We recently published a video of our trip through the Kiso Valley from Nagoya to Matsumoto. It was a spectacular trip as we followed the Kiso River through the valley making an overnight stop in Agematsu.
We started the trip (after a short train ride from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa) after picking up a rental car in town, then stopping briefly at the historic post town of Magome. A “Post Town” is an historic stop on what was the Nakasendo Trail, one of several routes that connected the earlier capital of Japan, being Kyoto, with that of Edo, which is now known as Tokyo. These post towns were places where travelers could rest, resupply themselves and also be kept under observation by the local lords or Daimyos. Only a few of these post towns survive today and Magome is one of the more picturesque.
After Magome, we visited the post town of Tsumago which is slightly larger, and in my opinion, more authentic in feel. We stopped at several other destinations including the town of Narai-juku and the amazing Nezame Gorge which I enjoyed completely by myself one morning. This is a stunning gorge that features enormous rock formations and crystal clear water. We even included a stop at the Kiso Wooden Toy Museum which we found to be an absolutely delightful surprise. So click here to watch this new video and enjoy the ride!