Kawagoe (Saitama Prefecture)

Kawagoe is located just northwest of Tokyo. It is also called “Koedo”, literately meaning small Edo (Tokyo). Kawagoe was a rich merchant city that used to as a front line to protect Edo. With a large collection of historic buildings and proximity to Tokyo, Kawagoe is a quite popular tourist destination in the Tokyo area. 3 train lines are competing for passengers. From Shinjuku, both Seibu and JR run direct trains. From Ikebukuro, Tobu and JR run direct services. From Shibuya, Shinagawa, and Tokyo stations, JR is more convenient.

Sawara (Chiba Prefecture)

Sawara is located just a few kilometers northeast of Narita airport. Now the city is called Katori city but the train station is still called Sawara. It was developed as a port city on the Tone river to store goods. It was sort of like a modern-day distribution center. There are many historic storage buildings and storefronts along the Ono river. To get there from Tokyo, the bus is the most convenient way to get there. Multiple buses are leaving from the Tokyo station Yaesu exit bus terminal. For a train trip, take either Keisei or JR to Narita station (not Narita airport station), from there take a JR Narita line train to Sawara (usually Choshi bound trains).

Unno (Nagano Prefecture)

Unno is a historic post town on the historic Hokkoku Gaido. The road was developed for Zenkoji temple in visit and transporting gold from Sado island. To go to Unno, you could take the Hokuriku/ Nagano Shinkansen to either Karuizawa or Ueda. From the station, connect to Shinano Railway to either Oya or Tanaka station. From Oya station, it will take a 15-minute walk and from Tanaka station, it will be a 30-minute walk. The best time to visit is in March, August, or November. March for Hina Matsuri, the last weekend (usually Saturday) of August for the Summer Festival with fireworks, and the first Sunday of November for the Fureai Festival where you get to see a march of Samurais.

Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture)

Kanazawa was the capital city of the Kaga Domain from the early 1600s to the late 1800s. Kanazawa was one of the richest cities in the Edo period. To bring wealth to the region, the Maeda clan promoted a free-market system, encouraged art, culture, confectionary, and gold leaf production. Kanazawa, the former castle city, has three historic districts. There are areas with historic buildings, the private garden called Kenroku-en, and the ruins of the Kanazawa castle. Kanazawa can be access by the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo, limited express from Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyoto. The closest airport is Komatsu Airport, which is about an hour from the city by bus.

Narai (Nagano Prefecture)

Narai is the 34th station on the Nakasendo. Narai was one of the biggest Shukuba machi (Post town) on the Nakasendo. To go to the next post town, Yabuhara, you can hike the Torii pass. Narai is convenient since it is right in front of Narai train station. Many visitors would start walking from the train station then walk southward toward Torii pass to Yabuhara, the 35th station. You can also stay at a traditional inn in Narai. Every year on August 12th, the Hayashi performers in traditional outfit marches through the town from nearby Shizu Shrine in the early afternoon. The night before the festival, the lanterns will lit up the town and you will get to see a different view of the town. On February 3rd, the town lights up again with with 2,000 candles as part of the annual Ice Candle festival. The locals serves sake and soup for visitors so you would have nice time interacting with the locals.

Tsumago (Nagano Prefecture)

Developed as a post town on the Nakasendo, the 42nd station is one of the early pioneers for preserving and restoring the traditional town. The movement started from Tsumago and other cities and towns followed the suit. To get to Tsumago, the closest station is Nagiso, which is about 1.5 hours from Nagoya. From Tsumago, you can walk to Magome, the 43rd station. There are a couple of events in Tsumago. On July 23rd and 24th, the people carrying deity carriers march the street as a tradition for Wachino Shrine. On the 4th Saturday of August, every year fire and candle are lit up throughout the town. November 23rd is the day people march the town in a traditional outfit.

Magome (Nagano Prefecture)

Like Tsumago, the 43rd station on the Nakasendo was a bustling post town to host travelers on the Nakasendo road. From Magome, you can walk to Tsumago and that’s a popular hiking route among visitors. Magome is more accessible due to the availability of more direct trains from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa, the nearest train station. Also, there are direct buses from Tokyo (Keio bus) and Nagoya (Meitetsu bus).From the expressway bus stop, it is a 1.5km walk to Tsumago.

Iwamura (Gifu Prefecture)

Iwamura is located not far from Magome and Tsumago. Unlike Magome and Tsumago, it was developed as a castle town. Iwamura is not as famous as Tsumago or Magome so you will be able to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere. To get to Iwamura, you would be traveling to Ena station from Nagoya then connect to Akechi Railway to Iwamura.