Linking Edo and Kyoto, the Nakasendo was once a stage for processions, trade, and messengers—a road of both formality and hardship.
From Magome-juku to Usui-toge Pass, four segments invite you into very different registers of travel:
Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku are post towns that preserve the rhythms of daily life from centuries ago.
Torii-toge Pass and Narai-juku lead you deeper into wooded slopes, where craftspeople built with patience and precision.
Shimosuwa-juku to Wada-toge Pass reveals a grand sense of scale, with landscapes that rise and fold, and roads that challenge your footing.
Karuizawa to Usui-toge Pass offers a quieter experience, where light filters through the trees and the crisp air naturally slows your pace.
Every leg of the journey leads you through historic landscapes and along paths that leave a lasting impression.
Linking Edo and Kyoto, the Nakasendo was once a stage for processions, trade, and messengers—a road of both formality and hardship.
From Magome-juku to Usui-toge Pass, four segments invite you into very different registers of travel:
Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku are post towns that preserve the rhythms of daily life from centuries ago.
Torii-toge Pass and Narai-juku lead you deeper into wooded slopes, where craftspeople built with patience and precision.
Shimosuwa-juku to Wada-toge Pass reveals a grand sense of scale, with landscapes that rise and fold, and roads that challenge your footing.
Karuizawa to Usui-toge Pass offers a quieter experience, where light filters through the trees and the crisp air naturally slows your pace.
Every leg of the journey leads you through historic landscapes and along paths that leave a lasting impression.
Magome-juku to Tsumago-jukuA stretch where uneven stones, sloped paths, and preserved post towns evoke the rhythm of foot travel in the Edo period.
Torii-toge Pass to Narai-jukuA secluded segment, where forested ridges and the enduring craft traditions of Kiso come into view. Narai-juku awaits at the end—a long, narrow town built for those who traveled far.
Shimosuwa-juku to Wada-jukuA route that rises into the highlands—challenging but striking. Onsen steam and alpine contours offer respite and reward.
Karuizawa-juku to Usui-toge PassHere, the trail moves through veils of mist and into cool uplands—an understated, contemplative finale to the walk.
