Hanaya
波奈屋
- Rooms
- Meals
- Restaurant
The largest ryokan in the Tsumago area (about 40 guests), in Otsumago on the trail about 1.5 km before Tsumago, next to the Otsumago bus stop. Two meals included.
Nakasendo Way · Stage 1 of 6
Magome to Tsumago
Stage 1 of the Nakasendo Way covers 7.9 km from Magome to Tsumago, with 323 m of ascent and 466 m of descent. The highest point is 803 m. Allow about 3 hours of walking, plus breaks.
7.9 kmdistance
323 mascent
466 mdescent
~3 hwalking time
easydifficulty
803 mhighest point
≈ 1.5 L
≈ 850 kcal
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Where to sleep and eat on this stage
Otsumago
Koshinzuka
こおしんづか
- Rooms
- Meals
Minshuku in a 120-year-old farmhouse with a wood-fired irori in Otsumago, about 1.5 km before Tsumago, for up to 13 guests. The elderly owners open only a few days a week and take bookings at most three months ahead.
Maruya
諸人御宿 まるや
- Rooms
- Meals
- Seasonal — call ahead
Minshuku in an inn founded in 1789 in the hamlet of Otsumago, on the trail about 1.5 km before Tsumago, with an irori hearth and an English-speaking host. Two meals; closed in winter.
Tsumago
Kami-Chojiya
上丁子屋
- Rooms
- Wi-Fi
A 200-year-old house by the masugata corner in the centre of Tsumago, rented whole to one group, with a large living room, four rooms and wifi. Room only; the shops in Tsumago close at 17:00.
Matsushiroya
松代屋旅館
- Rooms
- Meals
Traditional ryokan founded in 1804 in the centre of Tsumago, with rooms divided by sliding doors and no TV. Two meals; closed on Wednesdays and over New Year.
Oyado Daikichi
御宿 大吉
- Rooms
- Meals
Minshuku at the north end of Tsumago with lockable private rooms and a cypress bath, for up to 10 guests. Two meals; closed over New Year.
Shimosagaya
下嵯峨屋
- Rooms
- Meals
- Listed, not confirmed — call first
Small minshuku for up to 11 guests in the Terashita part of Tsumago, with country cooking. Two meals; closed over New Year. Book by phone.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed, not confirmed" appear on a public listing (the Kiso Tourism Federation, a post-town tourist association or OpenStreetMap) but could not be confirmed on their own website. Inns in the post towns have only a few rooms and many take bookings by phone; book months ahead for cherry-blossom time (April) and the autumn colours (late October to November), and book dinner, as Tsumago's shops and restaurants close at 17:00.
Help and services on this stage
Emergency: call 119 (ambulance, rescue) or 110 (police). English help 24 h: +81 50 3816 2787. Emergency & health guide
Nearest hospital
- Nakatsugawa Municipal General Hospital (24 h emergency) · Nakatsugawa · 24/7 emergency
+81573661251 · Map
Health centres
- Shinozaki Clinic, Nagiso · Nagiso · daytime only, closed some days; call before you go
+81264572016 · Map
On or near the trail
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
Walk Magome to Tsumago with Outest
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.