📍Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku) People made small New Year decorations called mayudama and mochibana! They decorated the vinka tree with mayudama and kumquat, and attached mochibana to bamboo. A large decoration was also placed in front of the Tsumago Tourist Information Center ♩ The decorations will remain until Setsubun on February 2. Enjoy the seasonal scenery unique to Tsumago inn ✨

📍Nakasendo This is the state of the Nakasendo (Magome Pass to Tsumago) on January 8, 2025 ❄ 1–3: Magome Pass 4: Isseki Tochi Teahouse 5: Pass Entrance 6–10: Male Falls and Female Falls 11: In front of Kooshinduka There is snow cover ❄ If you plan to walk the Nakasendo, please come prepared with full winter gear such as snow boots, gloves, a knit hat, and spare socks. In particular, take care on the pass and around Male Falls and Female Falls, where snow and ice are likely ⚠

📍Momosuke Bridge and the shopping street in front of the station Momosuke Bridge serves as a symbolic bridge of Nagiso, regularly used by local students from Sonan High School and neighborhood residents ✨ The snow-covered Momosuke Bridge looks powerful and striking. After continuous snowfall since last night, the whole town has turned into a silver world! You can enjoy the winter scenery ❄

Happy New Year! This year, too, we will share and publish tourism information about Nagiso town, so we appreciate your continued support ✨ Today, New Year smoke signals were raised across many parts of Kiso. A smoke signal, or noroshi, is smoke produced by burning firewood or gunpowder and raised high; long ago it served as a signal or landmark during wartime or emergencies. In other words, noroshi was a means of communication. The New Year noroshi event held every January 4 in Kiso began in 2007 at the call of the nonprofit organization Tsumago Ai Suru Kai to strengthen solidarity across the Kiso Valley and energize the region. The photos show the scene at the site of Tsumago Castle in Nagiso town, where leaves of Kiso’s five treasured trees—hinoki cypress and koyamaki—are burned to create the smoke 🌲 This year, too, the noroshi rose vigorously under clear skies. May 2025 be a year filled with smiles and many blessings... 🐍✨

📍Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku) (December 28th, 1:30 PM) It has started to accumulate⛄❄ JR and buses are operating as usual for the time being.

Here’s tourist information for Nagiso town! 📍 Kakizore Valley (Kakizore Keikoku) Among the many gorges along the Kiso Road, this one is said to be especially beautiful. Massive granite boulders that fill the deep valley create stunning waterfalls, rapids, and pools. The water’s beautiful emerald green never becomes muddy, even after rain. In spring you can enjoy azaleas and rhododendrons, and in autumn the leaves turn brilliant colors.✨ Generally, visitors start from JR Junikane Station and follow a nature trail for 4.5 km to Ushigataki Falls, then continue farther along a forest road. For a short walk, the roughly 300 m promenade from Koiji Suspension Bridge to Ushigataki is recommended. The view of Ushigataki, where the main flow of the Kakizore River plunges through carved granite, is spectacular. A 40-minute walk along the forest road brings you to viewpoints with refreshing views of Kirigataki, and you can also see Nijiga Falls and Kaminari Falls. We ask for your cooperation with a maintenance contribution. Please deposit it in the brown post box located at the entrance to Kakizore Valley. Access - By car: about 10 minutes from National Route 19 at the "Kakizore Valley Entrance" signal. Two free parking lots available. - By JR: Get off at JR Nagiso Station and take a taxi for about 25 minutes. Get off at JR Junikane Station and walk about 1 hour (taxis are not regularly available). Other information - Flush toilets are available at each parking area. - Vending machines are located near the parking areas. - You can download a brochure (map) from the Nagiso Town Tourism Association official website "Burari Nagiso." Requests - Camping, barbecues, and similar activities are prohibited within Kakizore Valley. - Please take your trash home with you. - Do not approach the river during rain or when water levels are high. - If you play in the river, please take every safety precaution and enjoy responsibly.

