Discover Authentic Japan in Tsumago & Magome, Nakasendo
Joined 2015
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.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At the hotel or JR Nagoya Station
- It is better to meet at 7:30 at the latest and buy tickets at the ticket counter of JR Nagoya station at the.
JR Nagoya station
You leave Nagoya by the limited express SHINANO No.3 leaving Nagoya at just 8:00.
Magome-juku
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.
Magome Mountain Pass
The pass is the highest point in the hiking route and you could take a short break at a cafe.
Ichikoku-shirakiaratame-bansho-ato(old checking point)
You could have a short break in the old farmer's house.
Male and Female Waterfall
This is an oasis with a romantic episode about a legendary sword-master Miyamoto Musashi.
Tsumago-juku
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.
JR Nagiso station
JR Nagoya station
Ending Point
At JR Nagoya Station
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
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.
Tour Important Information
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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Important message from the supplier
I can guide in Kyoto in case you support transportation fee.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2015
About Tour Guide Tetsuji Y.
Hello everyone. I am Tetsuji. I worked as a public servant in the local government for 35 years. I belonged to the department of Redevelopment, Town-Landscaping, Preserving historical areas and Architectural Guidance. (I have a national 1st-class architect license.) I devoted myself to revitalizing the city by making plans and improving infrastructure for citizens.
Gifu is located in central Japan near Nagoya. As just being the crossroads of the West and the East, there are many unique attractions that are hard to discover in hectic big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. I had a hand in restoring and preserving some of them throughout my career and want to introduce them to tourists from abroad. That’s why I became a guide-interpreter in Gifu.
I also enjoyed traveling around the world. My favorite part of each trip was walking around the city and talking with local residents. Traveling has taught me lots of things during my lifetime. Now, I would like to help others have similar experience in Japan. Shall we enjoy fantastic journey in Gifu?
Reviews
“Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Takayama ”
Our group of 3 booked Tetsuji for a day trip to Shirakawa-go from Takayama. Tetsuji was incredibly responsive during the planning process and even helped us reserve transportation and a restaurant which took all the fuss out of the process! His demeanor was incredibly friendly and professional across the trip, always happy to tap into his knowledge of the location's heritage and goings-on to answer whatever questions we had (with a particular focus on the architectural structure and development of the town's Gassho-Style Houses). Tetsuji's planning allowed every location enough breathing room for us to take them in, with plenty of photo opportunities too! Though he expressed modesty about his English proficiency at the start, we had no trouble communicating at all (you could drop him in England, and he'd probably be fine honestly). All in all, a well-prepared, well-travelled, and well-mannered guide. If we're ever back in the area, we'd have no qualms contacting Tetsuji again!
Tetsuji Y.
I truly appreciate your kind words and generous praise. It means a lot to me. Honestly, I feel a little embarrassed accepting such compliments as mine, but your thoughtful words are incredibly inspiring and give me the confidence to take on new challenges. I am really looking forward to seeing you and your family again Please give my warm regards to Chris and Jimmy.
Shwe M.
One Day Tour of Takayama & Shirakawago
Customized
“Takayama and Shirakawago”
Tetsuji is the perfect guide for the historically inclined. His background in town planning and architecture mean that he truly understands the importance of preserving traditional ways of life for future generations to enjoy. He perfectly structured our day, without ever making us feel rushed, and booked the best restaurant in Shirakawago for us (which is booked up to a month in advance). He is also an avid photographer and we are looking forward to seeing all the photos he took of us on our trip with him!
Tetsuji Y.
Thank you for describing nice review. I am very happy to hear that you are satisfied with my tour. Please give my best regards to Conner.
“Great tour of Takayama and Furukawa”
Tetsuji is a patient, knowledgeable guide who managed to fit all the highlights of two towns into a relaxed-feeling day. He introduced us to many under the surface aspects of local culture that we would have overall missed. And he made us feel comfortable traveling with children with constant food and bathroom needs. A five-star guide and great person!
Tetsuji Y.
Thank you for excellent praise for my tour. I am very happy to hear that you are satisfied with my guiding. I hope you could come back to Japan again and enjoy traveling around my area with me. I believe you still have a lot of places to visit and know the details. Please give my best regards to your family members.
$115/ per group
More tours by Tetsuji Y.
One-day-tour of Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go is a mountain settlement that is famous for uniquely designed Gassyo-style buildings and registered as one of the World Cultural Heritage sites. In Ogi-machi, over sixty Gassyo-style buildings will welcome visitors. Enjoying the whole landscape of the village from the hill, you will stroll around the village visiting some traditional Gasho-style buildings such as Wada House, Nagase House and Myozenji Temple Museum.
Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
Takayama is a small city in a mountainous area. The tour includes some healing spots in addition to popular highlights like Miyagawa Morning Market, Higashiyama Walking, Old Town and Hida-Furukawa. I'm sure you’ll be able to see why Takayama mesmerizes tourists so much through this tour.
Cormorant fishing viewing on the Nagaragawa River
Gifu Castle standing on the Mt.Kinka provides visitors with nice panoramic views day and night. You also enjoy watching a traditional unique event Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River while eating dinner in a viewing boat. Sir Charlie Chaplin visited Gifu twice to enjoy this unique traditional event. Besides, a photogenic street Kawara-machi and the Great Buddha statue in Shoboji-temple move you so much.
Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
You will enjoy two distinctive fields of Japanese culture by visiting two small towns in one day trip. The one is Mino which is famous for Japanese hand-made paper Washi. Another one is Seki famous for Japanese-swordsmith. Strolling around two towns, you will learn some of secrets of cool Japan.
Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Gifu
The exploration tour to the site of the Battle of Sekigahara
Do you know “the Battle of Sekigahara” ? If you are a Japanese samurai fun, I think you have heard of it and the Battle field is must-see! Why don’t you come with me to the memorial site in Sekigahara where the greatest field battle in Japanese history was taken place. Why don’t you come with me and let’s find out what happened in a tiny village central Japan 420 years ago?
Local classic train-ride and silk-screen printing in Gujo
Gujo is an old castle town, where holds bon-dancing every summer. You also enjoy dancing together! Local classic train takes you to such a nostalgic town. You also enjoy the beautiful scenery of clean river and mountains from the window during the train-ride. In the town, you enjoy the castle on top of the hill, clean canal with some colored carps and silk-screen printing. Please come to Gujo-Hachiman in Gifu!!
Hida Furukawa Tour
Furukawa is a small town next to Takayama. We can go just 15 minutes by train from Takayama. It locate on the way to Toyama, Kanazawa by train. We will go around the town which more calm and not too touristy.
Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
Takayama is a small city in a mountainous area. The tour includes some healing spots in addition to popular highlights like Miyagawa Morning Market, Higashiyama Walking, Old Town and Hida-Furukawa. I'm sure you’ll be able to see why Takayama mesmerizes tourists so much through this tour.