Nakasendo

The rain really came down today! Not sure if it’s typical for this area, but looking at the vegetation and the gorgeous moss on old rocks that line the streets and sidewalks, it appears that we’re getting the full experience of being in the Kiso Mountains.

Our adventure began on a 30-minute local train from Kiso-Fukushima to Nakatsugawa. The trains here are clean, comfortable and on time. Our travel agent has pre-paid for and given us all our tickets, for reserved cars and seating. It’s very helpful that they numbered each ticket (there are 15 of them), the numbers of which correspond to the order of use during our trip. They also showed us how to use each ticket when we met at the airport, so we’re feeling pretty confident about getting around.

In Nakatsugawa, we caught a bus to Magome. This was our first bus ride, so we learned something new: how to calculate and pay the fare, which one does at the end of the ride. Vehicles drive British-style, so that’s also taken some getting used to. Another 30 minutes up mountain gave is beautiful views of trees and the rushing river below. Lots of cherry trees throughout the country.

By the time we got to Magome, we were hungry so we found a soba noodle restaurant. Soba (buckwheat) is a specialty in this area, which boasts also of local beef, fish and vegetables. We were seated at a Japanese style table by the window.

I did my best to slurp my noodles without splashing sauce everywhere. So yummy!

After lunch, we walked some of the Nakasendo Trail in the footsteps of the ancient Samurai.

A blobby pink warrior with walking sticks instead of swords. 

(Click the photo to make it large enough to see how goofy I look — but all the layers kept me relatively dry.)

Both Magome and Tsumago, where our walk ended, are post towns, much like the mission towns in California that welcomed travelers walking and riding donkeys on their long journey. A lot more charming than the string of homogenous Hilton Garden Inns where John and I have slept on our road trips through America.

Next stop: Kyoto