Magome, Gifu

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Magome (馬籠) was the forty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō (中山道), an ancient road that connected Kyoto and Edo. This well-preserved section of the Nakasendō is in the present-day city of Nakatsukawa, Gifu prefecture, Japan.

During the Meiji period, Magome was one of the eleven post towns on the Nakasendō highway (中山道) connecting Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto. As such it was a relatively prosperous and cosmopolitan town, with an economy based on currency. It fell into obscurity and poverty, however, after the completion of the Chūō Main Line (中央本線) railway, which did not pass through Magome. In recent decades it has been restored to its appearance as a Meiji-era post town, and is now a popular tourist destination.

The central feature of Magome is its restored row of houses along the former post road, which runs at a slope between the town's low and high ends. Most were built for common people in the mid-1700s, with shops and inns for travelers along the Nakasendō highway. A quiet portion of the original highway has been preserved between Magome and Tsumago, the next post town (also restored). It provides for a pleasant walk through forests and past waterfalls.

Magome was the birthplace and childhood home of noted author Shimazaki Toson, 島崎 藤村, (1872-1943), who wrote about the Kiso region in his most famous novel, "Before the Dawn" (夜明け前). He is buried in the town's small cemetery.

The town also offers a fine view of Mount Ena (2190 m). Panoramic views of the surrounding mountains may be enjoyed from a vista above the main parking lot at Magome's upper end.