Just here to appreciate the 7K hike from Magome to Nagiso. I went to Japan a month ago and we visited a lot of crowded places, like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. These cities are all beautiful and definitely worth the visit (and maybe even the reason I went in the first place), but I really thought that hike just gave me that sweet escape from all the crowds. Even though it can still be quite touristic on this hike, it was a breath of fresh air in the limited time we had. If you're like me and you've only got resources to visit the highlights during your stay in Japan, I'd absolutely recommend hiking this route. It's not challenging and the Edo-houses are really well-preserved and you really get a sense of walking through historic Japan. Afterwards, go to the quieter city Matsumoto in Nagano if you want to stay in that relaxed atmosphere. We did that and I wish I'd stayed longer, because it felt really relaxed compared to most other cities in Japan.
by VivaLaBram