Kiso Valley Region

Kiso Valley Region is in Nagano prefecture, Japan. Situated in the southwestern part of Nagano Prefecture, this area was once a section of the old Nakasendo Highway, one of Japan's historic transport arteries joining Kyoto with Edo (present-day Tokyo). Roughly following the Kiso River, the once-important post towns now form a well-preserved living museum of the Edo Period, with most modern facilities being hidden from sight.

This southernmost post town is famous as the birthplace of the noted poet/novelist Toson Shimazaki (1872-1943). The town often appears in his works. Old inns wind their way up to the old curving street, much as they did in the Edo period. 30 min. by bus from Nakatsugawa Station on the Chuo Honsen Line. Magome is the most developed site for tourism and its steep street tends to get crowded.

This town is also a Protected Area for the Preservation of Traditional Buildings. Once the most prosperous of the post towns, it was called "Narai of a Thousand Houses." Five public wells still refresh travelers with their cool, clear water. On the northern end of the Kiso vally, Narai is a bit more laidback than Magome and Tsumago, and to some extent it looks more authentic. From Narai you can climb to the Torii pass and see an original section of the paved Nakasendo. Narai is 5 min. walk from Narai Station on the Chuo Honsen Line.