【2025 Kisoji Ice and Snow Light Festival】 This year Kisoji ice and snow lights will be Held in again Festival. From January 25th ~ February 15th, ice candles and bamboo lanterns will be lit at Shukuba in Kisoji. Events of several hours once a year. Fun a fantastic world that is different from usual. ♦1/25 (Sat) Kiso Town Miyanokoshi ♦2/2 (Sun) Shiojiri City Niekawa Juku ♦2/3 (Mon) Shiojiri City Narai juku ♦2/7 (Fri)-8 (Sat) Kiso Town Fukushima juku ♦2/8 (Sat) Nakatsugawa City Magome juku ♦2/9 (Sun) Agematsu Town Nezame-no-Toko, Okuwa Village Sports Park ♦2/18 (Sat) Nagiso Town Tsumago juku And Held in a photo contest again this year! The winning works will be used for posters, flyers, web advertisements, etc. for the next year. 【For those who apply on Instagram】Account of the Kiso Tourism Federation (@kiso_japan_official ) > #kisoji_hyosetsu_2025 Don't forget to tag them! 【Apply by sending photos】Please send 4 color prints or A4 size (4 slices wide are also acceptable) to the Kiso Tourism Federation. Period: 2025/2/1~2/28 (must arrive by this date) For details, please check the Home page "Kiso Valley Rippu". We have 😊 received many applications

📍Yokawa District Photos 1 and 2 show Yokawa this morning (12.24) ☀ Last night’s snow left a light dusting on the roads and the Yokawa trail! If you plan to walk, please wear winter gear. Photos 3–5 are from Tsumago in the morning yesterday ❄ There is no snow on Route 19. This morning it was −1°C ❄ If you are coming from or heading to the Achi or Iida areas, watch for snow and ice on the Seinaiji Pass 🚗⚠ It looks like we’ll have good weather today and tomorrow ✨

Here is tourist information for Nagiso town! Momosuke Bridge [Important Cultural Property of Japan] Momosuke Bridge (Momosukebashi) is one of Japan’s largest wooden suspension bridges spanning the Kiso River, with a total length of 247 meters and a width of 2.7 meters, and you can still walk across it. In Taisho 11 (1922), Momosuke Fukuzawa (the son‑in‑law of Yukichi Fukuzawa), known as a power magnate, built the bridge as a transport route for materials during the Kiso River hydroelectric development 🌲🚃 From Showa 25 (1950) the bridge served as a village road, greatly helping local transportation between the communities on both banks and the commuting of high school and middle school students. However, by around Showa 53 (1978) deterioration advanced and full repairs were not possible, leaving the bridge close to being lost. Because many people advocated for its preservation and use, it was restored as a modern heritage asset (a tangible cultural property of Nagiso town) together with the development of the surrounding Tenpaku Park. In Heisei 6 (1994) it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Highlights✅ - A thrilling suspension bridge built at the widest part of the Kiso River! - At the time, rails for a trolley used to transport materials ran along the center of the bridge; the restoration preserves traces of those rails so you can see them. Be sure to take a look ✨ - In spring you can also enjoy the cherry trees (Somei Yoshino) that bloom on the Nagiso Station side. On the hill of Tenpaku Park, where Momosuke Bridge stands, there is a azalea garden. Around early April about 400 azalea shrubs of six varieties, including the town flower mitsuba azalea, burst into bloom! - From the observation deck opposite the azalea garden you can view Momosuke Bridge from above. - You can go down from around the middle of Momosuke Bridge to the riverside park. - The bridge is recommended in every season. Especially in spring, cherry blossoms, mitsuba azalea, and flowering peach trees bloom together 🌸 - The bridge is lit up, so you can walk it at night. It’s also a good spot for photographing with the stars. Please take care around your feet. Access - By car: Just off Route 19, free parking in Tenpaku Park (30 spaces); 3‑minute walk from the parking lot - By JR: About a 5‑minute walk from JR Nagiso Station Note: The carp streamer (koinobori) display shown in spring photos is not currently being held.

