Trip Overview–Japan Spring 2016 (16 Days through Nakasendo Trail, Japanese Alps, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kyoto)

This is an overview of our trip through Japan in May/June 2016. In 16 days, we hiked part of the Nakasendo trail from Magome to Narai, visited Matsumoto, crossed the Japanese Alps, visited Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima and ending with a short stay in Kyoto. The following table summarises my itinerary and where I stayed. Day 1  (24 May 2016) Travel from home...

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Nakatsugawa and Magome – starting point of my journey along the Nakaseno Trail

24 May 2016 The above picture shows Magome, the starting point of our journey along the Nakasendo Trail. Magome is one the two restored and preserved Edo-period way stations on the Nakasendo highway in the Kiso Valley. To get to Magome, we flew into Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport and took a series of trains and buses.We arrived at Nagoya’s Chūbu Centrair International Airport in the...

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Morning in Magome, Nakasendo post-town

25 May 2016  Woke up slightly after 4 AM in the Tajimaya Ryokan, where we stayed in Magome. It could be the brightening sky or the birds chirping outside the window that woke me up earlier than usual. I could not get back to sleep anymore and just laid on the futon, placed on the tatami mat floor, and listened to the birds and sound of gurgling water flowing through the drain outside. The view...

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