Magome

We’re venturing out of the city today and up into the mountains. Taking our first trip on the Shinkansen to Nagoya and then on to Natasugawa and Magome. That fast train is unbelievable, 2 hours driving or thirty minutes on the Shinkansen.

Took a while but we finally made it out of the city, Arriving at Magome we were a bit lost on where to look for our Ryokan, Graham went into a little shop to ask, “oh I ring” she says 2 minutes later a car arrives for us. Amazing service. Keiko our hostess is lovely, served us tea and snacks and drove us back uptown once we’d got rid of our bags. We spent the afternoon wandering Magome streets which are all gorgeous, my new favourite place in Japan.

Magome and Tsumago are two restored and preserved Edo-period post towns on the Nakasendo highway in the Kiso Valley. Tomorrow we are walking the post road between the two, about 8kms, let’s hope not all of it uphill.Read more