Stayed here for 2 nights to do the basic Nakasendo way from Magome to Tsumago. Well preserved old house located right in the middle of Magomejuku. Shoutout to Jeng and Maria for their superb customer service. Food was authentic Japanese fare. You can grab water and beer from their fridge and drop your payment in the box (honesty system). It was summer when we visited, around August, the AC in the room was a lifesaver. The only thing I didnt like was the common toilet. If you're uncomfortable doing your #2 in a public toilet like me then it is a bit of a challenge. I even had to go to the public toilet located in the tourism office early in the morning just to get my privacy. I'd suggest they build a couple of private toilets for those who are uncomfortable in a shared toilet. Oh btw, its a bit of an uphill walk from the bus stop. Small lauggage is recommended. Other than that I'd recommend it.

ACOID THIS PLACE. We got a 6 tatami room for ¥11,000. Room was clean. Dinner was priced at a ridiculous ¥36,000! We can get the same kind of food at the restaurant down the hill for ¥1,800. When arriving no one to greet us but a note when pressing the bell sometimes there is someone coming, sometimes no one. You can go to a few other restaurants that serve dinner for a better price. 2nd floor is cramp with as many rooms as they can to maximise profit. Walls are thin, paper thin literally cause they are made of paper or card board and you can hear guests next door talking and slamming door of their room or the toilet. Water on tap running. We were unlucky and had a group of 6-7 Malaysian aunties talking loud to each other cross a few rooms. Noise started as soon as sun rise at 6:20am. Guess walking stumping. Checking out is also pretty much DIY and self serving as checking. Been to similar places and many ryokan. Beside the building front facade and room looks Japanese and there is not much authenticity about it. Water pressure in the common bath and all basin is low, very low. No hot water coming on all basins. Heated toilet seat was off. Again to maximise profit. This is pretty much a backpacker dormitory low budget hotel that charges a lot. That’s all. Thank God it was only one night.

4.5 — Magome Chaya is in an excellent location right smack in the middle of the charming town of Magome. We stayed in a private room, but the toilet is shared and the shower area is not private. The service is excellent and the food is plenty. I’m rating it as 4.5 just because there were no toiletries provided, which becomes a challenge given there are no convenience stores around in this rural area. But other than that, our stay was good.

We had an overnight stay with two people. The stay was perfect from the initial welcome to checkout. The house is beautiful, the food was impressive and very tasty. We were wonderfully looked after and nothing was missing. The beds were also comfortable and the dormitory was quiet and well separated. I have nothing negative to report. Thank you for taking such good care of us. We'll be back anytime!

Really enjoyed our stay in this guesthouse, mostly thanks to the amazing dinner! Magome was a great stop partway through our Nakasendo hike and we felt lucky to get the last space available for the night we needed. We stayed in the large dorm which meant you could definitely hear other people getting ready for bed/snoring(!) but you had a curtained off private area so that wasn’t an issue. The bed was okay, but the pillow quite hard! Definitely book in for the dinner. Breakfast was served too early for us (7.30-8 I think?)

The guesthouse exceed my expectation. Clean, modern, new and friendly host. I stayed at dorm. The design is good where curtain will seperate 2 bunk bed with the rest. I was lucky that the rest of the dorm mate were quiet so we have a peaceful night sleep. You will have some private space in front of the bed. I didn't take full dinner but the grilled fish is fresh.

experience was good, especially from the perspective of staying in a traditional place along the Nakasendo. However, I was a little concerned about the cleanliness of the futons and bedsheets — they didn’t feel completely clean, and the shared bathroom also didn’t give the best impression in terms of hygiene. Even so, the experience itself is something worth trying at least once, and for that reason I’d still say it deserves 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The part that left me with a slightly bitter aftertaste was the food. In my opinion, it was quite expensive for what was served, and that would be the main reason I wouldn’t return. I’m attaching some photos so you can get a realistic idea — nothing hidden, just an honest view.

I went here about 2-3 years ago and was just stopping by from our great walk up the long Tsumago trail! Oh the standard nikuman was so delicious, the kind grandma even offered some tea to have us sit inside but we had to be so rude and turn her down because our pick up car was arriving...!!! If I have the chance to come back I will definitely take my time.

