AThe Magome-Tsumago hike is known as a highlight among the Nakasendo Trail hiking routes.
The Nakasendo, spanning a total distance of 534 km, is a highway crossing central Japan from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto. Therefore, encountering different charms in each area is truly one of the Nakasendo’s greatest attractions.
Along the Magome-Tsumago section, you’ll find the charm of the Kiso region’s deep mountains and valleys, along with the natural beauty of the mountain trails. The well-preserved streetscapes of the post towns and temples/shrines add to its appeal. Alternatively, the Mino region offers expansive, majestic nature, featuring the Kiso River and gentle mountain landscapes. The combination of mountain paths, satoyama (mountainous villages), and the presence of post towns as bases for travelers makes this an undeniably rich area where you can truly experience the feelings of travelers at the Edo period.l.

The Nakasendo, and Ancient Roads

Before the Nakasendo was developed during the Edo period, roads such as the Tōsandō (established in the bottom of 7th century) and Kamakura Kaido. (from the bottom of 12th century) connected Kyoto to the eastern provinces (such as Kamakura).
Kamado was established as a post town called ‘Toki Station’ (now Toki city is located about 10km west from Kamado) along the Tōsandō, indicating it was an ancient town.
During the Edo period, the town center of Kamado was positioned as the Shita-kaidō, part of the road connecting Ena to Nagoya.
Ancient burial mound like the ‘Hachibuse Kofun’ may be remnants of this era which buried the person governed Kamado area dispatched from Nara or Osaka area.

Mino-yaki Ceramic Materials Supplier

The Higashi-Mino region of Gifu Prefecture, including Kamado, is renowned as the production center for Mino ware, one of Japan’s representative ceramics, accounting for approximately half of the nation’s total production.
While Mino ware is symbolized by ceramics like tea bowls known as “Mino Momoyama ware,” which developed alongside the Japanese tea ceremony, the region also cultivated a highly specialized ceramic industry during the Edo period. This was achieved by developing a division of separated factory system leveraging its abundant raw materials.
In Kamado, alongside Mino ware producers, businesses such as pottery clay suppliers continue to operate.

Ryugin waterfalls and Shugendō (Ontake-kyō sect)

Ryugin waterfalls served as a place of training for followers of the mountain worship of Ontake-kyō sect.
Shugendō in Japan developed through the fusion of primitive mountain worship and Mahayana Buddhist thought, which involves practices performed in the mountains to achieve oneness with nature. Through this process of self-discipline, practitioners shed their petty egos, achieving salvation of the soul and a return to nature (the mountains).
The Nakasendo Road, particularly after the Edo period, became a pilgrimage route for these mountain worshipers, with people traveling from places like Nakatsugawa and Kiso Fukushima toward Mount Ontake.

Geology of Mizunami city

The geology of Mizunami City is exceptionally unique and complex.
One feature is the presence of massive boulders scattered throughout the mountains, composed of bedrock zones like the Naegi Granite and Nohi Rhyolite.
Additionally, there is an early Miocene marine sedimentary zone where volcanic ash, such as pyroclastic flow sheets, and fossils of Desmostylus, Paleoparadoxia, and over 300 species of shellfish have been found. (Clay layers, an important raw material for ceramics, are abundant in neighboring Toki City and elsewhere)
One kind of strata, some containing limestone, locally produce water with higher hardness than in adjacent areas (however, in terms of water quality, it categorized medium-soft water). This characteristic is reflected in the properties of sake produced here.

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Ascending the mountain path alongside seven waterfalls that have also been used as sites for Shugendo waterfall practices.
These sects are primarily groups that venerate Mount Ontake (3067-meter peak straddling Gifu and Nagano Prefectures), and traces of their presence can be seen in monuments called “Reijinhi” (trance person’s monuments).

‘Kosatsuba’ were information boards placed at the entrance to post towns, displayed travel advisories and announcements.

This area consists primarily of bedrock zones of Naegi granite and Nohi rhyolite, and also some gravelized clayey sedimentary soils have been appeared. Large granite boulders are a defining feature of this region, contributing to the hot spring water quality (especially natural radioactive springs) and bautiful landscapes, also forming popular rock climbing area.

The massive cedar tree at Ōkute-juku Shinmei Shrine, estimated to be 670 years old, was a symbol and pride for the local community. However, it fell down due to rainfall in July 2020.

Finally, this sign awaits you. It also sign of the start of celebration for the day.