6m 52s: Lenght

Momijigari 紅葉狩 Autumn Foliage Hunting Itinerary 2010 No 4: HIKING FROM MAGOME TO TSUMAGO 馬籠、妻籠 by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom 18 November (Thursday) Matsumoto - Nakatsugawa (JR wide-view Shinano 2) 7:04 - 8:21 Nakatsugawa - Magome (Bus) 9:05 - 9:30 Hiking from Magome to Tsumago 馬籠、妻籠 The 8.3km hike connecting Magome in Gifu Prefecture and Tsumago in Nagano Prefecture peaks at the top of the steep pass with an elevation of 800m. The trail is a well maintained section of the former Nakasendo, the route that connected Edo (present-day Tokyo) with Kyo (nowadays Kyoto) during the Edo Period (1603-1868). In the second half of the 17th century the Tokugawa Shogunate made the Nagasendo one of the five major trunk roads that radiated out from Edo, the centre of government to the rest of the country. The Tokaido, which followed the Pacific coast was the most important of the five routes unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendo. Magome post station and Tsumago post station, nestled deep in the mountains, have been wonderfully preserved to present a streetscape from a bygone age. In old days there were inns, and eating and drinking establishments as well as carriers and horses to transport travellers and official documents to the next station on the road. Travellers and merchants catering to travellers gathered here and the towns flourished as a result. The ancient roads were particularly busy, as the Daimyo (ancient warlords) were required to spend alternate years in Edo - it is claimed that the aim was to drain their resources by the cost of maintaining second houses in Edo, and to prevent them being in one place long enough to plan a rebellion. The standard method of travel was by foot, as wheeled carts were almost nonexistent and heavy cargo was usually sent by boat. Members of the higher class, however, travelled by elaborate litters. Women were forbidden to travel alone and had to be accompanied by men. The Nakasendo is about 533km long. In the past it would take travellers 18 to 20 days to walk the full length of the road. Tsumago - Nagiso (Bus) 16:04 - 16:13 Nagiso - Nagoya 16:55 - 18:01 (JR wide-view Shinano 18) City Hotel Nagoya 2 minutes walk from JR Nagoya 4,400 yen with breakfast