Kiso Valley & Nakasendo

The Nakasendo (中山道, 'Central Mountain Route') was one of the five major highways connecting Kyoto and Edo during Japan's feudal period. Unlike the coastal Tokaido route, the Nakasendo wound through the mountainous interior, passing through 69 post towns where travelers could rest, eat, and resupply.

Today, several sections of this historic route remain remarkably preserved, particularly in the Kiso Valley region. The stone-paved paths, dark wooden machiya townhouses, and mountain scenery transport visitors back centuries.