Nakasendō Trail (Kiso Valley), Magome to Tsumago – One of Edo-period Japan’s great highways with mountain passes between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).

Region: Nakasendō (Kiso Valley) — Magome (Gifu) to Tsumago / Nagiso (Nagano), Japan

Places To Stay: Base yourself in Magome (or nearby Nakatsugawa) at the start, then overnight in Tsumago (traditional minshuku) or continue to Nagiso for more options. Expect Edo-period post town charm: timber facades, lanterns, and hearty country meals.

Looking for more trails in Japan? Visit my Japan Hiking Trails page.

Below are 3 ideas for trips, transfers and day tours in Nagoya (gateway city). GetYourGuide offer great discounts and availability + Much more!

For a wider choice of accommodation in the Tokyo, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

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.

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Nearest major airports: Chūbu Centrair (Nagoya/NGO) and Matsumoto (domestic). Shinkansen via Nagoya works best.

Getting There: Directions, GPX and App Link

• Start/Finish: Start in Magome (Gifu) → finish in Tsumago (Nagano). Optional extension to Nagiso Station.
• Transport: JR from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa (Chūō Line), then bus/taxi to Magome. Return from Tsumago or Nagiso by bus/train.
• Download the GPX file here for GPS/watch use.
• You can follow this route on my Outdooractive profile.

Hike Profile

• Distance: Magome → Tsumago ~8–9 km (option to Nagiso +6–7 km)
• Duration: 2.5–4 hrs to Tsumago (5–6.5 hrs including Nagiso)
• Ascent/Descent: Rolling; one main pass between towns (~350–400 m total ↑)
• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate (good paths; some stone/cobbles)
• Terrain: Stone-paved lanes, forest paths, hamlets, rice terraces

Stages & Distances (Typical Day Walk)

Get a JR Rail Pass if you’re planning to roam widely. 7–21 day passes give ‘unlimited’ rides on most JR lines, including shinkansen.

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Hike Description

Magome is very quiet first thing, the shops slowly open, someone hoses down the stone slope, and then the waterwheel starts up. The Nakasendō sets off between dark-wood houses and paper lanterns, then turns to steady cobbles with waymarkers at each bend. Simple, tidy, and a great warm-up before the forest.

The climb out of town is steady, winding between vegetable plots to the forest edge. At this point the path softens to earth, and is shaded by cedar and cypress. Birdsong bounces between trunks; the scent is resin and damp leaf-mould. Every so often the trees clear and you get a glimpse across the Kiso hills, these are terraced fields and rivers, a valley that has ushered travellers for centuries.

Small hamlets show the way, a tea house with a kettle kept hot for walkers, a roadside deity tucked into a stone niche, and a farmhouse selling slices of fresh kudzu mochi. The old road slips between bamboo and along irrigation channels, then back onto short runs of cobbles. It’s simple walking, which means you can slow down and take notice of your surroundings.

At the day’s high point, the forest opens to a rest area with a view, you’ll see the tiled roofs of Tsumago somewhere below, and the river threading through the valley. The descent is easier, a gentle roll through woodland and past mills until you meet the first timber facades of town. Tsumago’s main street is a film set come alive: black-lacquered beams, noren curtains, shopfronts selling chestnut sweets. If you’re staying the night, a minshuku host might greet you at the door with slippers and a pot of tea.

If your legs want a few more miles, continue to Nagiso. The crowds fade, the road narrows to quiet lanes, and the valley broadens. It’s an easy finish with handy train connections, or you can loop back by bus after a celebratory bowl of soba.

The Kiso Valley is Japan in miniature: craft and countryside, faith and footpath. On the Nakasendō you don’t just see history, you are walking through it, one step at a time.

Walk this route yourself in 3D!

The video is a 3D walkthrough of this route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the mountain.

I’ve created 3D videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.

Nakasendō – Kiso Valley (Magome to Tsumago) – 3D Walkthrough

Places to Stay (Magome • Tsumago • Nagiso)

Tip: Many traditional minshuku in Tsumago take phone/email bookings. If you want online booking via Booking.com, consider nearby towns too (e.g., Nakatsugawa and Nagiso).

Start – Magome (or Nakatsugawa for more choice)

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Browse Magome stays (Booking.com)

Stay on the historic slope for a dawn start, or base in Nakatsugawa (more dining/transport) and bus up to Magome.

See Nakatsugawa options

Mid – Tsumago (traditional post town)

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Note: Many Tsumago minshuku book direct; if you prefer online, check nearby towns or Nagiso below.

Search Tsumago area

Finish – Nagiso (JR access)

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Browse Nagiso stays (Booking.com)

Convenient for trains after a longer day; quieter lodgings along the valley.

See Kiso-Fukushima options

For a wider choice of accommodation in the Tokyo, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

Practicalities

• Luggage: Same-day forwarding (takuhaibin) operates between Magome & Tsumago — book early.
• Food & water: Stock up in towns; a few tea houses on route; vending machines in hamlets.
• Navigation: Waymarked and popular, but carry offline maps for the extensions.
• Etiquette: These are living towns — be respectful, especially in residential streets.
• Weather: Can be hot/humid in summer and icy in winter; shoulder seasons shine.

Below are 3 ideas for trips, transfers and day tours in Nagoya (gateway city). GetYourGuide offer great discounts and availability + Much more!

AllTrails: Trail Guides & Maps for Hiking, Camping, and Running | AllTrails Plans – Read my ‘Full Review‘ for more details.

Nakasendō (Kiso Valley) FAQs

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