Nakasendo Trail planning map (for getting there and away) Magome to Tsumago on your own

Kon’nichiwa!

The Nakasendo Trail map below is an interactive google map that focuses on the logistical part of how to get to the Nakasendo Trail to start the Magome to Tsumago walk, as well as what to do afterwards.

Magome to Tsumago is the most popular part of the Nakasendo Trail. Nagoya is the big city that’s most often used as the transit city to do it as a day trip. The actual Nakasendo Trail itself to go from Magome to Tsumago is pretty straightforward, as there are signs along the way. Getting there and away requires a bit of planning for the train and bus.

There are also other Nakasendo towns you can visit like Narai and Kiso-Fukushima, which can be reasonable to visit by train from Nagoya or Matsumoto.

Now first I want to explain what’s on the map, and hopefully that will give you a better idea of how to plan your time doing the Nakasendo Trail!

 

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PLAN YOUR MAGOME TO TSUMAGO TRIP > Nakasendo Trail itinerary

Where to stay: Nikko Style near Nagoya Station | OnnNakatsugawa | Magome Guesthouse

 

 

So, here’s what’s on the map!

If you want to go straight to the map, here you go: Nakasendo Trail map

 

Popular way to do the Nakasendo Trail: Magome to Tsumago

On my map below, the popular Nakasendo towns are marked with a pink star pin.

 

Magome and Tsumago are the most popular towns to experience the Nakasendo Trail, often done as a walk from Magome to Tsumago, as a day trip from Nagoya. Google maps works well for planning out your day by train and bus to/from Nakasendo Trail towns. Use Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku for google maps. For what a standard day trip from Nagoya looks like, see the Nakasendo Trail itinerary.

 

Transit cities

On my map below, the notable transit cities are marked with a black pin.

 

Nagoya Station: Nagoya is the most common major city to do a day trip to the Nakasendo Trail for the Magome to Tsumago walk, so the popular way to get to the Nakasendo Trail is to go from Nagoya to Magome. Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station is a 1 hour 40 minute shinkansen bullet train ride. To get from Kyoto to Magome, you will also go through Nagoya. Kyoto Station to Nagoya is a 35 minute train ride by shinkansen bullet train.

Guided tour: Nakasendo Trail day trip from Nagoya
Traveler from Mexico says: “One of the best tours we took in Japan.” Traveler from the US says: “We had an incredible day hiking the Nakasendo Trail. It felt like we were taking a step back in time.”
Read more reviews on getyourguide or viator!

 

Matsumoto Station: Matsumoto is a less common major city (and further away compared to Nagoya) for the Nakasendo Trail, but you can do the Magome to Tsumago walk as a day trip from Matsumoto. Matsumoto to Nakatsugawa (near Magome) is a 1 hour 15 minute train ride. Nagiso (near Tsumago) to Matsumoto is a 1 hour 10 minute train ride. You can also make it a one-way between Nagoya and Matsumoto, with a stop to do the Nakasendo Trail along the way.  As an alternative to Magome and Tsuamgo, Narai is another Nakasendo Trail town that’s visited from Mastumoto as a day trip. Matsumoto to Narai is a 50 minute train ride. Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Matsumoto Station is 2.5 hours by limited express train, or a 3.5 hour bus ride.

Matsumoto is home to Matsumoto Castle and samurai history, and it can be a base for a day trip to Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps from April to November.

Where to stay near Matsumoto Station: The Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Eki-Mae is a simple and comfortable hotel with breakfast as an option add-on available.
Read the reviews on expedia or booking.com.

 

Shiojiri Station: Shiojiri is a smaller city that can be a simple overnight stay for the Nakasendo Trail. You can find budget-friendly hotels near the train station. Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Shiojiri Station is a 2.5 hour limited express train ride.

Where to stay near Shiojiri Station: The Biz Hotel Shiojiri Ekimae is a basic budget-friendly hotel that includes a simple breakfast.
Read the hotel reviews on expedia or booking.com.

