Discover Authentic Japan in Tsumago & Magome, Nakasendo
You hike an old highway Nakasendo strolling through two post-towns. Magome & Tsumago. Strolling around well-preserved popular post towns takes you back to nostalgic Japan. The moment you enter these towns, 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. You also enjoy hiking an old trekking route through mountains.
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
- After arriving at the JR Nagoya station, guests buy tickets for both guests and guide.
JR Nagoya station
You leave Nagoya by the limited express SHINANO No.3 and arrive at Nakatsgawa at 8:50.
Magome-juku
Walk through Magome-juku and enjoy having a nice view from the observation point.
Magome Mountain Pass
The pass is the highest point in the hiking route and you could take a short break.
Male and Female Waterfall
This is an oasis with a romantic episode about a legendary sword-master Miyamoto Musashi.
Tsumago-juku
After late lunch break, visitors stroll around a traditional town and see a nostalgic townscape which consists of wooden houses. Wakihonjin-Okuya is one of the typical buildings in which the Meiji emperor stayed. It is open for everyone to visit and enjoy walking through rooms and seeing valuable antique goods, while listening to a detailed explanation by a local guide in English.
JR Nagiso station
You leave Nagiso station by Shinano No.15 at 15:56
JR Nagoya station
Ending Point
At JR Nagoya Station
Want to personalize this tour?
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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 2000yen/person (you and guide)
entrance fee 400yen/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
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
Pascal N.
“Wonderful hike along the historic Nakasendo trail”
We enjoyed another fantastic day with our guide, Tetsuji — this time hiking along the historic Nakasendo trail between the post towns of Magome and Tsumago. Walking through these beautifully preserved villages felt like stepping back in time to the Edo period, surrounded by wooden houses, stone paths, and serene mountain scenery. Tetsuji was, once again, an exceptional guide — kind, knowledgeable, and always attentive to our pace and interests. He shared fascinating insights about the history of the Nakasendo and the daily life of the people who once traveled this route. His explanations made the experience so much richer and more meaningful. Thanks to Tetsuji, we had an unforgettable day full of atmosphere, history, and beauty. We highly recommend him to anyone who wants to experience Japan’s heritage in an authentic and personal way.
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Tetsuji Y.
I really appreciate that you and Sandra enjoyed my tour and felt comfortable asking questions, as if you were at home. I’m happy and grateful for your kind words about my work. Your curiosity about Japanese culture became the driving force that helped me naturally give my best performance. I hope you’ll come back to Japan and join my tour again in the near future—before I retire from this job!
Pascal N.
“Great full-day tour with Tetsuji in Takayama”
We had a wonderful full-day tour with Tetsuji in Takayama and Hida-Furukawa. Takayama is a charming city nestled in the mountains, known for its beautiful old town, the Miyagawa morning market, and the peaceful Higashiyama walking course. Throughout the day, we learned so much about the region’s culture and history and experienced the area’s unique atmosphere through seeing, tasting, and exploring. Tetsuji was an excellent guide — very friendly, flexible, and always attentive to our interests. His deep knowledge of Takayama and Hida-Furukawa made every stop more meaningful. He also took us to a wonderful local restaurant, where we shared a delicious meal together in a very pleasant and authentic setting. Thanks to Tetsuji, we spent a truly memorable day filled with new impressions and experiences we would never have had on our own. We can recommend him without any hesitation!
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Tetsuji Y.
I really appreciate that you and Sandra enjoyed my tour and felt comfortable asking questions, as if you were at home. I’m happy and grateful for your kind words about my work. Your curiosity about Japanese culture became the driving force that helped me naturally give my best performance. I hope you’ll come back to Japan and join my tour again in the near future—before I retire from this job! P.S. I was profoundly moved with your family story. Thank you so much for telling me
Marie-eve L.
“Nakasendo trail”
Nice hiking day along the Nakasendo trail with Tetsuji. The day was well planned and we stopped at key points to have informations or see beautiful scenery. Thank you Tetsuji, we will book another activity with you again on our next trip to japan.
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Tetsuji Y.
I am so happy receiving satisfaction message for my tour from you, and grateful for full marks. I am looking forward to seeing you and Francoi again.
$116/ per group
More tours by Tetsuji Y.
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One-day-tour of Shirakawa-go
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Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
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Cormorant fishing viewing on the Nagaragawa River
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Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
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Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Gifu
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Local classic train-ride and silk-screen printing in Gujo
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Hida Furukawa Tour
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Hida Furukawa Tour
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The exploration tour to the site of the Battle of Sekigahara
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The exploration tour to the site of the Battle of Sekigahara
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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.
Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
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