Magome to Tsumago Trail: Everything You Need to Know About Hiking the Ancient Nakasendo Highway!

Are you ready for an adventure? The Magome to Tsumago trail is the perfect Japan escape! 

This short stretch of the Nakasendo hiking trail packs stunning landscapes, local history, and tons of vibrant post towns that still have a thriving culture today into a short walk. 

It’s easy to do the hike by yourself, but there are also lots of tour options to choose from. 

I’ll talk you through everything you need to know about the trail, from nearby accommodation to the history of the trail, so you can start planning your Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku adventure.

So what are you waiting for? Read on and start planning your Nakasendo Highway hike from Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku!

 

What is the Nakasendo Highway?

The Nakasendo Highway is an ancient route that connected Edo, which is modern-day Tokyo, to Kyoto. It was active during the Edo period when it was used by travellers to get between these two important cities. 

Along the way, there are little post towns. They were where travellers would stop and rest, or gather supplies. 

Whilst not all the post towns remain, many have been restored and some are even in their original state. Now, there are 69 post towns dotted along the route.

Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku are the best-preserved towns on the Nakasendo Highway, as is the trail that connects them. They were built in the Edo period, about 400 years ago. 

In Tsumago you can still see the old office where tired travellers could rent horses to help them along the trail. Magome is the 43rd of the 69 stations. It’s about 332 kilometers away from Tokyo.

The town’s built on a steep incline, so be ready for the hills. The little shops and houses are connected by cobblestone streets that are reminiscent of times gone by.

The section of Nakasendo between Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku is one of the best preserved, which is also what makes it one of the most popular.

You will walk past many other travellers, and feel like you’re stepping back in the era of the Samurai.

This part of Japan very rarely features on traditional Japan 2-week itineraries, but I truly believe it’s a must on everyone’s Japan bucket list.

Essential Info About Hiking the Magome Tsumago Trail

Trail specifics

Hike length: 8km

Time: 2 – 4 hours

Elevation change: 200 metres up & 350 metres down

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Wondering what the distance between Magome to Tsumago is? Whilst the complete Nakasendo Highway is 540 kilometers long (340 miles), the stretch from Magome Tsumago is just 8 kilometers long. 

You’ll get to start and end at the best-preserved towns, and see some of the most scenic landscapes along the way. Begin in Magome and hike along the Nakasendo trail through the Kiso Valley until you reach Tsumago. 

There is a bit of going up and down hills along the trail, but overall there isn’t much elevation gain along the path. At the start of the trail, there’s an uphill climb for 2.4 kilometers, but there’s only a gain of 200 meters. 

The highest point is Magome Pass, and after that, it’s all downhill until Tsumago. A hiking stick can help support your knees!

This is also why it’s recommended to do the trail this way round, to save you doing the longer stretch uphill.

How Long Does it Take to Hike From Magome to Tsumago?

The hike itself takes just two hours, but it’s so scenic and pretty, with so many cute rest areas to stop at, that it will likely take you much longer.

Plus, the towns themselves are beautiful, and you will want to spend some time exploring them too.

Overall I would say you should factor in at least three to four hours for the hike, with a few hours buffer before and after to explore Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku.

Best Time to Hike the Nakasendo

Of the Year

Autumn and spring are arguably the most beautiful times of year to do the trail, but honestly, you can do it all year round. I went in autumn and loved the brightly coloured leaves in hues of reds and oranges.

Luckily, there’s plenty of woodlands along the trail, so even in summer most of the route is shaded. I would only avoid it in winter, as if the trail gets snowy it won’t be as easy to hike.

Of the Day

I’d recommend setting off early in the morning so you have plenty of time to explore the post towns and really enjoy the trail.

This is especially important if you’re starting from Nagoya or another nearby city, and travelling to the trail via public transport.

Hike Logistics: How to Get There

To get from Tokyo to Magome take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen train to Nagoya (included in the Japan Rail Pass).

It takes about an hour and a half. From there, hop onto the Shinano Limited Express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa. This stretch of the journey takes about 50 minutes. 

Lastly, hop on the 570 bus to Magome, which takes 30 minutes. All in all, it’s a bit of a pain. It takes a good 3 hours to get from Tokyo to Magome by public transport.

Getting public buses there takes even longer, so I wouldn’t advise it. 

Because of this, we decided to rent a car. We drove to Magome and at the end of our hike, we hopped on the Magome to Tsumago bus that runs back and forth between the two post towns. 

It made the day a lot less stressful as we didn’t have to worry about train schedules and factor in hours of public transport. 

Click here to book your car rental in Japan!

What’s it Like to Hike the Nakasendo Highway

The Magome to Tsumago trail is the most popular stretch of the Nakasendo Highway. That’s because it seamlessly combines stunning landscapes with local history and culture. 

Along the Kiso Valley the trail weaves gently through forests and soft countryside. Keep a look out for the Japanese maples and bamboo forests along the way! 

The post towns have a laid-back and historic feel to them. It feels like stepping back in time to an ancient Japan.