Delicious buns and calm atmosphere. I got a meat bun and an eggplant bun, and after sitting down and finishing them, went for a second round. There was also free cold tea.

Such a satisfying option after a long hike. I got one of each of the nikuman, kiriboshi daikon, and the eggplant one, and I ended up going back for one more of each. The nikuman in particular has lots of great juicy flavor and plenty of mushrooms too. At first it looks like it might only be takeaway but there is seating inside!

The steamed buns are fantastic - we had two - one with chestnut and the other with red bean paste, both were delightful. You can also help yourself to some free hot tea. Sweet owner and the prices are actually a little cheaper than in Magome.

Great atmosphere and good food. The owners are very welcoming, the place is calm and quite warm considering there is ice in the street. Recommend the pumpkins and the meat oyaki (pastry)

Lovely buns The ones with a walnut poking out the top are sweet. Free Japanese tea (that isn’t bitter or astringent) but no coffee Very child friendly and they might give the kids a few paper toys.

We cant get enough of the steam buns. We started with 7 and ended up buying 13 in total. There is free tea. With nothing much open in winter in Tsumago, this shop is a welcome rest place to recharge.

The mazesoba was incredibly delicious, the noodles were perfectly cooked and packed with savoury, well-balanced flavour. Ordering is done through a vending machine, which does not have English, but it was straightforward enough, and we handed the ticket to the staff after ordering. The staff were friendly and made us feel welcome. There is also a large parking area, which is convenient if you are driving.

Very good !!!

(Translated by Google) Located next to Route 19 in Nakatsugawa, this spacious restaurant with 17 counters and 6 tables also doubles as a McDonald's parking lot, so there's no need to worry about parking. Maybe they're fans of Slam Dunk? I read that their mixed soba is popular, so after thinking about ordering Taiwanese, I decided to go for the simple mixed soba. It's open before lunch on weekdays. The noodles are thick and a little soft. The cubed block of pork has a strong flavor and is delicious. I mixed it with the broth with a strong flavor and added a little garlic, and it was very delicious. Thank you for the meal. (Original) 中津川の19号に隣接していて、カウンター17、テーブル6の広いお店はマクドナルドの駐車場も兼ねているので駐車場の心配はありません。スラムダンクのファンなんでしょうか？ まぜそばが人気と書いてあるので台湾と迷って、シンプルにまぜそばにしました。平日お昼前は空いています。 麺は太麺。ちょっと柔らかい。角切りのブロックチャーシューは味がしっかりしていて美味しい。節の効いたダシとマゼマセして少量のニンニク入れていただくと、とても美味しくいただきました。ごちそうさまでした。

(Translated by Google) The parking lot is shared. There's no waiting. There were plenty of empty seats. The mazesoba seems to be the best. It's not comparable to Hanabi, but it's okay. (Original) 駐車場は共同です 待ちはないです 席はかなり空いてました まぜそばがお勧めのようです ハナビと比べちゃうと駄目だけど まーまーですかね

(Translated by Google) It looks like a mazesoba restaurant, but they also serve ramen, and my personal favorites are the soy sauce ramen and salt ramen. ♪ The menu was extensive! (Original) まぜそばのお店みたいですが、 ラーメンもあり、私的には 醤油ラーメンと塩ラーメンが 推しです♪ メニューも豊富でした！

(Translated by Google) I had some business in Nakatsugawa and before I knew it, it was 3 PM... Oh, I hadn't had lunch yet. I searched for a nearby restaurant open at this time and made my first visit. I ordered dandan noodles from the ticket machine. The bowl arrived without a long wait. The visuals were quite good. First, the soup...rich and delicious! However, it wasn't piping hot, which was a bit disappointing. 😥 The noodles were medium-thick and straight, making them easy to eat. The sweet minced meat was also delicious. The onions and mizuna were a perfect match. 👌 I stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to stop in. It was a good choice. (Original) 中津川に所用あり気づけば15時…あ、まだお昼食べてなかった 付近でこの時間営業しているお店を探し初訪 券売機で坦々麺をポチっ 待ち時間なく着丼 ビジュアルはかなり良い まずはスープから…濃厚でウマイ！ ただ、熱々ではなくちょっと残念😥 麺は中太ストレートで食べやすい 甘めのミンチも美味しい 玉ねぎ、水菜もマッチ👌 偶然見つけて入店したけど正解だった

