Agematsu, town in Kiso district, Nagano prefecture, Japan
Agematsu is a small town in Kiso district, Nagano Prefecture, located in the Japanese Alps beside a mountain stream and surrounded by ancient cypress forests. It sits along the historic Nakasendo trail and features the Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest with trees over 300 years old, walking trails, and a narrow-gauge forest railway that passes through the wooded landscape.
Agematsu developed as a significant post station on the Nakasendo route, which once connected Kyoto with Edo and served merchants and travelers. The town endured fires that destroyed parts of it but was rebuilt, with forest management and woodcraft trade shaping its economy for centuries.
The name Agematsu ties the town's identity to the Kiso cypress, a tree cultivated here for generations and deeply respected by local communities. Daily life revolves around forest stewardship and traditional craftsmanship, visible in wooden products, handmade chopsticks, and the practice of mindful forest walks that visitors can experience.
The town is accessible by train or car, with an information center at the station providing maps, directions, and details about local sights and activities. Spring and autumn offer the best conditions for walking and forest activities, when weather is mild and seasonal colors are at their peak.
A special practice here is forest bathing, a form of mindful walking through the woods that helps visitors reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Craft workshops also allow visitors to make their own chopsticks from local Kiso cypress wood while learning the skills of traditional craftspeople.
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