Hiking in the Kiso Valley – Following the old Nakasendo, Japan’s Ancient Trails Through Mountains, Temples & Tradition
The Kiso Valley is one of those places in Japan where history feels close at hand. Nestled in the mountains of Nagano and Gifu, the valley follows the old Nakasendō, a highway that once linked Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Walkers today come for the same things travellers did centuries ago — the charm of post towns like Magome and Tsumago, the mountain views, and the steady rhythm of stone paths and forest tracks.
It’s an easy place to mix short hikes with cultural stops. You can follow a few kilometres between towns, duck into old inns and tea houses, or stretch the day out across passes and rice fields. With good train links from Nagoya and Matsumoto, the Kiso Valley is simple to reach, but it still feels a world away from city life.
- Nakasendō Trail (Kiso Valley), Magome to Tsumago – One of Edo-period Japan’s great highways with mountain passes between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).
The Nakasendō was one of Edo-period Japan’s great highways, threading mountain passes between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Its Kiso Valley section — especially Magome → Tsumago — is the most beloved day walk: 8–9 km of cobbles, forest lanes, tea houses and rice terraces, with an optional continuation to Nagiso for a longer day. It’s living history underfoot, and one of Japan’s most photogenic rambles.
