2025 Okuwa Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Tokyo and Kyoto are often at the top of people’s Japan itineraries. But they can be super crowded, particularly during the high season. For my most recent Japan trip, I chose to explore the lesser known Kiso Valley and surrounding region. Here’s what I recommend for a three day trip: 1️⃣ Magome to Tsumago This section of the famous Nakasendo Trail stretches almost 8km through the idyllic Japanese countryside. Begin and end your hike in two iconic post towns that are steeped in history. Between the towns, you’ll see waterfalls, tea houses, and pass through dense forest! To reach Magome, take the train from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa and transfer to a local bus. It’s well signposted and very tourist friendly. 2️⃣ Yabuhara to Narai Another popular hiking route on the Nakasendo Trail. This one is around 6km and links Yabuhara to Narai. Narai is one of the most beautiful towns in Japan showcasing so much Japanese history and culture. Both towns are easily reached by train from Nagoya via Nakatsugawa. 3️⃣ Nakatsugawa Due to a missed connection I ended up at this transfer point for longer than planned. After spending an hour strolling the quaint streets, I was glad I had the time here. It’s a peaceful town and a perfect place to grab a coffee and get ready for the hike ahead! 4️⃣ Nagoya City Many visitors to the Kiso Valley base themselves in Nagoya as it offers the most accommodation and dining options. After visiting Nagoya Castle, why not check out Osu Shotengai Shopping Street or the Ghibli Studios? Another fun option is to educate yourself on the Shinkansen at the Railway Museum! 🏨 Where to Stay: Nagoya City is a good base if visiting the Kiso Valley and I chose the Comfort Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi. It’s close to Nagoya Station and it comes with a really tasty buffet breakfast! 🍱 Where to Eat: 🍣 Nigiri Sushi (Nagoya) 🍜 Ekimen-Dori Ramen ‘Street’ (Nagoya) ☕️ Good Day Coffee and Bar (Tsumago) 🍜 Tawara-ya (Tsumago) ☕️ Riverbed Coffee (Nakatsugawa) #travel #travelphotography #localguides #japan #japantrip #exploresgtogether #nagoya #inspiration #wanderlust #trip

Atera Valley refers to almost the entire valley of the Atera River, which originates in the Central Alps. Because it is a rapids river, there are many rocks, but in places where the flow is calm, the river water is crystal clear and shines an emerald green. It is also known as Atera Blue, and it is simply beautiful. There is a narrow, paved forest road, and a campsite upstream. As I happened to stop by this time, I would like to come properly prepared next time. Public vehicles are not allowed to enter during holidays such as Golden Week and summer, but shuttle buses are available. Photos 1-4 Atera Valley Photos 6, 7 The lowest part of Atera Valley (near the valley entrance) Photos 7, 8 The Kiso River into which the Atera River flows Name: Atera Valley Address: Nojiri, Okusa Village, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture Access: Approximately 3 minutes from the Atera Valley Entrance intersection on National Route 19 to the valley entrance Shuttle bus: Board from "Forespa Atera" near the valley entrance #Atera Valley #Atera Blue #Kiso #Okusa Village #Nagano Prefecture #Campsite

#cherryblossom25 Walking the old Nakasendo trail between Magome and Tsumago under cherry blossoms is like starring in your own historical movie. These preserved Edo-period towns already feel like a time warp — wooden inns, cobbled paths, misty hills — and when the sakura bloom, it’s another level. I hiked the trail with a light breeze scattering petals along the way, past old waterwheels and mountain vistas. The towns themselves are sprinkled with cherry trees peeking out from behind dark wood houses. In Tsumago, I sipped hot amazake under a giant sakura tree at the town entrance — one of my favorite moments of the whole trip. My #cherryblossom25 shot was an empty street at golden hour, with blossoms glowing above the roofs. If you’re a romantic traveler, Kiso Valley during sakura season will absolutely steal your heart.

#cherryblossom25 A refreshing train ride through vibrant autumn foliage 🍁 (Agematsu Town, the Kiso Valley) The Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest covers an area of 759 hectares in the Kiso Valley, and during Autumn from late September to mid-October, it is painted in vibrant autumn colors. A logging railroad runs through the forest, so you can take a ride on it and enjoy forest-bathing as you pass ancient Hinoki cypress trees that are over 300 years old.

| Nagano's hidden gem: Atera Valley. Visit Narai-juku in the morning to experience the local culture, and then head to Nagano's hidden gem in the afternoon to enjoy the natural scenery. 👣【Atera Valley】Located in Okuwa Village, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, the river here is crystal clear and has a beautiful emerald color, known as "Atera Blue." The riverbanks are lush with vegetation, and the trail along the river is about 6.3 km long. 📖 The reason for the green color of the stream is similar to Jiuzhaigou. The stream contains a large amount of dissolved mineral ions, which cause the optical phenomenon of "Rayleigh scattering," scattering the "shortwave" blue-violet light in sunlight. ✨ Atera River is a branch of the Kiso River system. The further you go into the mountains from the entrance, the more the water appears blue-green, resembling emeralds! Along the way, there are some famous spots, such as Inukaeri Pool, Kuma Pool, and Ushi Pool, each with its own legend about hunting dogs, cows, and bears (reminds me of the various strange hot springs in Ranma ½ ♨️). ♨️ Speaking of hot springs, Atera also has a hot spring. From the entrance, walk 20 minutes to the right to enjoy the hot spring, which is open for day trips! 🚃 From Nagoya, take the JR Chuo Line towards Matsumoto and get off at Nojiri Station, then walk for 20 minutes. From Matsumoto Station, take the Shinonoi Line and get off at Nojiri Station. ⚠️ If you are staying at Atera Onsen, do not follow the route given by Google Maps. Get off at Nojiri Station and walk for 30 minutes. There is also a bus, but the bus service is infrequent.

