The Nakasendo Trail

I spent two days on the Nakasendo Trail, the old ancient road between Edo and Kyoto. The hike between Tsumago and Magome was the highlight of my time there. It took you onto old cobblestone roads, past waterfalls, walking through people’s front yards, and the stop at the 200 year old Tateba tea house near the end your journey is unforgettable. You can imagine how it felt being someone during that period on a long tiring journey from Edo to Kyoto, resting their legs here for a chat and some tea. Tsumago is the more authentic of the two towns although lodgings are much more scarce. Tsumago is also more pleasant to navigate. Magome has only one very steep central road and may seem a little touristy after you’ve been to Tsumago but still a very pretty town. Two or three nights is enough to see everything in the area.