The Nakasendo trail from Magome to Tsumago, is one of Japan's best kept secrets. I left Tokyo in the sweltering humid heat of summer to visit the Nakasendo highway. This was the main road from Tokyo to Kyoto about 300 hundred years ago. Its name Nakasendo can be translated as "road through the central mountains". The hiking trail from Magome to Tsumago is one of the most beautiful walks in Japan and nobody was walking between the 2 post towns that day. In all there are 11 post towns on the Nakasendo highway. All these towns were prosperous on account of the heavy traffic as it was the main trail route. This post towns began to decline during the period of economic growth in the Showa era when the rail way was introduced and other roads were constructed during the Meji era. Since 1967 these towns & highway have been preserved as historical sites. The walking trail itself between Magome and Tsumago passes through bamboo groves, hydrangea bushes, rice paddies, streams waterfalls and the very high pine tree forests. From time to time, you come across a bell, you are asked to toll saying "beware of the bears". The trail is impeccably maintained, not a bottle or paper insight. Huge black butterflies that look like giant moths, dragon flies with four wings cross your path but otherwise no living creatures in sight. It took me four hours to leisurely walk the 9km that separate the two towns, an ideal outing for families and an unforgettable experience of rural Japan.


From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen train to Nagoya, then the bus to Magome.