You hike an old highway Nakasendo walking through two posttowns. Strolling around the most famous traditional post towns, Magome & Tsumago, takes you back to nostalgic Japan. The moment you enter these towns along Nakasendo highway, you will feel as if you are in a time warp back in the Edo period, where local people spend their daily lives as well as welcoming tourists, preserving buildings and the landscape.
At JR Nagoya Station
stroll around the town/ Magome is known for the birthplace of a famous novelist Toson Shimazaki. In Magome most houses were rebuilt after a big fire at the end of 19th century, but a variety of shops and museums, such as Toson’s Museum and Shimizuya Museum, attracts many tourists thorough the year.
The pass is the highest point in the hiking route and you could take a short break at a cafe.
You could have a short break in the old farmer's house.
This is an oasis with a romantic episode about a legendary sword-master Miyamoto Musashi.
Lunch break & stroll around the town/ Visitors stroll around an authentic traditional town and see a nostalgic townscape which consists of traditional wooden houses. Wakihonjin-Okuya (National Important Cultural Property) is one of the typical buildings in which the Meiji emperor stayed. It is open for everyone to visit and enjoy walking through most rooms and seeing valuable antique goods, while listening to a detailed explanation by a local guide in English.
At JR Nagoya Station
guide fee
hotel pick-up
transportation fee about 7000yen/person (you and guide),
lunch about 1600yen/person (you and guide)
entrance fee 1200yen/person for you
*It will cost about 10000yen/person in total.
As this hiking tour is moving through mountain path, we might have to change the itinerary or transportation depending on the conditions of weather;
Tsumago-juku is one of the traditional post-towns of the Nakasendo highway. In the 1960s, this small town was on the verge of deterioration and about to lose its unique features because of development in the wake of modernization. However, it revived through citizen’s preservation movement and was designated as one of the Important Traditional Buildings Preservation Areas by the government.
When you feel hungry or thirsty, some cozy restaurants and sweet shops will satisfy your appetite. My recommendations are Gohei-mochi with green tea or handmade buckwheat noodles, Soba, with Sake. Gohei-mochi is a soft rise-cake with sweet soy-bean paste. You might get hooked on its simple and delicious taste that you’ve never experienced before.
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I can guide in Kyoto in case you support transportation fee.
“Very enjoyable visit to Shirakawago”
Tetsuji was very professional and we had a great time!
Richard Z.
Monet's Pond, Knife‒city Seki & Washi‒hometown Mino
“Detailed plan with flexibility, strong local knowledge”
Due to the bad weather, Tetsuji offered alternative to Monet's pond with Inuyama Castle. The change worked out well. The eel lunch in Seki was very good again. Perfect recommendation that only local knows. The old town of Mino and washi paper arts are memorable. Seki was the town for sword making. Traveling 3 cities with local trains within one day needs detail local knowledge. Tetsuji worked out detail plan, also with flexibility due to the weather change. I would recommend Tetsuji for non Japanese speakers want to visit local towns. That will make the trip much easier.
Tetsuji Y.
(33 reviews)Thank you for a superb review full of praise of my job. Now, I have got emotional with so much detailed nice words for me. I feel extremely honored to have worked as a guide for a lovely intelligent couple for two days in a row. I enjoyed myself not only guiding but also talking with you and Jane. I really hope you visit Japan and chat with me again. Please give my best regard to Jane.
“Well planned tour with many details”
Tetsuji guided us to Shirakawa-go. The tour was great. Starting from Gifu with train ride to Takayam, the train ride is a tour itself. The view was so beautiful that making the train ride was enjoyable. Right after arrived Shirakawa-go, Tetsuji put our name for a very good restaurant that serves hida beef. The lunch was perfect. Tetsuji was very detail person. Every detail is planned. All the activities that Tetsuji planned have their meanings, which we can feel it. And, Tetsuji took so many pictures of us. I believe those pictures will help us to reminding us about this trip. I would recommend Tetsuji to anyone that come to Shirakawa-go for the first time.
Tetsuji Y.
(33 reviews)Thank you for a superb review full of praise of my job. Now, I have got emotional with so much detailed nice words for me. I feel extremely honored to have worked as a guide for a lovely intelligent couple for two days in a row. I enjoyed myself not only guiding but also talking with you and Jane. I really hope you visit Japan and chat with me again. Please give my best regard to Jane.