Wm

We are taking a 3-week trip to Japan from late October to mid-November. We plan to take the walk from Magome to Tsumago in the Kiso Valley. We would appreciate information: How strenuous is this walk; how long does it take; are there places to stop for a snack or beverage along the way? Any other necessary information you can give us would be much appreciated.

temppeternh

> How strenuous is this walk

Magome is on a steep incline which continues a little way above the town, but after than it's mostly down hill and this is not overall a strenuous walk at all.

> how long does it take

Not long at all if you step out--perhaps an hour? Three if you take it very gently, turn off to look at the waterfalls, etc. It's only about 7km or so.

> are there places to stop for a snack or beverage along the way

There are hot snacks in Magome and places to buy snacks to take with you to have a picnic. There's a 250-year-old tea house run by volunteers at Magome Pass where the other day I was given tea, sour plums, and mochi (sticky rice cakes).

> Any other necessary information you can give us would be much appreciated.

Of the two old inns for feudal lords now open as museums at Tsumago, the Waki-Honjin is better than the Honjin.

See this web page:

http://www.nakasendoway.com/?page_id=95

Click 'The journey to Odaki-Medaki' and the following two links.

I've done this spring, autumn, and winter (along with other sections of the Nakasendo). A more pleasant combination of exercise and culture couldn't be hoped for. Consider extending your walk from Tsumago to Nagiso, not much further (see Google Maps) and continuing to other old sections such as over the Torii Pass (a bit more strenuous, though nothing serious) to Narai.

Mara

http://www.tumago.jp/walk/index.html

There's info on above link but if you don't read Japanese you need a translation tool. I started at Magome. At the Tourist Information office you can have your backpack or light-weight luggage transported to the other end and you can get a plaque which is stamped at the TI on other end.

I believe the distance is closer to 8 kilometers - I did it about two years ago and it took me a good 3 to 4 hours. I am in pretty good shape and walked by myself. As above poster said there is a rest stop staffed by volunteers and also there are a couple of toilets here and there along the way.

Although many parts of it were flat, there were some challenging parts as well and a lot of it is along stone paths as seen in photos here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6078.html

It was very enjoyable - I stayed over in Tsumago.

mrwunrfl

Here is another link:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-408.pdf

camilwhitney

Not a strenuous walk if you leave from Magome and you are used to walking. It was a slippery surface and broken sometimes, so wear boots. 7.8 kilometers.There seemed to be plenty of food along the way although we brought some along in our backpacks. We stayed overnight at the Fujioto, great food and great hosts and lovely rooms. See tripadvisor.com about it. The owner arranged for us to share a taxi to Magome (3000y?/couple) so we could walk back to the Tsumago.