Magome-juku, Post town in Nakatsugawa, Japan
Magome-juku is a post town in Nakatsugawa, Japan, set along the old Nakasendo road that once connected Tokyo and Kyoto. Its main street climbs a steep hill, lined with wooden buildings, small water channels, and slowly turning waterwheels.
Magome-juku was one of around 70 post towns along the Nakasendo, a major overland route used during the Edo period. It served travelers, merchants, and samurai who needed shelter and supplies along the way.
A small museum in Magome-juku is dedicated to Toson Shimazaki, a novelist born in the area whose books depict rural Japanese life in the late 19th century. Visitors can see his writings and personal objects on display inside.
Magome-juku is reachable by bus directly from Nakatsugawa Station, making it a simple day trip. The main street is paved and steep, so comfortable shoes are a good idea.
The name Magome literally means "horse basket," a reference to the fact that the slope was too steep for horses to carry on, so riders had to leave them at inns here. Those who continue along the old route can walk to the neighboring post town of Tsumago in about 2 hours on foot.
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