(Translated by Google) I don't usually eat noodles, but the restaurant was clean and comfortable, and the food was delicious. (Original) 普段麺類はあまり食べませんが 店内も綺麗で過ごしやすく、 お食事も美味しくいただきました。

Decent soba after a trek from magome in the rain. The real deal was the lollipop (dont remember the name). Its a rice grilled in sesame miso and tastes amazing. The shop sells out quickly and can get crowded as there are not many other options in tsumago.

Little restaurant tucked away. Soba noodles looked home made, broth was delicious and omelette also good.

Great soba

(Translated by Google) I used it for cycling. I ate the egg tojisoba, and even though it was hot, the soba had a firm texture until the last bite, and it had a good flavor and was delicious. If there were a lot of people ordering two zaru sheets, the soba ran out pretty quickly, and the next person after me finished. (Arrival around 12:20) (Original) サイクリングで利用しました。 玉子とじそばを食べましたが、温かいそばにもかかわらず、最後の一本までずっと腰のあるお蕎麦で風味も良くて美味しかったです。 ざる二枚を注文する人が多いと結構早い時間でお蕎麦が無くなるようで、私の次の方々で終了でした。(12:20ごろ到着)

(Translated by Google) I visited this soba restaurant for lunch on a weekday in Tsumago, a historic post town on the Nakasendo road, deep in the Kiso Valley in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. The restaurant seats four tables, and although it was a little before 2 p.m., there were only two other groups of customers. The menu is quite simple, consisting of zaru soba and kake soba, with zaru soba costing 950 yen per bowl and 1,800 yen for two bowls. I had the zaru soba, authentic soba made by hand from buckwheat flour ground in-house in a stone mill in Shinshu, and it's apparently new soba at this time of year. The soba noodles that arrived were thinly sliced, with just the right amount of firmness and a strong soba flavor, and were quite delicious. I was very satisfied with the high quality of the soba, thank you for the meal. (Original) 長野県の山深い木曽谷の中にある中山道の歴史ある宿場町「妻籠」、そこに入っているお蕎麦屋さんです、平日のランチで利用してみました。 店内はテーブル４卓の席数、１４時少し前くらいと遅めの時間でしたがほかにお客さんは２組でした。 メニューはざるそばとかけそばくらいと実にシンプルなラインナップ、ざるそばは１枚９５０円、二枚で１８００円といったお値段です。 いただいたのはざるそば、信州のそばの実を石臼で自家製粉し手打ちしているという本格派のお蕎麦、しかもこの時期は新そばということです。登場したお蕎麦は細切りでほどよいコシとしっかりしたお蕎麦の風味が感じられてなかなかにイケますね、レベルの高いお蕎麦に大満足です、ごちそうさまでした。

(Translated by Google) The new soba noodles are delicious. The taste is more authentic than other restaurants. The soba soup also came out properly. One piece of colander is enough to fill you up lol. The store will close as soon as it is sold out. (Original) 新蕎麦めちゃうま。他のお店より本格的な味です。蕎麦湯もちゃんと出てきました。ざるは一枚で十分にお腹いっぱいになりますねー ww。売り切れ次第閉店となります。

