Tsumago-juku

We wish we had spent more time there! Beautiful and has a very helpful tourism office. (They even helped us find vegan-friendly accommodations.) Delightful coffee shop that sells local art. A great town for nature and buying souvenirs that are NOT made in China.

I started walking from Nagiso station and most of the trail is uphill. Walking through small village, road, a bit of forest. Weather was really nice around 20-23 degree with bright sunny. It was really fun trek.

Nestled about 250km south of Tokyo, hidden in the Nagiso mountain ranges lays the historic village of Tsumago-juku, with records dating back to 1640, it is said this village is much older, it is a preserved historic site and a total charm and honor to walk these streets.

The most beautiful town in Japan in my opinion. The beautiful architecture, the constant sound of running water across the town is very relaxing, the souvenir shops and restaurants are very welcoming and nice to visit. Loved the atmosphere and tradition this poat town shares.

Famous post town along the Nakasendo road. ℹ️ Great information center with friendly staff and brochures. Get a stamp for your souvenir book, too! 🎟️ If you're buying a ticket for the bus to Nagiso (the train station), you'll do it at the information center. 🍜 Fewer food options than Magome, so be prepared. I walked through twice, and if you arrive at 3pm or so, there will only be one restaurant open (which is good!). There is also a nice cafe before you get to Tsumago-juku. 🛍️ Like Magome-juku, Tsumago is basically a tourist spot, so the shopping is souvenirs, but not as comprehensive as Magome. 🚍 Most people take a bus in one direction or both. You can take a bus from Nakatsugawa, stop is at the train station. Or, if you walk from Magome, you can take the bus to Nagiso (the closest JR rail train station). 🚶‍♀️If you want a really fun adventure, walk from Nakatsugawa! (And put your bag in a coin locker at the station) It's about 2 hours along the Nakasendo to Magome, and is well signposted. 🚻 Well-marked, clean toilets 🥾 If you're hiking the Nakasendo, I can't recommend it enough! Although the Magome to Tsumago portion is the famous part, there's so much more to it! You can also walk about 45 minutes more to Nagiso and skip the bus. ❗ I've created a public list for recommended Nakasendo spots, check it out.

Beautiful old town but many shops were not open and not much food choice so make sure you had food before you come. Google maps brought us to drive into the street so make sure you set it to parking 1. Parking was 500yen for whole day parking. There’s also a post office for you to send a postcard home. Make sure to stop by the tourist office for stamps.

Tsumago-juku is a well-preserved post town, located on the historic Nakasendō route. It is one of the best-preserved Edo-period towns in Japan, with no visible power lines, and buildings restored to their original appearance. Cars are restricted during the day to maintain the old-town atmosphere. Tsumago was the 42nd of 69 post towns on the Nakasendō. It is popular for walking the scenic trail to Magome-juku, about 8 km away. A unique tradition is the town’s night watch announcements, mimicking historical fire alerts shouted by watchmen. When we visited Tsumago at the beginning of April, some houses had flower bouquets displayed on their facades, likely as part of a local custom to welcome spring. it may reflect broader Japanese practices of seasonal celebration and the aesthetic values of ikebana, the art of flower arrangement.

It's quaint, well preserved, and cared for. It's not a huge area, and 3-4 hours would be good. I stopped and had a lovely lunch from a little restaurant on Main Street. I was hiking from Nagiso through to Magome. The path/trail is well marked and easy. It's very popular with day trippers. You can catch a bus straight there and to/from its sister town Magome. This one feels a little more laid back. I'm not sure why I felt this way but of the two, tsumago was my favourite choice. There are limited accommodation choices so you best to book in advance.

Great little village I'd love to visit and stay at again for a few days. Stayed at the Fujioto Ryokan and loved it. The people in this neighborhood are very nice and accommodating. The ambiance, sights and culture are a lot to take in and just let it sink so you can relax. There's even a museum nearby!