Nagano, Nagiso and Tsumago

Near JR Nagano Station. Bikes galore in the foreground and sakura in the background.
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From Narita I took the Narita Express to JR Tokyo Station, then caught the Asama Shinkansen to Nagano.  I had an hour until my next train so I walked around the station area.  Sakura is just starting to bloom there.

I took the Limited Express Shinano to JR Nagiso Station and started my walk on the Nakasendo.   The Nakasendo was the inland road linking Kyoto with Edo (Tokyo) during the Tokugawa shogunate--the more famous Tokaido was the southern coastal road but most traces of it disappeared with industrialization of the region.  A concerted effort was made to renew interest in the Nakasendo and a section between the post towns of Tsumago and Magome recreates what the original road was like.

Near JR Nagiso Station on the Nakasendo.
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From JR Nagiso Station to Tsumago was an easy 45-minute walk and the highlight was the short hike up a hill to the ruins of Tsumago Castle.  Only markers are present to indicate where the castle stood but you had a nice view overlooking Tsumago.

I stayed at the Shimosagaya in Tsumago, a family-run inn (minshuku).  Dinner was very good including fish, vegetable tempura, lots of unusual vegetables and pickles (assuming they were mountain greens) and crunchy, sweet-roasted crickets.