The Magome-Tsumago or Nakasendo trail is an eight-kilometer hike that can be completed at a leisurely pace in under two hours. It starts in the town of Magome in Gifu Prefecture and crosses into Nagano Prefecture through an area known as the Kiso Valley. To see the hiking trail at its most scenic, spring and autumn are the best seasons to go.
Magome is built in the hills above Nakatsugawa city and commands a gorgeous view of the city and farmlands. The trail is a patterned cobblestone path winds its way up through the town’s restored Edo-period promenade. The main street features an old water mill and several soba restaurants and coffee houses. Once you climb up from the main street, you’ll soon find yourself walking between private farms and gardens, before leaving the town behind and starting on the trail proper and into the Kiso River Valley.
The Kiso Valley is a small and idyllic river valley in the southwestern corner of Nagano Prefecture. Forestry conservation has been a policy here since the early days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, so the banks of the Kiso river are flanked by ancient, vast cypress forests that absorb sound and produce only sweet, fresh air. At different points along the trail, you may notice a bell has been placed. These are bear bells, which hikers are encouraged to ring.
At the end of the trail, you’ll be able to admire the tiled roofing and organized streets of Tsumago from afar as you descend to the valley floor. There you can explore the slightly more expansive town and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of its narrow streets, tea houses and shops.
The Magome-Tsumago trail is an easy hike best suited to travelers looking for a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities. The postal towns that the path is named after are welcoming and extremely pleasant to look at, and the trail is well-marked and runs through some of the most beautiful scenery in Nagano.
