1.Homes built on the Riverbank
This line of traditional houses was built into the side of the riverbank. In the early morning and evening, you can get a sense of the old spirit of Japan.

2.Foot bath
Take a stroll along the dynamic Kiso River and stop here to rest your feet.
Sit under the gazebo and remove a wooden panel from the ground. You will find warm water underneath. You can remove your shoes and soak your feet in the bath.
It’s the perfect way to relax and watch the river after a long day of traveling.

3.Kamaaburi[ka-ma-a-boo-ri] bistro Matsushimatei
Matsushimatei is a Nagano style Italian restaurant tuck away on a traditional Japanese road. After dinner, grab a drink next door at the matsushimatei bar.

Both the restaurant and bar provide a cozy hideaway for your stay in Kiso.

You can find more information on their website here.

4．Storehouse with Namakokabe
Namakokabe is a traditional Japanese construction method that uses square tiles joined with raised plaster. You can see it on the waist of the storehouse in the above photo. This style of wall is commonly found on the outer walls of castles.

5.“Yamamura Daikan Yashiki”
“Yamamura Daikan Yashiki” is the mansion of the Yamamura family, who ruled over the Kiso area for many generations.
You can see the Yamamura Shrine as soon as you go through the gate.
There is a legend that a fox used to live in this shine. He would often sing the Kiyari song, a Japanese workmen’s chant used when pulling.
There is still a fox mummy here as a Goshintai (object of worship housed in a Shinto shrine and believed to contain the spirit of a deity).

Click here to find out more info about “Yamamura Daikan Yashiki”

6.The Kiso Road Culture Gallery & Kishiro
These are tourist information spots in Kanmachi [ka- n- ma-chi] area, which serves as the start of Kisofukushima’s shopping street.
The first floor of the large building is “Yuko of the Forest.” There are a lot of handmade crafts made by artists who are active in Kiso. You can buy them there. The second floor is a gallery of the eleven post-town of the Kiso Valley.
The small building is “Kishiro” which has a small “mom-and- pop” tea and sweets shop.

7.Hatsukoi no Komichi (First Love Path)
There is parking for the shopping street near Kishiro.
This is a free parking lot available for guests who are visiting Fukushima Sekisho and the Kiso Road Culture Gallery. You can see new steep stairs in the direction of the cliffs behind this parking lot. · · · This is “Hatsukoi no michi” or First Love Path.

Click here to find out more info about “Hatsukoi no Komichi (First Love Path)”

8.Fukushima Sekisho Museum.
Fukushima Sekisho is located in the middle of the Nakasendo Trail. During the Edo period (1603-1868), many travelers walked the Nakasendo on their way to and from Kyoto and Modern-day Tokyo. These Sekisho sites were checkpoints along the way and were used to collect taxes and ensure safety. This is one of the four most famous Sekisho gates in Japan. Today, there is a museum on site.
The Fukushima Sekisho is on a narrow road tucked between the mountain side and the river bank. This narrow passage forced travelers to go through the gate, so it was perfect for inspections. This location is worth seeing.

Click here to find out more info about “Fukushima Sekisho Museum”

9.Kozenji Temple

There are 4 gardens at Konzenji Temple.
You can see the Shoryu Garden on your left as soon as you go through Chokushin Gate. It strongly expresses the legend of the dragon, which is folklore in China.
Shumisen Garden expresses the Buddhist universe.
Kanun[ka-n-woo-n] Garden is said to be the largest Japanese Rock Garden in all of the Eastern world.
Bansho Garden traces back to the Edo period (1603-1868). It is very peaceful and charming. Please take your time and enjoy the serene ambiance of this garden.

Magome Post-Town　http://www.kiso-magome.com/
Magome post-town is the valley’s southern-most post-town. Here, the Mino Road crosses over the Tsuzuraore pass and becomes the Kiso Road. (It takes 50 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Tsumago Post-Town　http://www.tumago.jp/
Tsumago post-town has been designated an important traditional building preservation area for Japan. Tsumago today is just like it was during the Edo period (1603-1868).

(It takes 40 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Midono Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/midono.html
Like Tsumago, Midono post-town flourished as an important place of transport long before the establishment of the Nakasendo Trail.

Nojiri Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/nojiri.html
Nojjiri post-town is often called “Nanamagari” or “Seven curves” due to its Winding townscape. This design protects the town from enemies by slowing down their invading forces.

Suhara Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/suhara.html
In the Edo period (1603-1868), Suhara post-town had only about thirty inns. It was famous for its Hanazuke (Japanese traditional pickle).  (It takes 20 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Agematsu Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/agematsu.html
Agematsu post-town has flourished as a distribution or trading center for Kiso Hinoki, or Japanese cypress since long ago. (It takes 10 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Fukushima Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/fukushima.html
Fukushima post-town was well-known for the Fukushima Sekisho, one of the four major Sekisho points here in Japan.
The homes built on the riverbank stand along the Kiso River. It is said like a poem that “As the sun hides behind our valley walls, the sky darkens, leaving the blue tint of the mountains to light our way. Kisofukushima is the bottom of the valley.”

Miyanokoshi Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/miyanokoshi.html
Here is the birthplace of Kiso carpenters, so the elaborate techniques and woodworkings remind us of old days.

(It takes 10 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Yabuhara Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/yabuhara.html
Yabuhara post-town is significant, as it is the place where the Kiso Road forks into the Hida old highway. Just behind Yabuhara, is the trailhead for the Trii pass. (It takes 15 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Narai Post-Town　http://www.naraijuku.com/
Narai post-town is located at the foot of the steep Torii Pass. In the Edo period (1603-1868), Narai was very prosperous and was known as “Narai sengen” or “A thousand houses of Narai”.

(It takes 25 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train)

Niekawa Post-Town　http://www.kisoji.com/kisoji/feature/niekawa.html
Niekawa post-town is the northernmost of the eleven Kiso post-towns. It is a peaceful, elongated town nestled perfectly between the mountain ranges. (It takes 30 minutes from Kiso Fukushima by car or train).

●For details, go to Kiso Tourist Association website

http://www.kankou-kiso.com/

Phone: (+81)264-22-2010