 

More Nakasendo Trail towns

On my map below, more Nakasendo towns are marked with a magenta pin.

 

Narai is another Nakasendo Trail town that many people visit. Matsumoto to Narai Station is a 50 minute train ride.

Guided tour: Day trip to Narai from Matsumoto or Nagano
Read the reviews!

 

Kiso-Fukushima is the largest town of Kiso Valley. This can make Kiso-Fukushima Station a convenient transit hub that has regular hotels for easy access to other Nakasendo towns. Nagoya to Kiso-Fukushima Station is a 1.5 hour train ride. Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Kiso-Fukushima Station is 3.5 hours by limited express train, with one transfer required.

Where to stay near Kiso-Fukushima Station: The Kisoji no Yado Iwaya Ryokan will give you a Japanese-style experience with the traditional Japanese look and public onsen hot springs, with an option to have breakfast and dinner at the ryokan. Read the reviews. (Book sooner rather than later!)

 

Notable train stations

On my map below, the notable train stations are marked with a black pin.

 

Nagiso Station is the train station near Tsumago. To get from Tsumago to Nagoya, you can take a bus from Tsumago to Nagiso, and then a 1.5 hour train ride from Nagiso to Nagoya. Buying tickets at Nagiso Station is cash only.

Nakatsugawa Station is the train station near Magome. To get from Nagoya to Magome, you can take a 1 hour train ride from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa, and then a bus from Nakatsugawa to Magome.

 

Where to stay near Nagoya Station: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nagoya-Shinkansenguchi is a simple and comfortable place to stay that’s minutes from the train station by foot.
Read the hotel reviews on expedia or on booking.com.

 

Notable bus stops

On my map below, notable bus stops are marked with a grey pin.

 

Nakatsugawa Station bus stop: You go to Nakatsugawa Station to get on a bus to Magome. The Nakatsugawa Station bus stop is literally right outside the train station. There’s a bus waiting area inside the building nearby, which also has a tourist information center where you can pick up paper maps of Magome and the Nakasendo Trail. You can get a train from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa.

Magome bus stop: The bus from Nakatsugawa Station drops off a few minutes walk from where you can start the Nakasendo Trail.

Nagiso Station bus stop: The train station near Tsumago is Nagiso Station. You can take a bus to Nagiso Station from Tsumago. You can get a train from Nagiso to Nagoya.

Tsumago bus stop: The bus from Tsumago to Nagiso is a 10 minute bus ride. You can also walk an hour from Tsumago to Nagiso.

Tsumagobashi bus stop: Alternate bus stop for to get to Nagiso to get on the bus before the crowds.

 

Magome to Tsumago luggage forwarding

On my map below, the tourist information centers are marked with a purple suitcase pin.

 

Magome-juku base information and visitor center and Tsumago tourist information center: You can drop off your luggage at the Magome storage transport point (Magome-juku base information and visitor center) in the morning between 8:30am and 11:30am, and then pick it up at the Tsumago tourist information office in the afternoon between 1pm and 5pm. This costs around 1000 yen, available every day between March 20 and November 30. (Information posted in Magome in summer 2025.)

 

“Old Nakasendo” on google maps

On my map below, there are a few lines marked for better understanding of the Old Nakasendo route.

 

Just to get an idea of the route, if you zoom in on google maps, you will see “Old Nakasendo.” You can move the map along to see how the Nakasendo Trail goes from Magome to Tsumago. Sometimes it will be its own trail, other times, you might walk alongside a main road for a little bit to continue walking on the Old Nakasendo. When you are actually walking, you’ll see signs to guide your way, so it’s not something you need an actual map for to find your way from Magome to Tsumago.

 

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Nakasendo Trail map

👇 Explore the interactive map below to plan your Nakasendo Trail day! Zoom in to get started!

If you are having problems viewing or using the map, you can view it directly on google maps.

 

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