Take the bus to Magome (25 minutes, JPY 600) and walk back to Tsumago along the Nakasendo Highway. The Nakasendo was once the principal route linking Kyoto and Tokyo, originally covering several hundred miles through the forested mountains of central Japan.
The walk takes you along a small, scenic section of the road (7.7 km) past sleepy farming villages and paddy fields, through forests of majestic cedars that link the old post towns that once served as refuge for the Daimyo Lords who passed with their great retinues along the route.
The hike should take about three hours at a leisurely pace.
Speak to someone
who's been there
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Japan specialists
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Photos of Nakasendo Highway Hike
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![Tsumago]()
Tsumago -
![Magome on the Nakasendo Highway]()
Magome on the Nakasendo Highway -
![Tsumago, Japan]()
Tsumago, Japan -
![Nakasendo walk river]()
Nakasendo walk river -
![Walking the Nakasendo Highway, Tsumago]()
Walking the Nakasendo Highway, Tsumago -
![Nakasendo Way, Tsumago]()
Nakasendo Way, Tsumago -
![The postal town of Magome]()
The postal town of Magome -
![Traditional house on the Nakasendo Highway]()
Traditional house on the Nakasendo Highway
Experience it for yourself
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
