Post Station Nakatsugawa-juku

Nakatsugawa was the 45th of 69 post stations on the Nakasendo highway, the old route linking Edo and Kyoto. Preserved wooden buildings from the Edo period still line the streets, including the former village mayor's house with its distinctive raised-edge roof, designed to stop fires from spreading. Walking through the backstreets gives a genuine feel for how the town looked when samurai and merchants passed through. The walking route takes in a local sake brewery and a traditional sweet shop serving kurikinton, a local chestnut confection. With arrangements in advance, you can also visit a former inn that once hosted high-ranking travelers.