5 Historical & Heritage Tours in Kiso-gun That You Shouldn't Miss

October 18, 2021 Fernanda Pittenger

Discover the best top things to do in Kiso-gun, Japan including Explore Kiso Valley : Magome - Tsumago Mountain Trail Walk, Nakasendo self-guided walking tour 2 days, Private Full Day Magome &Tsumago Walking Tour from Nagoya, Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Full-Day Private Trip with Nationally-Licensed Guide, Full-Day Small-Group Kisoji Nakasendo Trail Tour.
Restaurants in Kiso-gun

1. Explore Kiso Valley : Magome - Tsumago Mountain Trail Walk

Nakatsugawa Station, 2 Chome-1 Otamachi, Nakatsugawa, Gifu 508-0033, Japan OMAKASE
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Nakasendo was formerly known as the Higashisendo and connects Kyoto and the eastern provinces including present day Tokyo. It was one of five highways created within a 7 year period from 1601 along with the Tokaido, Nikko, Oshu, and Koshu. This tour is a 5 hour mountain trail walk that traverses along a 9km trail that connects the two most beautiful post towns along the Nakasendo - Magome-Juku and Tsumago-Juku. Both towns still retain their medieval flare. Your guide will show you the commercial town in the Tono region that flourished when the highway was active. From cobbled roads going through Magome-Juku, the view of Mt. Ena, a quaint teahouse on a mountain pass, and beautiful mountain village scenery around Tsumago-Juku, there is no doubt that you will feel like you've been transported back to medieval Japan.

Inclusions: English Guide, Bus Ticket, Entrance Fee

Exclusions: Food & Drink

Reviewed By lenorer9950

Tomomi, our tour guide was so well informed. Plus gave us great tips on other things to do & places to visit - great bonus!

2. Nakasendo self-guided walking tour 2 days

Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan Cocolo Travel
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Over the course of two days of an easy walk (self-guided tour) along the Nakasendo road and one overnight stay at a Minshuku (family run lodging), immerse yourself in Japan's folkloric landscapes between the villages of Nakatsugawa and Tsumago. During Japan's feudal period (1603-1868), the Nakasendo road was one of the five routes that linked the economic hub, Tokyo, to the imperial capital, Kyoto. Unlike the Tokaido road, which was replaced by today's Shinkansen train, the Nakasendo was saved from rampant modernization and still upholds an old-fashioned charm. Created by general Tokugawa in order to assert his political domination, the route spans a distance of 534 kilometers and includes 69 rest stops. Its name literally means "mountain road" and is a means of communication in case of a large flood on the Tokaido: the coastal road. Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

Inclusions: 1 night overnight accommodation at family run traditional Japanese inn, 1 Japanese breakfast, 1 Japanese dinner, Detailed day-by-day itinerary and directions (PDF), Detailed walking map (Google Map), Local support by telephone

Exclusions: Activities entrance fees, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Guide, Drinks, Lunches, Travel insurance, Train tickets according to itinerary (*if NO TRAIN option selected), Luggage delivery

Reviewed By davegoodrich

It was our first time in Japan and we decided to have a tour guide for our first day in Kyoto. Pierre was very nice, guiding with patience and enthusiasm. He shows us many beautiful temple that was not in any guide book, and we could feel a zen atmosphere. We realize after three days here, that it is not so easy to find beauty and calm in this really touristic city, Pierre knew those unknown temple, this is why we definitely recommend him.

3. Private Full Day Magome &Tsumago Walking Tour from Nagoya

Japan Oriental Tours

Visit the best parts of Japan with a English speaking guide. You will be taken to the Magome-juku, where you'll see a scene that very much resembles how the post town looked in the Edo period hundreds of years ago. Walk along a well preserved trail as a part of the historical Nakasendo Road between Kyoto and Edo (the old name for Tokyo) where Daimyo lords traveled about 200-300 years ago.The tour will also go to Tsumago-juku which has row of historic buildings that should not be missed. Take a photos of the traditional Japanese scenary, then your tour will end at your hotel.

