Magome

Magome (馬籠宿, Magome-juku) is a post town in Gifu. One of the most visited places in the Kiso Valley, Magome has been beautifully restored as an Edo Era post town and stone walkways line the town. Magome served as an important stop on the Nakasendo, a route that connected Tokyo and Kyoto.

See: 6
Do: 1
Eat: 9
Drink: 3
Buy: 7

26 places

Eat

Haginoya

萩乃屋

Kaiseki restaurant using fresh ingredients specializing in tempura and fish.

Closed · opens 11 am¥2000 for lunch, ¥3000 for dinner

Drink

HillBilly Coffee Company

Cafe making coffee inspired by the flavours of the Kiso Valley, also has a small selection of pastries.

Mon-Fri 08:00–16:30, Sat Sun 08:00-17:00¥460-600 for coffee, ¥650-680 for flavoured lattes

Buy

Kawakamiya Magome branch

川上屋馬籠店

Founded in 1864, this traditional sweet shop is one of the oldest in Magome, most famous for their chestnut sweets like Kurikinton, a common souvenir from the area.

¥200-300 per sweet

Eat

Keiseian

恵盛庵

Soba hand milled by local grandmothers. They only accept cash and there is no English menu.

11:00-14:30 or until sold out¥800

Buy

Magomekan

馬籠館本館

Magome's largest souvenir shop serving various dishes like udon and curry.

Closed · opens 9 amabout ¥500 per item

Eat

Masuya

ますや

Restaurant making fresh soba, their most popular dish is soba served with fresh Ena Chicken. Only takes cash.

Spring-Fall: 10:00-16:00 Winter: Open 11:00-15:30

See

Old Official Bulletin Board

Just off the Nakasendo, this board was where the shogun would post his orders during the Edo Period.

All hoursFree

See

Shimizuya Museum

清水屋資料館, Shimizuya shiryōkan

Small museums with artifacts from when Magome served as a post town.

08:00 to 17:00, 08:30 to 16:30 from December to March¥200

Buy

Simo-oogiya

下扇屋

Selling straw folk crafts like toy horses and bags, also sells rice crackers. Only takes cash.

09:00-17:00, 09:30-16:30 in winter

See

Tsuchimaya Shiryokan

槌馬屋資料館

Small museum remembering Toson and displaying artifacts of his family, it also features artifacts from the Meiji Era, which was when most of his early works were published

09:00 to 18:00, closed irregularly during winter, check website for dates¥200

See

Tōson Memorial Museum

藤村記念館, Tōson kinenkan

Once the honjin of Magome, this former large inn serves as a memorial to the author Shimazaki Tosin and tells stories about his various works.

Apr-Nov: 09:00-17:00, Dec-Mar: 09:00-16:00, closed on Wed from December–FebruaryAdult ¥500, child ¥100

Buy

Usagiya

うさぎや

Senbei (rice cracker) shop with a very large variety with many different flavours.

09:00-17:00 from December–February, 09:00-16:00 from March–November¥120

See

Wakihonjin Museum

馬籠脇本陣史料館, Wakihonjin shiryōkan

The wakihonjin served as the post town's secondary inn after its honjin, there is now a small museum recounting Magome's history as a post town and features various artifacts from the Edo Era.

09:00-17:00, closed from December 15 to February¥300

Buy

Yaoya

Souvenir shops with local folk crafts, they also sell a few snacks including preserved red turnips.

Closed · opens 9 am¥380 for food, ¥1000 for crafts

Drink

Yomogiya

四方木屋

An old house of Toson, now functions as a tea-house that also serves coffee and snacks.

10:00-16:30, only open on weekends during January and February

See Not mapped

Preservation Area

The preserved area of Magome runs beside the Nakasendo, most tourist sites are in this area and cobblestone streets connect the area. The photogenic streets are one of Magome's biggest tourist draws, and it is a good idea to spend time absorbing the rural atmosphere of the area. Be aware that people still live in the traditional buildings of the area.

Do Not mapped

Walk the Magome-Tsumago Trail

Simply follow the Nakasendo north out of Magome and in about 7 km one will arrive at the next post town Tsumago, the trail is still well preserved and an enjoyable trip.

Open at all timesFree

Drink