| Kiso Valley ((ja)木 曽 谷 , kisodani) | |
 | |
| The Kiso valley and the Kiso river seen from the central Alps | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Nagano (prefecture) |
| Location | |
 35 ° 44 ′ 53 ″ N 137 ° 41 ′ 24 ″ E | |
| Touristic site | |
The Kiso valley is in the Nagano prefecture, to Japan.
Understand
Located in the southwestern part of Nagano Prefecture, this area was once part of the old Nakasendō Highway, one of Japan's historic transportation arteries connecting Kyoto in Edo (nowadays Tokyo). Following roughly the Kiso River, the once important resort towns now form a living and well-preserved Edo-era museum with modern amenities hidden away.
To go
By train
| Train station | Railway Company | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
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Kiso-Fukushima Station has a central location in the Kiso Valley, and is on the JR Chūō Main Line. There are several ways to get there from Tokyo. One way is to take the Shinkansen Nozomi Tōkaidō for Nagoya, then change to Wide View Shinano for Kiso Fukushima (3 h 20, 13 800 JPY).
Another way is to take the Nagano Shinkansen Asama for Nagano and change for the Wide View Shinano. It takes about 3 h 40 and costs 11 300 JPY.
A third way is to take the Azusa Where Super Azusa of Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Shiojiri and change there for the Wide View Shinano (3 h 20 with a good connection, 9 080 JPY).
If you are using the JR Pass, you should go through Nagano or Shiojiri.
From western Japan (including Kyoto and Osaka), take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and change to the Wide View Shinano or a local train.
Note that other parts of the valley are near other stations to Kiso-Fukushima Station on the JR Chūō Main Line (see below).
By bus
Of Tokyo, you can also sign up for a one or two day coach excursion in the Kiso Valley area. Since Shinjuku in Tokyo, a bus goes to Kiso Fukushima passing by Shiojiri.
Circulate
By bus
Buses serve part of the valley and its stations. They are, however, infrequent.
- Kitaena Bus (北 恵 那 交通 kitaena kōtsū) – Nakatsugawa-Magome link.
- Ontake Kōtsū (お ん た け 交通) – Nagiso-Tsumago-Magome link.
To see
- 1 Magome village (馬 籠) (To 30 min by bus from the 1 Nakatsugawa station , which is on the Chūō Honsen line at 50 min from Nagoya) – This southernmost station is known as the birthplace of the eminent poet / writer Toson Shimazaki (1872-1943). The city often appears in his works. The old inns meander up the old street just like they did during the Edo period. Magome is the most developed site in terms of tourism and its steep street tends to be crowded.
A fascinating walk (3 h, 9 kilometers) from Magome to Tsumago allows you to understand the old road as it was at its peak (even if it crosses a modern road several times). On the way there is an old samurai house, where a friendly old man will welcome you (2013), as well as toilets. You can make the return trip by bus or taxi. The Tourist Information Center can take care of your suitcase.
- 2 Tsumago Village (妻 籠) (To 07 min by bus from the 2 Nagiso station on the Chūō Honsen line, at 60-80 min from Nagoya; or to 30 min by bus from Magome.) – This city was the 42e station from Edo. Since 1968 the town has been preserved and restored to its former appearance, thanks to the efforts of locals, and is now a Protected Area for the reservation of traditional buildings. The atmosphere of ancient Edo is wonderful there.
- 3 Narai city (奈良 井) (To 05 min walk from the 3 Narai station on the Chūō Honsen line) – This city is also a Protected Area for the preservation of traditional buildings. Once the most prosperous of the resorts, it was called “Narai of a Thousand Buildings”. Five public wells always provide travelers with their fresh, clear water. At the northern end of Kiso Valley, Narai is a bit more laid back than Magome and Kusatsu, and to some extent she feels more authentic. From Narai, you can climb up to the Torii Pass and see an unaltered cobblestone section of the Nakasendō.
- 4 Mount Ontake (御 嶽山, ontake-san) (To 1 h 30 by bus from Kiso-Fukushima station to the foot of the mountain. Hiking 3 h to the top) – A magnificent active volcano rising to 3,067 meters at the southern end of the Northern Alps, with a cypress forest at the top. The view of Mount Ontake from Kaida is rightly famous.
There is a historic section of the Nakasendō Road through the Kiso Valley.
Do
- Hike between Magome and Tsumago – This hike is one of the best and most famous in Japan. Take your time and explore the sites. The hike can be done around 1 h if you don't care to see anything but do it in 2 h - 3 h makes it special. It is easier to do the route from Magome to Tsumago. Tsumago is a great place to spend the night and JR Nagiso station is only 1 h walk or a taxi ride 1 500 JPY (2009).
- Ski – There is a ski resort near the Kiso Valley.
To buy
The Kiso Valley is known for its Siberian pines "Hinoki(Chamaecyparis Obtusa) fine-grained. This fragrant wood is known for its durability. The Hinoki is used for example for bathtubs and accessories. The most important shrine in Japan, Ise Jingu is rebuilt every 20 years with Kiso Hinoki. You can buy the Hinoki products, especially towards Narai. North of Narai, visit Kiso-Hirasawa (木 曽 平 沢) which is famous for its lacquers.
Remember that in Tsumago and Magome, international ATMs are only available at post offices, and are only accessible during the day. Since it is not possible to change foreign currencies in the area, try to do so before your visit. Make sure you have brought enough cash so that you can buy souvenirs and crafts from the street vendors.
Eat
Many cafes, restaurants and snack bars are open during the day, many serving local specialties such as soba noodles or horse sashimi. In small towns they close at night so if you sleep there you should either see your own food or eat at your hotel.
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
You can take your time to explore the valley and spend the night in a historic building of one of the minshukus.
Around
- The Kiso Valley has a few (small) ski resorts.
- 1 Nagiso (南 木 曾) – Village with waterfalls.
| Routes via Kiso Valley |
| Nagoya ← Tajimi ← | O  E | → Shiojiri → Tokyo |