Along the trail, there are also lots of fields with local residents at work, an interesting glimpse into the lives of those who live in rural Japan. 

One of the best things about this trail is that it’s super accessible. The path is well-marked and well-maintained, and there are clean public toilets along the way.

So don’t worry about needing any professional hiking gear! Comfortable shoes and basic walking gear are enough.

There’s a short uphill section at the start of the trail when you leave Magome but then most of it is downhill to Tsumago.

You could easily walk the trail within 2-3 hours at a leisurely pace, but I have no doubt you’ll end up spending the whole day on the trail.

It took us about 6 hours in total, as we spent about an hour and a half in each town exploring and sipping hot cups of tea.

There are cafes, rest areas, and tea houses spread out along the path, so stop for little breaks and enjoy the landscape. 

It has to be said that the highlight of the trail is without a doubt the post towns. So if you’re not much of a hiker, you can visit Magome and Tsumago by car or train, and skip the hike. 

Best Tours to the Nakasendo Highway

The Magome to Tsumago trail is definitely one you can easily do alone. The path is well marked and easy to follow, there is no need for a guide.

That said, if you aren’t staying somewhere nearby and you’re getting to the trail from a big city, it might be worth taking a tour just so you don’t have to tackle the complex public transport routes!

If you’ve never done any solo hiking before, you might also prefer to have a guide. Here are some of the best tours for the Magome to Tsumago trail.

This tour includes pick up from Matsumoto, Kokusai, or Nagano. It’s a full-day tour, which includes lots of insight from your local tour guide.

Be aware that they start the hike in Tsumago and walk from there to Magome, so there will be more uphill involved!

Click here to book your guided Tsumago to Magome hike!

If you want to skip the hike and just see the towns and other highlights in the area, here are some tour options.

Looking to see more than just post towns? Book this tour from Nagoya.

It stops at the iconic Inuyama Castle, the oldest castle building in Japan, before a trip to the Einakyo Observation deck that has stunning views over the Kiso Valley and River. 

Finally, you’ll go to the post town of Magome! It’s a full-day tour, taking about 10 hours. If you want to skip the hiking and see local landmarks, this is the tour for you.

Click here to book your Kiso Valley tour from Nagoya!

Packing a full day of activities, this tour from Nagoya stops at the Eiho-ji temple and Ena Valley before continuing to both post towns, Tsumago and Magome.

With a focus on local customs and culture, this tour is for those seeking to delve into Japan’s traditional ways. It’ll take about 10 hours overall!

Check out prices & availability for a Kiso Valley post towns tour!

Fancy seeing a completely different post town? Take this tour and explore the post town of Narai-juku alongside a trip to Matsumoto Castle.

You can get picked up at Nagano or Matsumoto. Like the other tours, expect to be out for around 10 hours. 

Click here to book your tour to Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku!

Where to Stay to Hike the Nakasendo

If you’ve got enough time, I’d recommend staying overnight in Nakatsugawa or in the surrounding area.

Getting to the trail from Nagoya and Tokyo takes a while, so having an extra night or two in the area means you can wake up close to the trail and spend the whole day really enjoying the hike.

Obviously staying in Magome-juku or Tsumago-juku would be ideal, but when I was planning my trip I found very few options in the post towns themselves, and they all sold out quickly.

Here are a few options, from hotels close to the trail to boutique lodgings in the post towns:

Budget: Magome Furudato Gakkou is a hostel-style accommodation with different room options. The building used to be an old school, so there are still blackboards and old features around the place!

Click here to book your stay at the Magome Furudato Gakkou

Midrange: Hotel R9 The Yard in Ena has functional and simple rooms that are great for a short stay. This was the option we opted for. We chose it because it was the most affordable accommodation close to the trail.

But without a car, you might be better off paying a little extra on your room and staying in a post town instead.

Click here to book your stay at the Hotel R9 The Yard

Luxury: the Taoya Kisoji Hotel is just a few kilometers outside of Tsumago. It strikes a balance between luxury and authenticity. It boasts stunning pools and state-of-the-art facilities with a Japanese twist.

Click here to book your stay at the Taoya Kisoji Hotel

Final Thoughts on Hiking from Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku

Whether you decide to do the Nakasendo trail on your own or on a tour you’re sure to love it. The Magome to Tsumago stretch packs all the best post towns and prettiest landscapes into a short 8-kilometer hike. 

Without a doubt the Magome to Tsumago hiking trail was one of the highlights of my time in Japan!

It gives you a real glimpse into what it must have been like for travellers in the past walking the Nakasendo trail. 

On my first trip to Japan, I stuck to the classic tourist route, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima (with a day trip to Miyajima Island), Kamakura, and Nara, so I knew that on this second Japan trip, I wanted to go beyond the tourist path and see a different side of Japan.

And the Nakasendo Highway, with its incredibly well-preserved ancient post towns, didn’t disappoint. Alongside Mount Fuji and Himeji Castle, it’s amongst my favourite places in Japan.

Have you heard of the Magome-Tsumago trail before? Would you hike it yourself? Let me know in the comments below. 

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