(Translated by Google) After noon on weekdays, there are fewer people sightseeing in Tsumago-juku. There were no customers in the store, but When I saw the words ``authentic handmade soba,'' I entered the store hoping that it would be delicious. I ordered cold wild vegetable soba. The aroma of soba noodles and dashi soup wafts into your nose. The moment I took my first bite, I couldn't help but say, ``Delicious.'' The chewy soba noodles and aroma are irresistible. You can see that the material is good. The soup has a gentle seasoning that brings out the flavor of the soba. Wild vegetables taste fresh and have their original taste. If you want to eat delicious handmade soba noodles with good ingredients, this restaurant is recommended. There are many delicious soba restaurants in Nagano, but this was one of the best! I want to go again. (Original) 平日お昼過ぎ、妻籠宿観光の方が少なく 店内にはお客さんがいらっしゃらなかったが、 本格手打ちそばの文字を見て美味しいことを願い入店します。 冷たい山菜蕎麦を注文。 蕎麦と出汁の香りが鼻に抜けていきます。 一口目を入れた瞬間、思わず『うまっ』と言ってしまいました。 歯ごたえのある蕎麦と香りがたまりません。 素材が良いのがわかります。 つゆは蕎麦の味を引き立てる優しい味付け。 山菜は新鮮で本来の味を感じます。 素材が良く手作りの美味しい蕎麦を食べたい方はこちらのお店がおススメです。 長野には美味しいお蕎麦屋さんが多くありますが、中でも美味しいお店でした！また行きたいです。

Incredible restaurant with a nice at atmosphere at a reasonable price. If you're walking the nakasendo trail from Magome, this is an excellent lunch spot just before the main town which is a 10min walk away. I was there at 1230pm on a Friday and it was about 70% filled. Looks like its frequented by locals too. Soba, yam tororo and the roasted fish were all standout for me. Excellent service and credit card payment is available.

After getting off at Tsumago-juku, we leisurely walked to the tranquil restaurant, Goishichi, enjoying the surrounding scenery along the way. The restaurant serves seasonal dishes made with fresh ingredients, showcasing delicious mountain cuisine that complements the serene mountain views, providing a truly delightful dining experience.

The best meal I had by far in Magome / Tsumago. It is family owned and run, and you can really tell the difference. Food is cocked with lot of love, and is delicious. The lady owner is very friendly and helpful. The dining area has great views of the area and inner garden. Cannot wait to go back!

Visited twice recently as part of my Nakasendo trail walk holiday. Loved the soba and grilled fish. On the rainy day we visited, we had the otokuchi and Iwana set. We enjoyed the meal so much, we tweaked our walk plans to visit the restaurant once more. It meant a longer distance but was well worth it! Wife had the Iwana set again and I went for the Jinenjyo Tororo, my first proper experience of soba with wild yam, simply delicious! Will love to return in another season.

Lovely little restaurant. Highly recommend for an authentic local experience

Great tradional food, and the service is awesome! You MUST take the soba noddles! If you look for someplace to dine and relax after hiking in the area, that is definitely a great restaurant to stay. Enjoy!

Delicate dining made easy with the menu showing the sets u can order. Food served is also better than what u see on the menu. So order and eat with your eyes. I enjoyed the lunch there while overlooking the bonsai garden. Ordered the seasonal vegetable tempura set and otokichi teishoku.

Loved the walk from Magome to Tsumago - the first 3km are straight up, around 10 to 12%…then you descend along streams and rivers. Very beautiful and highly recommended. It’s 8km however there is an optional extension to the waterfalls which is 3.5km one way…so you could get 15km of hiking if you wished.

The End of the Road: Nostalgic Quiet in Tsumago-juku ​The arrival at Tsumago-juku was the highlight of completing the charming hike from Magome. After hours of walking the ancient forest paths of the Nakasendo, the main restored street, with its traditional wooden houses, offered a welcome and peaceful respite. ​However, as the day drew to a close, it seemed the ancient village entered a state of slumber. The quiet was absolute, yet the options were limited: most shops and galleries that operate during the day had closed their doors, with only a few lights shining behind the madobe (windows). ​For the weary travelers, the challenge shifted from walking to logistics: finding a hot meal before the return bus arrived. With a very limited service menu, only a small variety of places remained open—perhaps a humble Ocha-ya (teahouse) serving a final bowl of noodles, or a small shop selling the sweet and satisfying local delicacy, Gohei Mochi. ​These are precisely the moments when one experiences Tsumago-juku most authentically: not as a tourist destination, but as a quiet, tranquil village. The wait for the bus, facing the ancient wooden houses under the shifting evening sky, becomes a moment of reflection and serenity, where the taste of hot Miso and the murmur of the nearby river mark the successful end of the historical adventure.

