Tsumago, Authentic Post Town

the main street of Tsumago post town

Yesterday I had a wonderful time in the beautiful day. I made a one-day trip to Tsumago old post town in Nagano Prefecture. Tsumago is about 270km away from Osaka in the east and it took about four hours by bus.

the entrance of Wakihonjin

Tsumago was a post town on the Nakasendo route between Kyoto and Edo (present-day Tokyo). It is known today as one of the best preserved post towns in Japan. The town and its residents go to great lengths to recreate the ambiance of the Edo Period(1603-1867). Cars are prohibited on the main street in the day and phone lines and power cables are kept concealed, allowing visitors to imagine they have slipped back to an earlier time.
Tsumago was first designated as a "protected area for the preservation of traditional buildings" by the Japanese Government in 1976. The authentic scenery is being maintained by continuing preservation projects.

natural light's beauty

 hanging white raddishs and persimons

Tsumago also recreates the post town atmosphere by maintaining its Honjin and Wakihonjin. In all post towns, the Honjin was the principal inn and served government officials who were traveling through. When more lodging was required, the Wakihonjin served to accommodate the travelers of lower status. Tsumago also maintains the office where laborers and horses were rented to aid in travel.

serene atmosphere

living room with the hearth

I felt like I turned back to samurai world 300 years ago. Good place to visit. I'd like to come again in white winter.




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