Here’s tourist information for Nagiso town! Tenpaku Azalea Colony (Town Natural Monument) A vast colony of mitsuba azalea blooms in Tenpaku Park. About six varieties and roughly 400 azalea shrubs grow in the garden, and among them the Nagiso mitsuba azalea is a rare species found mainly around Nagiso town as its name suggests. Bloom times shift slightly each year depending on the weather, but the best viewing period is generally from early to mid-April. Perched on a hill in Tenpaku Park, the site offers excellent views of Momosuke Bridge and Mt. Kiso-Komagatake. At the Nagiso Station side entrance to the wooden suspension bridge over the Kiso River, Momosuke Bridge, cherry blossoms also come into full bloom around early April, making it a recommended time to visit! ► Access - By car: Immediately off National Route 19. Tenpaku Park has free parking (about 30 spaces). - By train: About a 10-minute walk from JR Nagiso Station (closer if you cross Momosuke Bridge). ► Other information - It is a five-minute uphill walk from the parking area to the azalea garden. Please avoid parking in front of the garden as it blocks residents’ passage. Visitors with mobility difficulties may be dropped off near the garden, but please park the vehicle in the parking lot. - The parking area has restrooms and vending machines. - The park includes the Momosuke Fukuzawa Memorial Museum and the Mountain History Museum, where you can learn about the history of Momosuke Bridge and its builder, Momosuke Fukuzawa. - For current blooming conditions, please refer to the Nagiso Town Tourism Association website. Enjoy the vivid purple blossoms carpeting the garden!

Notice of Winter Closure for Some Public Toilets in Town To prevent freezing, some public toilets and drinking fountains in town were closed from Wednesday, December 11th. Please check the closure status of toilets at your destination in advance. Closure period: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 – late March *Toilets available during winter* ・Within Tsumago-juku, Tsumago-juku parking lot toilets ・Nakasendo Ishikochi Tachiba Teahouse, O-Tsumago, Kudaridani / Kurashina Soreisha toilets ・Mitomuno-juku toilets ・Kakitsubata Gorge parking lot toilets (on the Koiji Suspension Bridge side)

About sightseeing information during the New Year holidays Here is an announcement about sightseeing information for the New Year holidays! Have a wonderful New Year🐍✨ ► Information centers and tourist facilities Nagiso Town Tourism Association, Tsumago tourist information center, Nagiso Station tourist information center Closed from Sunday, December 29 to Friday, January 3 Nagiso Town Museum (Wakihonjin Okuya, Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku) main inn, History Museum) Closed from Sunday, December 29 to Friday, January 3 ► Buses From Tuesday, December 31 to Friday, January 3, community buses (Magome Line and Hoshin Line) will operate reduced services. Some trips will run at different times than usual, so please be careful. Also, because tourist information centers will be closed from December 29 through January 3, tickets will not be sold during that period. Please pay the driver in cash when getting off the bus. ► Taxis Nagiso Sightseeing Taxi (in the Tsumago No.1 parking lot) Tuesday, December 31 to Friday, January 3: 8:00–17:00 Closed on Wednesday, January 1 Contact Nagiso Sightseeing Taxi Co., Ltd. TEL. (+81)-264-57-3133 ► Tsumago-juku For shop opening hours, please check the official Tsumago website. *The photo shows the New Year’s first smoke signal ceremony on January 4 at the site of Tsumago Castle*

About road closure at Koiji Pass Koiji Pass (Kakitsubata Gorge to Okua Village), will be closed during the winter due to expected snowfall and icy conditions. We ask for your cooperation. Location: Koiji Pass (Kakitsubata Gorge to Nojiri, Okuwa Village) Period: Friday, December 13, 2024 – mid-April

