The Kiso Valley is a beautiful region between the cities of Nagoya and Matsumoto. Here you can still experience real traditional Japan. In fact, the route through this 70-kilometre-long valley used to be part of one of the two main walking routes between Tokyo and Kyoto: the Nakasendo Trail. You can still enjoy beautiful walks that bring you past a number of historic villages. It can easily give you the feeling of living 200 years back in time.
Are you planning to visit the Kiso Valley? In this travel guide, I will guide you through the region’s best sights, discover the best accommodation and learn more about the special history of this traditional part of Japan. A history-rich visit to the Kiso Valley starts here…
This travel guide to the Kiso Valley contains affiliate links. This means if you make a booking through one of the links on this website, Travel4history gets a small compensation for it. This doesn’t cost you anything extra by the way!
In this Travel Guide to the Kiso Valley
- Practical Information
- Best travel time?
- How many days?
- History – What makes historically interesting?
Plan your trip to the Kiso Valley & Japan
- Accommodation: Hotel in Magome or Nagiso?
- Activities: Tickets & Tours
- Transport by Air? Flight Tickets
- Own Transport?: Rent a Car
- Train tickets: Japan Railway Pass – 7, 14 or 21 days?
Practical Information for a Visit to the Kiso Valley
Best travel time?
April to September
The best time to visit the Kiso Valley is between April and September. During these months you have the best weather and you can also hike the Nakasendo Trail. From November to March is the coldest period here and most stores are also closed.
How many days?
1 day
Are you planning to do the Nakasendo Trail? Then you can do it in half a day if it is the hike between Magome and Tsumago. Would you like to continue exploring this peace of Japan? Then you can decide to stay overnight and visit other villages and places.
Historical Facts – Did you know that…?
- Between 1603 and 1868, this was one of the two main running routes between Tokyo and Kyoto? The other route ran along the coast and was a lot easier to walk.
- There were 11 post villages in the Kiso Valley where the samurai could spend the night? A few of these villages still exist, including Magome and Tsumago.
- The Nakasendo Trail was over 500 kilometers long and took over 100 hours to complete on foot?
Sightseeing – What to do in the Kiso Valley?
By far the most tourists who visit the Kiso Valley do so to walk part of the Nakasendo Trail. The route between Magome and Tsumago is quite popular and also for the inexperienced tourist easy to maintain. The route is only 8 kilometers and although there are height differences it is not very difficult. The Trail begins in the traditional village of Magome, is well marked along the way and ends in the equally traditional Tsumago. Along the way you can take a break at a café where they serve tea and during the walk you can enjoy the beautiful nature of this valley. Want to know more about this walk? Read more about it in the article Nakasendo Trail | The Historic path of the Samurai.
Accommodation – Where to stay?
Do you have time to spare and would like to stay in a traditional village? Then there are plenty of possibilities. For example, it is possible to drop off your suitcase or backpack at the tourist office in Magome and it will be transported to Tsumago for a fee. In Tsumago you can then spend the night in a nice Ryokan, a traditional hotel. If you want to walk more of the Nakasendo Trail you can also visit the village of Narai. This is the largest village in the region, but looks just as nice and traditional as Magome and Tsumago.
Transportation – How to get there?
The Kiso Valley is best reached by train. From Nagoya, the JR Shinano Limited Express departs with Nagano as the end station. In between, the train stops at the Nakatsugawa (for Magome), Nagiso (for Tsumago), Kiso-Fukushima, Narai and Kiso-Hirasawa stops. To get to Magome and Tsumago, you must use a bus, but these trips take 30 minutes at most.
Next destination in Japan?
Now that you’ve experienced the real Japan, it’s time to move on. Heading north, you’ll explore the Japanese Alps and encounter the cities of Matsumoto and Nagano. For the south, you’ll head to Nagoya, which is the stopover for cities in western Japan, such as Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. For the east, continue on to sacred Mount Fuji or to the country’s modern capital, Tokyo.
Do you have more tips, ideas and comments about the Kiso Valley in Japan? Then feel free to leave a comment below.
