsumago & Magome are worth a wander so allow time for that. If you are brave enough to try the onsen experience do that too. The ryokans we stayed in included amazing & plentiful Japanese breakfasts & Dinner...good luck in you planning 👍
Written 8 April 2018
Hi there, I'm researching for my trip and Nakasendo trail is one of the places of interest. May I know how did you get to the Magone Tsumago trail from town please? Are there shuttle buses or public transport from the nearest town in Nagano? Thank you very much!
Written 30 December 2017
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