A trip to remember. We took the roughly 4h30min long Nakasendo Trail from Nakatsugawa to Tsumago-juku and it left us speachless. The Ochiai cobblestone path felt like magic out of a Ghibli movie and the well preserved edo houses of Magome & Tsumago led the way into a journey theough time. We‘ve stayed at the Masushiroya Ryokan and had a fantastic time and food there. The nightime lantern walk was my personal favorite! #TrustmeIamGerman

📍 Tsumago-juku 妻籠宿 @ Nagano, Japan 🇯🇵 We arrived at Tsumago-juku on 14 November 2025 after completing the Nakasendo Trail from Magome, and it was the perfect ending to our hike. Tsumago is one of the best-preserved Edo-period post towns in Japan, offering a truly nostalgic and peaceful atmosphere. The moment we entered the village, the scenery changed beautifully — from forest trails and countryside paths to traditional wooden houses, stone walkways, and quiet narrow streets that feel unchanged for centuries. The town is carefully protected with strict rules: no power lines, no modern signboards, and buildings preserved in their authentic Edo style. We also stopped here for lunch, which made the arrival even more enjoyable. Many small restaurants offer soba, set meals, and local specialties, though waiting times can be longer during busy periods. It’s a great place to rest, refuel, and soak in the Edo-period scenery after the long walk. Walking through Tsumago feels like stepping into a living museum, with: • 🏘️ Traditional inns, merchant houses, and craft shops • 🍡 Local snacks, handmade goods, and cosy cafés • 🏯 Historical sites like Tsumago Honjin & Waki-Honjin • 🍁 Warm autumn colours surrounding the old wooden buildings • 🚶‍♂️ Peaceful streets perfect for slow exploration The contrast between the forest → quiet countryside → historic town gives the Nakasendo hike a memorable and meaningful finish. A beautifully preserved and atmospheric village — a must-visit destination, and the perfect spot to rest and enjoy lunch after the Nakasendo Trail. 🍁🏘️🥾✨

We wish we had spent more time there! Beautiful and has a very helpful tourism office. (They even helped us find vegan-friendly accommodations.) Delightful coffee shop that sells local art. A great town for nature and buying souvenirs that are NOT made in China.

Part of the Nakesendo trail where there are a few shops opened along the trail selling traditional crafts. Most of the original structures we're maintained. A bit of ascend but definitely worth the walk. Like walking through the past.

Driving to kiso valley we found this old post town. Lovely walk along the old buildings. We spent an hour walking around. Well preserved wooden buildings.

This is not a reflection of the museum, which we could not enter, but a warning that it is CLOSED the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. Disappointing!

It was very nice and the staff were super helpful. They lent me an information sheet in English so I could have more context about the place because there is no translation inside.

Fascinating Edo era Nakasendo lodging for dignitaries passing through town, wonderfully knowledgeable tour guides who patiently answered all our many questions, very atmospheric and memorable place.

(Translated by Google) During the Edo period, this place was used as a lodging facility for feudal lords and Shogunate officials, and is now open to the public as a museum that has faithfully restored the original building. It was also the birthplace of the mother of Toson Shimazaki, a literary giant of the Meiji period, and the last head of the family was Toson's older brother1. The main building has been restored based on drawings from the late Edo period, and you can get a feel for the architectural style and lifestyle of that time. Nearby is Wakihonjin Okuya, a building made entirely of Japanese cypress that was rebuilt in the Meiji period, where you can enjoy the imposing structure of an old Nagiso family1. In addition, the adjacent history museum is filled with exhibits where you can learn about the life and culture of the Edo period. Tsumago-juku is characterized by a beautiful townscape that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period. Located along Nakasendo, the scenery is in harmony with the surrounding nature, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time. Please come and spend some relaxing time while feeling the history and culture. (Original) 江戸時代には大名や幕府の役人が宿泊するための施設として使われていたこの場所は、現在、当時の建物を忠実に復元した博物館として公開されています。 明治の文豪、島崎藤村の母の生家でもあり、最後の当主は藤村の実兄でした1。本陣の建物は、江戸時代後期の絵図をもとに復元されており、当時の建築様式や生活様式を感じることができます。 近くには脇本陣奥谷があり、こちらは明治時代に建て替えられた総檜造りの建物で、南木曽の旧家の堂々とした造りを堪能できます1。また、隣接する歴史資料館では、江戸時代の生活や文化を学ぶことができる展示が充実しています。 妻籠宿は、江戸時代の風情をそのままに残した美しい街並みが特徴です。中山道沿いに位置し、周辺の自然と調和した景観は、まるでタイムスリップしたかのような感覚を味わえます。ぜひ、歴史と文化を感じながら、ゆったりとした時間を過ごしてみてくださいね。

