Nakasendo 2024 Scenic Trail v1 3
The Nakasendo Road
Within the forested Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture lies part of an historical route that dates back to a time when samurai and geisha walked the streets and Japan was ruled by a fearsome shogun (military dictator). This route is called the Nakasendo or literally “Central Mountain Road”,
(中山道).
The Nakasendo connects Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo), passing inland through Nagano’s mountains, and is a whopping 534km long. It was one of the 5 important roads that were established in the Edo Period (1600-1868) under the command of the Tokugawa shogunate to be used as official travel routes to Edo.
For the first time, a group of old church friends from Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church embarked on the Japan Nakasendo 2024 Trail together. Our journey took us through Kyoto → Magome → Tsumago → Nagiso → Kiso Fukushima → Narai, equipped with drones and cameras to capture the stunning scenery. Along the way, we were treated to breathtaking views of mountains, waterfalls, bridges, and serene woodlands.