ANCIENT NAKASENDO TRAIL

Step back in time and explore the ancient Nakasendo trail, one of the ‘Five Routes’ of the Edo period, travelled by feudal lords on their way to the capital.

Spanning 540 kilometres of stunning mountainous terrain between Kyoto and Tokyo, the Nakasendo trail features 69 station towns where travellers could rest during their long journey.

The Kiso district is home to eleven of these historic station towns as well as one of the four security checkpoints, the Kiso Fukushima Checkpoint. These towns prospered from the traffic and grew to be one of the greatest trade routes of the time. Although Japan modernised and traffic moved away from the area, the Kiso towns successfully preserved the aesthetic of the Edo period.

From the streets, the façades of the Edo period remain and visitors can even stay in the traditional guesthouses or shop and eat in those converted into other businesses.

Kiso Fukushima

Kiso-Fukushima was one of the Nakasendo post towns as well as one of the four security checkpoints, thus it flourished as a political and economic centre in the Kiso Valley. The distinct Edo-style buildings throughout town are a picturesque reminder of this history. The checkpoint itself has been restored and now contains many fascinating relics of the Edo period including a display of documents, maps and weapons.

Otaki Village

Ancient Japanese beliefs are rooted in nature worship, so it was widely believed that mountains were the meeting place of heaven and earth. As Mount Ontake is Japan’s second largest volcano, it is a centuries old destination for religious pilgrims to pray and be purified. Otaki village, located 40 minutes from Kiso-Fukushima, lies at the foot of Mt. Ontake and has a history of accommodating the pilgrims travelling to the area.

Magome - Tsumago

The trail between Magome and Tsumago is a well-preserved section of the former Nakasendo trail. The walk is easy to moderate and well signposted in English. It is roughly 8km long and takes approximately three hours to complete at a leisurely pace. The trail leads through the countryside, past the homes and fields of local residents, occasionally intersecting with the road where hikers must walk along asphalt for short portions.

Yabuhara - Narai

This section of the trail (the Torii Pass) from Yabuhara to Narai is particularly strenuous so travellers often needed to stop and rest here. As a result, Narai grew to be one of the most prosperous towns in the Kiso Valley and received the nickname ‘Narai of a Thousand Houses’ due to the sheer abundance of guesthouses. The Torii pass hike is 8.5km long and takes roughly 2.5 hours to complete.

Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest

Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest tells a fascinating story. Spread over 700 hectares in the mountains southwest of Agematsu, it has been coveted for its Kiso cypress trees since the Edo period. During that time, the Owari clan placed strict limitations on timber use, however in the late 1800s, the imperial family took control and began logging the area.