Author: Arie Vandervelden

In the second part of our Kumano Kodo hike, we visit the Hongu grand shrine, and we hike to a village called Koguchi. We then walk a coastal section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail.

In the first part of our Kumano Kodo hike, we walk through mile after mile of cypress forests. We get great views of the mountains at a village called Takahara, and we stay at a beautiful house called Happiness Chikatsuyu.

Magome to Nakatsugawa is a lovely downhill hike along country roads, through the forest, and through towns. A gardener gives Diana flowers.

In part three of our Nakasendo Way hike, we visit the pretty post-towns of Tsumago and Magome, and we hike the pass between the two towns. Near the pass we visit a tea-house and chat with the friendly men who run the place.

In part two of our Nakasendo Way hike, we walk south from Kiso-Fukushima along the Kiso River. We stay in a historic Japanese guesthouse in the post-town of Suhara. We hike through a scenic valley with rice paddies and farms. We then set off for Tsumago.

The Nakasendo Way ( 中 山 道 in Japanese) is an old route through the mountains of central Honshu. In part one of our hike we visit the towns of Matsumoto, Narai, and Kiso-Fukushima.