To access Magome, take the Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (50 minutes). The entire journey from Tokyo to Nakatsugawa takes about three hours and costs around 13,000 yen one way. From Nakatsugawa, Magome can be reached in a 30 minute bus ride (570 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Tsumago, get off at Nagiso Station. Some limited express trains stop at Nagiso Station, but most do not, in which case you should transfer to a local train at Nakatsugawa Station. The entire journey from Tokyo to Nagiso takes about three hours and costs around 13,000 yen one way. From Nagiso, Tsumago can be reached in a short taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or bus ride (300 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To directly access Narai from Tokyo, it is recommended to travel by limited express train via Shiojiri (see below).
By limited express trains via Shiojiri
Take the JR Azusa limited express train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Shiojiri Station south of Matsumoto (2.5 hours) and transfer to a local or limited express train into the Kiso Valley. The train journey is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
To access Narai, take a local train from Shiojiri Station to Narai Station (20 minutes). The entire one way trip from Shinjuku to Narai takes about three hours and costs around 7,000 yen.
To access Tsumago, take the JR Shinano limited express train from Shiojiri to Nagiso Station (50 minutes). Note that many limited express trains do not stop at Nagiso, in which case you should transfer to a local train at Kiso-Fukushima Station or use a local train from Shiojiri. The entire journey from Tokyo to Nagiso by limited express trains takes about four hours and costs around 9,000 yen one way. From Nagiso, Tsumago can be reached in a short taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or bus ride (300 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Magome, take the JR Shinano limited express train from Shiojiri to Nakatsugawa Station (60 minutes). The entire journey from Tokyo to Nakatsugawa via Shiojiri takes about four hours and costs around 9,500 yen one way. From Nakatsugawa, Magome can be reached in a 30 minute bus ride (570 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
By highway bus
Daytime highway buses between Shinjuku and Nagoya stop at "Chuodo Magome" bus stop, which is located in the Misaka parking area along the Chuo Expressway. From the bus stop, Magome can be reached in about a 20 minute walk. The one way journey between Shinjuku and Chuodo Magome takes about 4.5 hours and costs 4,800 yen. Online reservations can be made via Willer.
To access Magome, take the JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (50 minutes). The entire journey from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa takes about 90 minutes and costs around 8,500 yen one way. From Nakatsugawa, Magome can be reached in a 30 minute bus ride (570 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Tsumago, get off at Nagiso Station. Some limited express trains stop at Nagiso Station, but most do not, in which case you should transfer to a local train at Nakatsugawa Station. The entire journey from Kyoto to Nagiso takes about two hours and costs around 8,500 yen one way. From Nagiso, Tsumago can be reached in a short taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or bus ride (300 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Narai, take the Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Kiso-Fukushima Station (85 minutes) and transfer to a local train to Narai Station (20 minutes). The entire journey from Kyoto to Narai takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes and costs around 9,500 yen one way.
To access Magome, take the JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (50 minutes). The entire journey from Osaka to Nakatsugawa takes about two hours and costs around 9,000 yen one way. From Nakatsugawa, Magome can be reached in a 30 minute bus ride (570 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Tsumago, get off at Nagiso Station. Some limited express trains stop at Nagiso Station, but most do not, in which case you should transfer to a local train at Nakatsugawa Station. The entire journey from Osaka to Nagiso takes about two hours and costs around 9,000 yen one way. From Nagiso, Tsumago can be reached in a short taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or bus ride (300 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Narai, take the Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Kiso-Fukushima Station (85 minutes) and transfer to a local train to Narai Station (20 minutes). The entire trip from Osaka to Narai takes about three hours and costs around 10,000 yen one way.
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How to travel between the Kiso Valley and Nagoya
By limited express train
To access Magome, take the JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (50 minutes, approx. 3000 yen one way) and transfer to a bus to Magome (30 minutes, 570 yen one way, see timetable). The train is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but the bus is not.
To access Tsumago, take the JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nagiso Station (75 minutes, approx. 3000 yen one way). Note that many limited express trains do not stop at Nagiso Station, in which case you should transfer to a local train at Nakatsugawa Station. From Nagiso, Tsumago can be reached in a short taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or bus ride (300 yen one way, see timetable). The train is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but the bus is not.
