Nakasendo Magome & Tsumago in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Nakasendo Trail Ryo was my guide for the Nakasendo Trail from Magome to Tsumago. He was excellent! This was my first exposure to the Nakasendo Trail and Ryo was thoughtful, organized and well prepared. Several days prior to the tour he reached out and made contact to review logistics of the tour: the hike would be sunny and hot, bring sunglasses and a hat, and dress accordingly. This was helpful for me and my anxiety and I appreciated his time and effort devoted to preparation. The morning of our hike, Ryo called to confirm our meeting location, Nakatsugawa station. After we met, we had time to purchase fluids and other provisions which was key because it was HOT. A brief tour around the station was informative and helpful for me to get oriented. After meeting Ryo, I liked him right away. He was personable, enthusiastic and had a positive, warm energy. He was curious and asked me questions about my interests in an effort to personalize the trip. In general, he checked in often during the tour about our pacing, temperature, need for rest, degree of hydration and my overall well being. In spite of Ryo’s efforts, I still managed to leave my hat in the hotel room. Doh! Not to worry, because Ryo gave me a tenugui (thin rectangular cloth that can be folded and used to cover the head) which saved me from a heat stroke. Ryo has an impressive range of knowledge on a number of topics, and he enjoys teaching and encourages questions. In between seeing the incredible points of interest along the hike I was able to learn about Japanese culture, food, language and history, which I particularly enjoyed because I’m a nerd that loves talking and learning about samurai and the Sengoku period. We stopped at a small local shop about midway for shaved ice which really really hit the spot because it was hot, I had been sweating like a faucet, and I was super thirsty. He also had electrolyte tablets that he shared, and we stopped for water at different points on the trail. We ended the hike with an amazing meal at a small local restaurant right outside of Tsumago that Ryo recommended. Most of the ingredients for the meal was grown on the property in their garden! The food was delicious and one of my favorite experiences of the tour. Feeling tired with a sense of accomplishment after completing the hike, it was like sharing a meal with an old friend. I’m grateful that Ryo was my guide and would love to use his services for a longer hike on the Nakasendo trail in the future. Thanks Ryo!

Hiroshi expertly guided us along the 8km trail from Tsumago to Magome. It is largely up hill doing the walk this way round. A large part of the trip was shaded by trees in the woods so it was not too hot. We stopped for a look at a traditional Inn and museum in Tsumago, where Hiroshi shared his knowledge and gave us some historic background. The scenery of the Kiso river and valley was wonderful. The arrangement of the meeting point was straightforward and Hiroshi arranged a taxi for us back to our hotel.

Amazing walk along an ancient route between 2 post towns, with stunning scenery. My guide, Yoshi, was an excellent host with a wealth of knowledge on the history and food of Japan and the area. He recommended a really traditional restaurant for lunch, which served tasty local food. Yoshi's expertise is highly recommended! I cannot thank him enough for making it an enjoyable hike. Arigato gozaimasu Yoshi.

This area does not have as many foreign travelers as Nagano therefore a guide is recommend to get the most of hiking in this area. Yoshi was very professional and knowledgeable. We are very glad to have him as a guide. Without his assistance I fear we have been lost and not have easily gotten from place to place. Or have done what all other tourists have done: take the bus to Magome and hiked back instead of going from Magome to Tsumago. Our trek was not crowded and we were able to see amazing views with waterfalls. Definitely worth coming. And definitely worth hiring a guide.

Exploring the two post villages with my guide Hiroshi, is the most memorable part of my Japan travels. The walk from Tsumago to Magome on the Nakasendo trail was beautiful and Hiroshi will explain the history of the area making it an immersive day of Japanese history while exploring the natural setting. It’s nice to be in a place where there are less people and a break from city life. He will accommodate the activity to your interest. I will definitely come back to the area for more walking exploration and highly recommend Hiroshi as a guide.