📍Wakihonjin Okuya (Tsumago inn) A magical phenomenon called “slanting light,” visible only on clear winter days, is shining beautifully today! Beams through the latticed windows draw white, elegant lines in the irori smoke 🪄 The slanting light begins to appear around 10:00, from the right side of the irori, and now, at about 12:30, the light falls straight onto the irori. (Photographed today at 12:15) When it centers on the middle is the best moment for a photo opportunity 📷 Around the winter solstice, the light that now reaches about halfway across the irori moves forward, stretching nearly to the tatami. The sun’s angle changes how the light falls ✨ Tomorrow’s forecast is clear, so you might catch the slanting light again ☀ Wakihonjin Okuya / Historical Museum (Nagiso Town Museum) 📍Within Tsumago-juku (Azuma, Nagiso town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture 399-5302) ⏰9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:45) 🎌Closed on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays 💰600 yen

📍Iseyama This morning everything was white with frost, and the sky was a clear deep blue! At 8:30 a.m., Route 19 registered −1°C ❄️ The photo is of Iseyama this morning 🏔️ It looks like a perfect day for photographing the snow-dusted Alps ☀️

— Nakasendo: Tsumago-juku Bunka-Bunsei Parade ③ — Thank you to everyone who came! May the event take place safely again on November 23 next year...✨

—Nakasendo Tsumago Inn Bunka-Bunsei Parade②— November 23rd is the busiest day of the year in Tsumago inn✨ At lunch break, people enjoy rice balls wrapped in bamboo bark🍙 Catching a shot of someone eating one makes a great photo! I wonder if people used to carry and eat rice balls like this on the road back then💭 Someone is handing out large sheets of paper called Kawaraban, which were like newspapers in the Edo period. They were sold and distributed to inform ordinary people of urgent news at the time💭

— Bunka-Bunsei Procession ① — On Saturday, November 23, the 57th Bunka-Bunsei Procession took place, hosted by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Association That Loves Tsumago. Under clear skies, residents and visitors recreated the people who likely walked this Nakasendo during the Bunka-Bunsei era and the atmosphere of the post town, bringing lively activity to Nakasendo and Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku).✨ Thank you to everyone who attended and for cooperating with photography etiquette and other manners. We hope the event is held safely again next year.

Suginoya sits at the foot of Wada Pass on the Nakasendo. The menu ranges from katsudon and set meals to pizza and pasta. 🍕✨ Address ▶︎ 3389 Wada, Nagawacho Phone ▶︎ 0268-88-2005 Hours Weekdays ▶ 11:00–21:00 Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays ▶ 11:00–20:00 Closed every Thursday

[Notice of Reopening of Road Closure] The entrance to Tsumago inn (on the Magome side, opposite the No. 3 parking lot) had been closed to vehicles for road improvement work for a while, but the closure was lifted today, Friday, November 22. Thank you for your cooperation during the long closure! —Notice— Vehicles and pedestrians may now pass as usual, but vehicle entry into the post town is one-way from Omata Bridge, so entry from the No. 3 parking lot side is prohibited. Also, within Tsumago inn, vehicles are always prohibited from 10:00 to 16:00 to protect the scenery.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, the Nakasendo Tsumago inn will host a Bunka-Bunsei era procession! This annual event has taken place on November 23 since 1968 to commemorate the start of preservation efforts at Tsumago Yado. Local residents dress as samurai, courier runners, komuso (mendicant monks), and other figures to recreate the post town atmosphere of the Bunka-Bunsei period. As in past years, the procession will march along the Nakasendo from 10:30 at Watashima General Ground to 11:20 at Tsumago inn (lunch break), then resume at 13:25 and walk the Nakasendo between O-Tsumago and Tsumago. Imagine the travelers who once walked this road in the Bunka-Bunsei era and enjoy the procession. Details about the schedule and other information for the day are available on the Tsumago inn official website✅ There is no reserved space for media or photography. Please avoid blocking others and watch the procession without standing in the way. Non-participants must not join the procession. Tsumago inn remains a living community while preserving its streetscape. Please refrain from entering private property or causing disturbance. The photo shows last year’s event. It is forecast to be cold tomorrow, so please come warmly dressed 😊❄