To access Narai, take the JR Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Kiso-Fukushima Station (85 minutes) and transfer to a local train to Narai Station (20 minutes). The entire journey costs around 5000 yen one way and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By local train
Local trains along the JR Chuo Line connect Nagoya with Nakatsugawa (70 minutes, 1340 yen), Nagiso (90 minutes, 1690 yen) and Narai (3 hours, 2640 yen).
By highway bus
Many highway buses that run along the Chuo Expressway between Nagoya and Nagano (e.g. buses along the Nagoya-Iida route) stop at "Chuodo Magome" bus stop, which is located in the Misaka parking area along the expressway. From the bus stop, Magome can be reached in about a 20 minute walk. The one way journey between Nagoya and Chuodo Magome takes about 90 minutes and costs 2000 yen. Online reservations can be made via Willer.
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How to travel between the Kiso Valley and Takayama
By train via Nagoya
Take the JR Hida limited express from Takayama to Nagoya and transfer to the JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya into the Kiso Valley. For Magome, get off at Nakatsugawa Station (4 hours, about 8500 yen one way). For Tsumago get off at Nagiso Station (4.5 hours, about 8500 yen, not all limited express trains stop at Nagiso). For Narai, get off at Narai Station (5.5 hours, around 10,000 yen, not served by limited express trains, must transfer to local train). The Japan Rail Pass is valid on all these trains.
By train via Mino-Ota and Tajimi
From Takayama, take the JR Takayama Line to Mino-Ota Station, then take the JR Taita Line to Tajimi Station and then the JR Chuo Line into the Kiso Valley. Although more complicated, travel along this route is usually faster than travel via Nagoya. It is also about 2000 yen cheaper. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on all these trains.
By bus through the mountains
From Takayama, take a local train (80 minutes, 990 yen), limited express train (45 minutes, 1650 yen for a non-reserved seat) or bus (85 minutes, 1060 yen) to Gero, transfer to a bus to Kashimo Sogojimusho-mae (‰ÁŽq•ê‘‡Ž––±Š‘O, 35 minutes, 1050 yen, every 2-4 hours), and transfer to another bus to Nakatsugawa Station (one hour, 1370 yen, every 2-3 hours).
Before corona, Nohi operated one bus round trip per day between Takayama, Gero Onsen, Magome and Tsumago from April through November. Along the way, the buses stopped almost two hours at Magome and/or Tsumago for tourists to view the towns. The one way fare was 3000 yen, while a round trip ticket cost 5000 yen.
To access Magome, take the JR Shinano limited express from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa Station (50 minutes). The entire journey from Kyoto to Nakatsugawa takes about 90 minutes and costs around 8,500 yen one way. From Nakatsugawa, Magome can be reached in a 30 minute bus ride (570 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Tsumago, get off at Nagiso Station. Some limited express trains stop at Nagiso Station, but most do not, in which case you should transfer to a local train at Nakatsugawa Station. The entire journey from Kyoto to Nagiso takes about two hours and costs around 8,500 yen one way. From Nagiso, Tsumago can be reached in a short taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or bus ride (300 yen one way, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, see timetable).
To access Narai, take the Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Kiso-Fukushima Station (85 minutes) and transfer to a local train to Narai Station (20 minutes). The entire journey from Kyoto to Narai takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes and costs around 9,500 yen one way.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Getting around
All the post towns of the Kiso Valley are located within easy reach of the JR Chuo Line, and can be visited relatively conveniently by public transportation. Please refer to each post town's information page for more details on access and orientation:
Magome and Tsumago are located less than ten kilometers from each other and are the most popular destinations in the Kiso Valley. A popular hiking trail, which follows the former Nakasendo route, connects the two towns. Alternatively, they are connected with each other by infrequent direct buses (see timetable).
A visit to the Kiso Valley is possible as a side trip from Nagoya or even Kyoto. It can also be visited along a journey between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka as an alternative to taking the Tokaido Shinkansen. While the main attractions of the Kiso Valley can be seen in a single day, we recommend to include an overnight stay at one of the post towns' minshuku or ryokan.