This was one of the most picturesque spots I was able to visit in Japan back in 2023 My 3 month trip in Japan included car hire and a stay in a Japanese Ryokan and car hire through the Nagano mountains where I saw the most amazing historical post towns (which I will share) This is Atera Valley! 📍Address: Atera Valley 阿寺渓谷 Nojiri, Okuwa, Kiso District, Nagano 399-5504, Japan 🚘 2 hour drive North East of Nagoya City 🚊Chou Line to Nojiri Station (from Nagoya) If you’d like more information on my trip and how I got here and other things to do comment below and I’d be happy to help! #asiatravel #japan #ateravalley #traveljapan #solotravel #scenicspots #picturesque

Located in Nagano Prefecture, Atera Valley is a spectacular spot where the beauty of nature is concentrated. The scenery created by the highly transparent water and lush forest is truly a healing paradise. Especially in the summer, it is crowded with people seeking coolness, and you can enjoy playing in the river and hiking. The clear stream flowing through the valley shines emerald green. There are various promenades, so you can enjoy the great outdoors while taking a walk! In autumn, you can enjoy the autumn leaves, and the scenery changes with the seasons. 🍁 Address: Atera Valley 〒399-5504 Nojiri, Okusa Village, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture Spend a special time surrounded by beautiful nature! #0 yen travel autumn #domestic travel #Nagano #spectacular view

📍 Atera Valley, Nagano Prefecture 💞Reasons for recommendation This is an emerald green river located deep in the mountains near the border between Nagano and Gifu prefectures🌞 During the summer, there are restrictions on private cars, so you can park your car at a parking lot along the way and take a shuttle bus or a rented bicycle🚵! I chose a bicycle because I wanted to be able to move freely regardless of time and get off at places with great views to see and take photos! ! It's a mountain path, but it's an electric bicycle, so it's easy🎵 Families can enjoy it too! Bicycle rental fee: 1,000 yen per hour (It took about 1.5 hours round trip to the end of the mountains) If you don't take too many photos and take it easy, you can get back in an hour🌞 The deeper you go into the mountains, the deeper the blue becomes, and there are places along the way where you can play in the river (※There are some dangerous places) Please follow the rules and enter in a safe place. I think the best way to get there is by car 🚗 🙆 ※The Okusa Village website has detailed information about Atera Valley When setting it on your navigation system, I recommend setting it to Atera Valley Second Parking Lot 🅿️ ! 4-5 hours from Tokyo 4 hours from Nagoya It's quite deep in the mountains, but why not go and check it out! ! #aug_trip

#AdventurousTraveler 💞Recommended reason: Asi Valley is definitely a rare natural resort. The stream water here is crystal clear and full of charming amber color. The stream flows slowly, making a pleasant gurgling sound, like natural music. Being in it and feeling the fresh and pleasant atmosphere makes people feel relaxed and happy, as if it can cleanse the dust from their soul. Whether you want to enjoy the clear stream or bathe in it to stretch your muscles, you can get a brand new experience here. I believe that as long as you come here, you will be deeply attracted by the charm here. 🏖️Environment: Speaking of the natural environment of Asi Valley, it is simply breathtaking, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, thousands of peaks and valleys, and a beautiful scenery that seems like a paradise. The endless cliffs and peaks seem to be guarding this sacred place of nature. The steep mountains are like a towering dragon, soaring into the clouds. The sunlight shines through the dense forest, creating a mottled interweaving of light and shadow. This deep and quiet valley seems to be a natural oasis isolated from the world. Walking here, surrounded by nature, you can't help but feel an unprecedented sense of tranquility and peace.

📍Atera Valley, Nagano A spot where you can see a series of beautifully colored pools, waterfalls, and strangely shaped rocks along the Atera River. The valley is about 15km long!! The water, also known as "Atera Blue", is so sparkling and emerald green that it's so exciting~💙💙 It's so clear that you can see the rocks in the water even from above✨ I brought colorful somen noodles for lunch and ate them in the river, and had a great time jumping in and swimming in Kumagafuchi~🤩🫶 It's so beautiful and it's the best spot to feel the summer🩵🩵 It's in the lower part of Nagano, so it's less than 2 hours by car from Nagoya🚗 The great outdoors will also heal you♡ Add some excitement to your daily life:🌙 📍 Atera Valley (Kumagafuchi), Nagano📮 Nojiri, Okusamura, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture #Travelingwithme #Nagano #NaganoTrip #NaganoTourism #AmazingView #AmazingViewSpot