Tadachi Washi Papermaking Experience 2024! The tradition of washi papermaking has long been passed down in the Tadachi area of Nagiso town. At one time it was an important winter side industry for farming families. Although Tadachi washi vanished for a while with the spread of Western paper, the town restored the house of Tadachi Washi in 1985 to preserve the traditional techniques and share them with many people. At the Washi House, artisans still carry on the papermaking craft today.✨ The Washi House now offers a winter-only papermaking experience! Because it uses natural materials and cold water, this is a precious experience available only in winter.👀 There are two workshop options: a postcard and a koban (oval coin) size. Why not make your own one-of-a-kind original washi paper? Period: December–March Location: Tadachi Washi House (234-2 Tadachi, Nagiso town) Inquiries: 0573-75-4910 (Washi House) ※Reservation required For details, please check the Nagiso Tourism Association website "Burari Nagiso."✨

[Winter Driving] Check snow road information! Nagiso town is a region that typically sees snowfall each year. If heavy snow is forecast, road closures may occur. Please review the importance of winter equipment and snow driving precautions before you head out. You can get real-time road conditions, road-closure updates, and winter equipment information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s live cameras, social media, and websites. We ask for your cooperation to prevent winter traffic accidents and troubles. MLIT Winter Drive Navi Chubu Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Iida National Highway Office Snow Road Information for the South Shinshu and Kiso Region (map available) Tsumago Tourist Information Center TEL: 0264-57-3123 (Business hours 8:30–17:00, closed during the New Year holidays)

Partial road closures on the Nakasendo Currently, some sections of the Nakasendo are closed or have restricted access. Signs, ropes, and detours are in place, so please watch your step when passing through. 1. Between Magome and Magome Pass — Bridge collapse If you walk from Magome to Tsumago, go past the Jinbajō Observation Deck in Magome and follow Prefectural Route 7. Turn right at the sign for the old Nakasendo. At the Y-shaped junction ahead, turn left onto the stone path; a wooden bridge there is half-collapsed. The Nakatsugawa City Tourism Division has set up ropes and barriers, but please be careful of your footing when passing. 2. Kudaritani (see map above) A detour around Kudaritani runs behind nearby houses. If walking from the Tsumago direction 3. From the entrance to Tsumago inn (near Parking Lot 3) to Tsumago Power Station Note: Closed to vehicles. Pedestrians may pass.

Participants of the Mikane Road Walk in Nagano will wear costumes on Saturday 16th, Ueda Kokubunji ~ "Unno Yado" and "Old Tanaka Inn (Tanaka Shopping Street)" around 11:30-13:30 ~ A total of about 100 people will walk to Komoro Drum Gate. Some people take the Tanaka Station Boarding to Komoro Station. The "Golden Road" that connects the Sado Gold and Silver Mines and Edo

【Kisoji Autumn Leaves Recommended Spot Summary】 There are There are Spot many Autumn leaves in the Kiso, but this time we will introduce these 8 selections! * The best time to see Autumn leaves is usually mid-October ~ early November, but it varies depending on the location and period, so please check in advance. ◆#Tsumago juku #tsumago 2159-2 Azuma, Nagiso Town, Kiso District ◆#Joshoji temple Okuwa Village, Kiso District, 831-1 Suhara · ◆#Atera Canyon #atera Nojiri, Okuwa Village, Kiso District Note: The road is completely closed until 11/7. ◆#Kaida Highlands #kaidakogen ◆#Mt. Ontake #ontake (Best time to visit Mt. Ontake 8th station: late September ~ early October) ◆#Kiso Koma Highlands #kisokomakogen Hiyoshi, Kisotown, Kiso District ◆#Kiso Lake Okukiso (Lake Okukiso) Elementary Kiso Kiso village Kiso District ◆#Narai juku #naraijuku Shiojiri City Narai juku

