Private Tour

Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Trail Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide

Overview

Available languages

Japanese

English

6 hours

Mobile ticket

Kiso Valley, best known for the Magome and Tsumago traditional villages, is another beautiful spot in the Japanese Alps. With one of the most famous hiking paths in all Japan, we set foot there on our quest for traditional Japan.

Magome and Tsumago are two beautifully preserved traditional villages. This value-packed Nakasendo trail day hike between Magome and Tsumago with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore both of the ancient post towns!

It is about 8 kilometres (5 miles) long and has only gentle elevation changes which takes around 2 hours to easy walk at a leisurely pace.

This private tour is a hiking day tour. Please wear hiking boots and gear for this tour. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs.

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Meet up with guide on foot at a designated meeting point

Licensed Local English Speaking Guide

Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses

Private Vehicle

You cannot combine multiple tour groups.

Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

What To Expect

Nakasendo Magome-juku

While Magome and Tsumago served the same purposes for old-time travelers, the city has been preserved and restored in a very different way than Tsumago, with a broad stone walkway lined with trees and many traditional houses and craft shops. Another difference is that it is on a slope, which leads to some beautiful views of the surrounding valley, and is home to several small museums that showcase the history of the town, the artists that lived there and their way of living. I would recommend grabbing a drink or something to eat at the restaurants on top of the village and enjoy the views over the valley, or at the lower part to mix with the very interesting locals.

2 hours•Admission Not Applicable

Nakasendo Tsumagojuku

Tsumago is almost flat but also a very charming village that takes you back to the old Japan. The town was one of the first historical preservation projects in all Japan (if not the first) and it recreates the ambience with its unpaved streets and concealed cables. It keeps many of the traditional houses, like the original inn (the Honjin) that welcomed the merchants that traveled the Nakasendo, and the secondary inn (Wakihonjin), the old notice board used to publish the decrees from the Shogun, the Buddhist temple (built during the XVI Century)… But you’ll find it even more charming on it’s best enjoyed at night, when they lit up their lanterns and everything becomes quiet but, maybe, a drum beating.

2 hours•Admission Not Applicable

Options

Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Trail Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide

Reviews

4.76

33 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

This was such a beautiful...
cecilia c,
Apr 13, 2025
- Viator
5.00
This was such a beautiful way to see the countryside of Japan. Although we saw many travelers guiding themselves, I’m very happy that I booked this experience with a guide as Elvis was a great person to navigate us through the hike and provide us with some information as well as help us plan the logistics of our travel in and out of Nagano. He took such good care of us was a wonderful guide and photographer. Although I may have underestimated the intensity of the hike, it’s very much doable and definitely worth it.
A must do if you are a historian enthusiast or just want to do something active and different in Japan.
Stann W,
Dec 12, 2024
- Viator
5.00
This was a truly amazing experience that I would recommend to any and everyone. Our tour guide Matt was knowledgeable about the history of the Nakasendo trail and the area in general. He customized our tour to ensure we would be comfortable with the route and pace. He gave us lunch options, allowed for detours and answered all the questions we had.
Great tour
lottie m,
May 3, 2024
- Viator
4.00
Tour guide was great - very insightful and provided a good day out - the waterfalls viewing point didn’t really exist as could not see anything due to the trees
Exceeded our expectations in every way
David W,
Apr 21, 2024
- Viator
4.00
Our guide was Enomoto ("Matt") Masatake. I connected with Matt via email and Whatsapp before our arrival in Japan. He was extremely professional and responsive. We took the train from Matsumoto to Nagatsugawa where we met Matt. Then took a bus with him to the starting point in Magome. The hike exceeded our expectations in every way. The physical challenge was greater than we expected, but certainly mamageable. Magome is a beautiful town. The terrain and tour route was more beautiful than we expected. After we left Magome, the crowds thinned out considerably. Matt arramged for an early lunch along the way and, of course, we stopped at the tea house as well. At the end of the hike, we enjoyed a coffee with Matt. Finally, he accompanied us by bus to Nagiso railway station for our return trip to Matsumoto. If was a tiring, yet rewarding day. Matt educated us about the history of the route, the nature and culture.
Money and day well spent!
James P,
Apr 17, 2024
- Viator
5.00
This particular hike was a perfect amateur level hike. Good enough to get the blood going but not outrageously difficult. My tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and an absolute delight to spend the day with. I would even do this same hike again with a guide. 10/10 would recommend