Hello! This is Agematsu Tourism Association.
Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture, sits in the southwest of Nagano, at the heart of the Kiso Valley along the upper reaches of the Kiso River.
The town boasts rich history and beautiful nature that continue to charm visitors.

◆◆History of Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture◆◆
During the Edo period, Agematsu Town was the 38th post town on the Nakasendo, which linked Edo and Kyoto.
The stretch from Koumatsu-juku to Suhara-juku is the longest on the Kiso Road, and the area thrived as a rest stop for many travelers.
You can still feel that history at sites such as the Kiso Plank and Nezame-no-toko Gorge.
Guided Nakasendo walking tours led by veteran guides are available to help you create lasting travel memories.

Agematsu Town has long prospered as a forestry town producing high-quality timber, notably Kiso hinoki (Japanese cypress), and is known as the “village of hinoki.”

◆◆Popular sights in Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture◆◆
◇Nezame-no-toko Gorge
The Kiso River has carved the granite into squared formations that look like large boxes lined up.
A local legend says Urashima Taro opened his tamatebako (treasure box) here.

◇Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest
This recreation forest features natural Kiso hinoki trees over 300 years old and was an early site of forest protection measures some 400 years ago.
Seven walking trails wind through the forest, and paid experiences such as forest therapy are available.
Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest is regarded as the birthplace of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
The term “forest bathing” was coined in 1982, and that year the first national forest bathing event was held here at Akasawa.

◇Akasawa Forest Railway
A 2.2-kilometer round-trip tourist trolley runs through Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest; it was once used to transport timber.
You can enjoy forest bathing while riding the railway.
The Forest Railway Memorial Museum displays a steam locomotive from the railway’s opening era.

◇Kiso Komagatake
The highest peak of the Central Alps, Kiso Komagatake rises to 2,956 meters.
A ropeway climbs to 2,612 meters, offering Japan’s greatest elevation gain by ropeway.

◇Kiso Old Road, a natural trail
This route linked the north and south of Kiso before the Nakasendo was developed.
A hiking course on the Kiso plateau at about 1,000 meters elevation offers expansive natural views.

◆◆Events and festivals loved in Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture◆◆
◇Komagatake Shrine Annual Festival
Held every year on May 3, the festival features the nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property performance “Daidai Kagura 13 Seats.”
You can see pieces such as the four tengu dance “Shijin Gokae-hai” and the sword dance “Sanken no Mai.”

◆◆Local specialties of Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture◆◆
Local specialties include gohei-mochi, sunkki (fermented turnip), and hooba-maki (hoja leaf-wrapped dishes).
These regional foods offer rich, distinctive flavors you can enjoy only here.

◆◆Why visit Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture◆◆
Agematsu Town charms visitors with its abundant nature and deep history.
From the dramatic landscapes of Nezame-no-toko Gorge and Kiso Komagatake to the extraordinary forest bathing at Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest and the sense of history you feel walking the Nakasendo, Agematsu offers many attractions.
Leave everyday life behind and enjoy a restorative trip filled with nature, history, and culture in Agematsu Town.
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