Japan 2016. Day 8: Travelling the post route

Today, we bid farewell to the charming city of Kyoto, feeling a little blue as we embarked on our journey toward the Japanese Alps. After a long and winding trip that involved a taxi, bullet train, slow train, and bus, we finally arrived in the quaint town of Magome. Due to our early start, we had breakfast on the bus, which was a unique experience in itself. 

Nestled in the Kiso Valley, Magome was once a post town on the Nakasendo Edo post route that connected Kyoto to Edo, now known as Tokyo. The town has been beautifully preserved and was an absolute delight to explore. 

We had the privilege of staying in a traditional-style inn called a minshuku. Our room was simple, with tatami mats, a low table, and futon mattresses on the floor. Since our room was for four people, we had the luxury of extra futon mattresses, which made for a comfortable sleep. 

In the afternoon, we strolled around the old town and visited the many shops that sold local hinoki tree products. We even ventured out of the town and were treated to breathtaking views of Mt Ena and the surrounding forests. However, we were cautioned to be careful as a bear had been sighted two days prior. Although, the giant spiders and the one snake we saw were more terrifying 😂 

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the evening meal. It was an absolute feast, and every dish was a culinary masterpiece. The set meal consisted of rice and vegetables sourced from the local mountain region, a broth, RAW horse meat, tempura, trout, hotpot, mocha balls in a satay sauce, tofu in a sweet and sour sauce, vegetables, leaves, pickles, various dipping sauces, and a dessert. It was an experience we will never forget. 

We called it an early night as the long journey had left us feeling exhausted, but the memories we made in Magome will stay with us forever.