[Nakasendo Narai-juku] Located beneath Torii Pass — one of the Nakasendo’s most notorious difficult stretches — Narai was known as 'Narai Senken' ('a thousand houses of Narai') and was the most prosperous post town among the eleven post towns of Kiso. The townscape has been designated by the national government as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and it still strongly retains the atmosphere of the past. The roughly 1‑km stretch of buildings along the Narai River forms the longest post‑town streetscape in Japan. More than a preserved site, Narai‑juku’s charm lies in the fact that people still live there today. This award‑winning post town was also used as the setting for the 2011 NHK morning drama 'Ohisama'. As a place where visitors can experience Japan's unspoiled beauty, it attracts many people from Japan and abroad every year, who are captivated by this historic post town. ◇Basic Information ・ Parking: Please use the nearest Roadside Station 'Kiso-no-Ohashi' parking lot (free), or the Gonbei Parking Lot (paid). ・Inquiries: Narai-juku Tourist Information Center TEL 0264-34-3160

A 1 km stretch of Edo-period streets! A feature on the charms of Narai-juku Let me introduce Narai-juku, located at the northernmost edge of the Kiso Road! Narai-juku was designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1978, and in 2016 the Kiso Road including Narai-juku was registered as a Japan Heritage site, making it a place of great historical value. Narai-juku preserves about 1 km of Edo-period streets. Just strolling along the streetscape is an enjoyable way to sightsee. With completely different looks in each season, you can visit several times a year without ever getting bored! In Narai-juku you can enjoy Nagano Prefecture specialties such as soba noodles, gohei-mochi rice cakes, oyaki stuffed dumplings, and local sake. You can also buy regional crafts unique to the area, such as Kiso lacquerware and bentwoodware, as souvenirs! By the way, the production center for Kiso lacquerware is right next door in Kisohirasawa, and Kisohirasawa is also designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings! It’s fun to drop by Kisohirasawa while you’re visiting Narai-juku!! Some shops offer kimono and yukata dressing services, so you can dress up and walk the Edo streets for a true time‑slip experience! In the past, Narai-juku was used as a filming location for the morning drama Ohisama, and it is cherished as a pilgrimage site by fans. Please come and visit Narai-juku!

【Magome juku】Magome juku in Nakatsugawa City is very popular with overseas tourists. In a Shukuba full of atmosphere, you can enjoy time travel as if you were transported back in time to the Edo period while walking along the cobblestone slope! Restrooms available in several places in the Shukuba, and the pleasant sound of water streams by. It is also the birthplace of Shimazaki Fujimura, who is known for "Before Dawn" and "Destruction", which was also made into a movie. The Fujimura Memorial Museum has a collection of about 6,000 works, including manuscripts of Fujimura's works and his belongings. The photo was taken around this time last year 2023. Period, hydrangeas bloom in the Shukuba. The hydrangea Shukuba is a sight that can only be seen at this period! !! Other, there are restaurants and shops, and you can Fun eating and shopping. It is a Spot that cannot be missed in Kisoji sightseeing! !!

Narai juku "It's off-limits today due to road construction!" Alamār!" It is located in Narai, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture. Narai Juku is the 34th post town in the Nakasendo Highway, counting from Itabashi Inn on the Edo side and Moriyama Inn on the Kyoto side, just in the middle of the Nakasendo Highway. The Town has been selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and retains a strong appearance of the past. On the day I visited, half of the road was off-limits due to road construction tears. The construction had not started yet early in the morning, so I asked to take a picture. "It's off-limits today due to road construction!" Alamār!" I don't know if the two people in the photo were talking. Restrooms available.