Tsumago-juku

Tsumago-juku was the 42nd of 69 post towns along the Nakasendo, one of the five major routes connecting Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto during the Edo period (1603-1868). The Nakasendo ('road through the mountains') was the inland alternative to the coastal Tokaido road, passing through the Kiso Valley's dramatic mountain scenery. Tsumago served travelers with lodging, food, and rest facilities, including two honjin (inns for nobility) and one waki-honjin (sub-honjin).

After the Meiji Restoration and the arrival of railways, Tsumago declined as travelers abandoned the mountain trail. By the 1960s, many historic post towns had been modernized or demolished. However, Tsumago residents made a pioneering decision to preserve their town, establishing conservation regulations in 1968 that prohibited selling, renting, or demolishing traditional buildings. They also banned television antennas, overhead wires, and modern signage to maintain the Edo-period atmosphere.

Tsumago became Japan's first preserved post town and inspired a nationwide machiya (traditional townhouse) preservation movement. In 1976, it was designated as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The town remains a living community where residents maintain traditional architecture and lifestyles. Walking Tsumago's main street, especially in early morning or evening, offers one of Japan's most authentic experiences of Edo-period travel culture.