Natural Japan: Hiking in Magome and Tsumago

Itinerary - 5 Days

1. Day 1

   Location

   Tokyo > Magome

   Meal

   Dinner

   You are on your ways to the mountains! You are heading to Magome via Nakatsugawa.
   
   Suggested route:
   Travel to Nakatsugawa via Nagoya by Shinkansen Hikari and JR limited express train Hida.
   e.g. Tokyo 10:33 > Nakatsugawa 13:39
   Take a local bus to Magome (30min.), a post town in Kiso valley.
   
   Tonight you are staying in the lovely Manpukuan ryokan. This lodging is part of a temple and is oozing with Japanese charm and culture. It's the perfect way to start your trip to the mountains!
   (Accommodation: Manpukuan *Eishoji temple)

2. Day 2

   Location

   Magome

   Meal

   Breakfast & Dinner

   Free to explore the Magome area.
   
   We obviously highly recommend hiking to Tsumago along the Nakasendo trail (except between December and mid- March). If you don't feel up to it, feel free to just explore the town. As a post town, many travellers would stop here on their way along this route and the author, Shimazaki Toson, was born in this area.
   
   (As mentioned, the route takes 3 hours hiking on foot to Tsumago, from where you can take a local bus back to Magome.)
   
   (Accommodation: Manpukuan *Eishoji temple)

3. Day 3

   Location

   Matsumoto

   Hotel

   Dormy inn Matsumoto

   Meal

   Breakfast

   Today you are headed to Matsumoto, the second largest city in Nagano prefecture and home to the lovely Matsumoto Castle. It is unusual because it is an original castle, rather than a re-construction and has its own unique features, not seen at other castles. It is very beautiful, especially during the cherry blossom season.
   
   A popular day trip from Matsumoto is the Kurobe-Alpine Route, which can be done as a day trip. This is a spectacular trip through the alps using cable cars, busses and ropeways. Along the way, you will go through a magnificent snow corridor and be treated to truly fantastic scenery. The trip through the Alps is not covered by the JR Pass, but a pass especially for this route is available for purchase. Also, not to worry if you can't do it in Matsumoto, this is a commonly sold side trip in Nagano as well.
   
   Suggested route:
   Nakatsugawa 10:50 > Matsumoto 12:04

4. Day 4

   Location

   Nagano

   Hotel

   Hotel Metropolitan Nagano

   Meal

   Breakfast

   On day 4, you are headed for Nagano.
   
   Nagano is the home to some rather spectacular and popular shrines, the Togakushi shrine complex, and also the Zenkoji Temple.
   
   However, many travellers to Nagano use their time a little differently - to see the bathing monkeys of course! Japan's macaques have used this hot spring as their own private pool for a long time, and they are plenty of fun to watch. Again, while this route isn't covered by the JR Pass, a pass covering this area and access to the park itself can be bought cheaply.
   
   Suggested route:
   Matsumoto 11: 05 > Nagano 11:59

5. Day 5

   Location

   Nagano > Tokyo

   Meal

   Breakfast

   Today you have to come back down from the mountains, back to the neon jungle of Tokyo. We hope you have enjoyed your trip through the Japanese mountains! Its a truly unique experience and one I guarantee you won't forget in a hurry.
   
   Suggested route:
   Nagano 15:59 > Tokyo 17:28