Inclusions: Landing and facility fees, Lunch, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified

Reviewed By Yvo51

Dreadful value for money. We spent £450 for something which would have cost less than £50 for entry and travel. The tour suggests driver and guide to cover a lot of sightseeing on the same day. We got picked up at the hotel and dropped at the ferry. The people were nice. The taxi could not take the ferry - though other cars did! We then walked for about 2.5 hours through the shops and to the shrine at Miyajima and back to the ferry. We a nice lunch at the Ferry Port in the Hiroshima side which we paid for) and then got picked up at the same ferry port and taken to the peace museum and then on to the A dome about 2pm. We had a lift to the A dome which they had expected that we might have walked. Its not that far but we were tight on time and i was tired b It was already 4pm so we missed the castle, they did offer it but we had had enough as the info we were getting was better said when read in english at the museum. The guide meant we did not get the audio at the museum which would have been far more informative than telling us what we were reading or looking at. I would have preferred to do the peace museum before the crowds came into town at 9/10am. It was so full at 2pm to move around, it was like leaving a football stadium or concert. In hindsight, our JR pass made the ferry free ( they refunded that) and a tram would have done it all for a day pass of 600 yen each. I feel completely ripped off and so disappointed. The English was learnt to share info but not to answer questions which were never understood or answered, we supply gave up engaging. Don't take this tour. The price is seriously inflated and not made up with the quality of the product.

4. Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Full-Day Private Trip with Nationally-Licensed Guide

Magome, Nakatsugawa, Gifu 508-0502, Japan Japan Guide Agency

This value-packed trip with a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way toexplore both of the ancient post towns! You can travel between Magome and Tsumago by infrequent direct bus. Nakasendo was one of the two highways during the Edo period connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, running through the Kiso Valley. Travelers at that time walked along the highway, stopping at "post towns" for rest. Some of those post towns have been well preserved and show tourists today exactly what Japan was like hundreds of years ago. Stunning forests, beautiful villages and traditions, we would love to recommend it to everyone interested in Japanese nature and history. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Nationally and State Licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Inclusions: Free Photos, Licensed Local Guide

Exclusions: Other personal expenses, Lunch - Lunch (for yourself and your guide), Entrance fee (for yourself), Private Vehicle, Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide)

Reviewed By Cwshaman

The flexibility to chose locations that suited our wants and abilities was great. Hiro San was very quick to put together an itinerary that accommodated a family with a stroller-baby (no monkey park due to long unpacked walking paths). Taking in the beautiful temples and view of the Kyoto from the west was breath taking and the guide was able to explain many things we as new Japanese learners could not read or know through cultural knowledge. Overall a great experience, a wonderful and lively guide, and some great memories.

5. Full-Day Small-Group Kisoji Nakasendo Trail Tour

Nagoya Station Tourist Information Center, 1-chōme-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002, Japan Tourism Designers

Depart from Nagoya together with an English-speaking National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter who will tell you all about the post towns of Tsumago and Magome on this full-day tour! Listen to some historical anecdotes and learn about tasty local food. There's plenty of sightseeing to enjoy as the tour will spend at least 150 minutes at Magome and at least 100 minutes at Tsumago. The tour schedule is also convenient for those joining from Tokyo and Osaka. Public transportation and taxis are used for efficient transfers. The areas to be visited on this tour are post towns which still have some buildings from about 400 years ago. They are becoming popular among international travelers as they offer traditional scenescapes of Japan. Leave the urban scene of Nagoya and take a trip 400 years to the past. Keep your cellphone in your bag to spend a few hours away from the modern world taking a journey into towns from the days of old.

Inclusions: Transportation expenses during the tour, Nagisomachi Museum admission (Tsumago-juku Honjin & Waki Honjin Okuya), English Speaking Guide, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Transportation expenses to the meeting location, Food & Drink

Reviewed By triffiea

I had a lovely time chatting about Japanese culture and learning origami. I made a cute little silver metal samurai hat, a washi paper crane, a ninja star (shiriken) and a boat. It was really interesting to hear the back stories to each piece.

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