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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Magome
馬籠宿
Stay one night in Magome, walk the 7 km Nakasendo trail to Tsumago in the morning, and leave by mid-afternoon bus.
Magome is a restored Edo-period post town on the Nakasendo, the old walking road between Tokyo and Kyoto. The cobbled main street takes about an hour to walk end to end, so the reason to come is the 7 km trail to Tsumago, not the town itself. Most travellers sleep one night here or in nearby Nakatsugawa, walk the trail early, and move on.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 馬籠宿
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (many museums closed, snow on the trail)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–10,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–16,000 excl. bed · High ¥16,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥460–680 |
| Soba | ¥550–1,000 |
| Goheimochi (grilled mochi) | ¥200–500 |
| Museum entry | ¥200–500 |
| Bus Nakatsugawa to Magome | ¥570 |
| Taxi Nakatsugawa station to Magome | About ¥3,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NGO · Chubu Centrair (Nagoya)
- No direct link to Magome: train or bus into Nagoya, then JR Chuo line to Nakatsugawa, then the Kitaena bus. Allow 3–4 h door to door.
Typical fares
- Kitaena bus Nakatsugawa → Magome
- about ¥570, 30 min
- Taxi Nakatsugawa station → Magome
- about ¥3,000
- Luggage forwarding Magome → Tsumago
- about ¥500 at the tourist information centre
Get around
On foot. The preserved street runs uphill from the bus stop to the old bulletin board and takes about 20–30 min to walk. The Nakasendo trail north to Tsumago is 7 km, about 2–3 h at an easy pace, with a short road section and a steep climb out of Magome at the start.On foot. The preserved street runs uphill from the bus stop to the old bulletin board and takes about 20–30 min to walk. The Nakasendo trail north to Tsumago is 4.3 mi, about 2–3 h at an easy pace, with a short road section and a steep climb out of Magome at the start.
See and do
Known for
- Nakasendo post town
- Magome–Tsumago trail
- Shimazaki Tōson and his memorial museum
- Goheimochi and soba
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tsumago | Walk the Nakasendo trail north, 7 kmWalk the Nakasendo trail north, 4.3 mi | 2–3 h on foot |
| Nakatsugawa | Kitaena bus M line from the main bus stop | About 30 min |
| Nagoya | Bus to Nakatsugawa, then JR Chuo line rapid | 2–2.5 h |
| Takayama | JR via Nagoya or Matsumoto | 4 h+ |
Sleep
- In the preserved area
- A handful of minshuku and small inns on or beside the old Nakasendo; book weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
- Nakatsugawa
- Railhead town 30 min by bus; cheaper business hotels, more food, and the fallback if Magome is full.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- People live in the old buildings: keep voices down and do not enter private gardens.
- Many shops and restaurants close by 16:00–17:00 and take cash only.
- The trail has no shops between Magome and Tsumago: carry water and use the toilets at either end.
- The tourist information centre forwards luggage to Tsumago for ¥500.
Very safe. The real risks are the heat and humidity in July–August, uneven cobbles and steps on the trail, and shops that close early: carry cash and water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Magome yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Nakasendo post town
- Magome–Tsumago trail
- Shimazaki Tōson and his memorial museum
- Goheimochi and soba
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kiso-Magome official tourism site: kiso-magome.com/
- Kitaena Bus: www.kitaena.co.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Magome, revision 5173565 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5173565
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Magome馬籠宿
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Magome or Nakatsugawa; most are in Tokyo, with consulates in Nagoya and Osaka. US citizens: check the US embassy in Tokyo.
Tourist information centre, 4300-1 Magome, 08:30–17:00.Tourist information centre, 4300-1 Magome, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/magome). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.