Magome Tsumago: A Glimbse of Edo Japan Near Nagoya

ByRay Proper

Gifu Prefecture, Nagoya Day Trips

Jan 05, 2011

Magome Tsumago: A Glimbse of Edo Japan Near Nagoya

One of my favorite day trips from Nagoya is to Magome and Tsumago in Nagano Prefecture. They are two restored and preserved Edo-period way stations on the Nakasendo in Nagano Prefecture. Nakasando is similar to the more famous Tokaido, both very old roads that connected Kyoto with what is now Tokyo. The two and half hours it takes to walk between the two stations is filled with very historic buildings and scenery reminiscent of the Edo period, except for the slightly more touristy feel of Magome, which boasts a plethora of good places to eat and buy knick knacks.

Access 

• From Nagoya Station take the Shinano Express on the JR Chuo Line to Nagano and get off at Nakatsugawa. From there take a local train (futsu) to Nagiso or an hourly bus to Magome.
• There are buses from Nagiso to Tsumago and an infrequent bus runs between Magome and Tsumago.
• There are Meitestu Highway buses from Nagoya Station to Magome (90 mins)
• By car take Route 19 to Nakatsugawa and Nagiso or by Chuo Expressway the journey is about 1 hour 15 mins in normal traffic.

See a longer article about this destination on the Japan Visitor Blog

Here is a video that will give you some idea about what you can see on a trip to Magome and Tsumago.