📍 Tsumago-juku Honjin 妻籠宿本陣 @ Nagano, Japan 🇯🇵 We visited the Tsumago-juku Honjin (妻籠宿本陣) on 14 November 2025 after completing our Nakasendo Trail hike from Magome to Tsumago. This historic building is one of the most important landmarks in Tsumago, beautifully preserved to showcase the lifestyle and architecture of Japan during the Edo period. The Honjin served as the official accommodation for feudal lords (daimyo) and high-ranking officials traveling along the Nakasendo. Today, it functions as a heritage site, allowing visitors to walk through the traditional rooms, admire the wooden architecture, and experience the atmosphere of a former official residence. Inside, you can explore: • 🏯 Traditional tatami rooms and tatami layouts • 🪵 Beautiful wooden interiors and beams • 🏺 Historical artifacts and displays • 🔥 The old-style irori hearth • 🪑 A peaceful, quiet ambience reflecting Edo-era life The building is well maintained, and the staff provide helpful information about its history and significance. It’s a fascinating stop for anyone who wants to understand how travellers and lords were accommodated during long journeys on the Nakasendo. A deeply cultural and beautifully preserved historical site — a must-visit when exploring Tsumago-juku. 🏘️📜✨

(Translated by Google) As you go through the gate, there is a reception desk on the left side where you will receive information about the common ticket that includes Wakihonjin etc. A common ticket for all facilities is 700 yen. However, for some reason Honjin doesn't have common tickets, so I bought them at Wakihonjin Okuya. As a result, I decided to visit them first. This main building is a building that was restored in the Heisei era. The Shimazaki family has been the main branch for generations, and Hirosuke Shimazaki (Fujimura's older brother) is the last head of the family. It is a very splendid building that has been faithfully restored from the floor plan. However, compared to Wakihonjin, there are no guides, so please feel free to visit.The condition is a little disappointing. In the showcase, along with items related to the Shimazaki family, there was a collection of paintings and writings called ``Tsumago: The Road to Tomorrow.'' A painting by Hiroshi, the great-grandson of the last head of the family, Hirosuke. The state of Tsumago is depicted very beautifully. Isn't 800 yen cheap? I bought it at the reception as a souvenir. (Original) 門を潜って左側に受付がありそこで脇本陣などを含めた共通券の案内を受けます。全館共通券は700円です。ただし何故か本陣では共通券が置いていないとのことなので脇本陣奥谷にて購入。結果そちらを先に見学してからになりました。 この本陣は平成になって復元された建物です。代々島崎家が本陣を務め島崎広助(藤村の実兄)が最後の当主。間取図から忠実に復元されたとても立派な姿です。ただ脇本陣に比べ案内の人もいないのでどうぞご自由に状態がちょっと残念。 ショーケースに島崎家ゆかりの品と共に「妻籠・明日への道」という画文集がありました。最後の当主広助の曾孫博氏の絵。妻籠の様子がとても美しく描かれています。800円はお安いのでは。記念にと受付にて購入しました。

(Translated by Google) We visited early in the morning to avoid the heat, so we weren't able to look around inside, and some of the shops were closed, but it was nice and charming. (Original) 暑さを避けるため早朝の訪問でしたので、中を見学する事は出来ませんでしたし、営業していないお店もありましたが、風情があって良かったです。

(Translated by Google) This is the bus stop for Nagiso Station and Magome. (Original) 南木曽駅、馬籠方面のバス停です。