Tsumagojuku

Tsumagojuku was the 42nd stop on the Nakasendo Highway connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto (Kyoto Prefecture).
Tsumagojuku was the first inn in Japan to preserve the townscape, and the rows of Edo period houses that remain along the road offer a taste of the atmosphere of that era.
The town was selected as one of the first sites in Japan to be included in the Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
There are no utility poles in the town, creating a nostalgic and relaxing atmosphere.

The “Nagiso Town Museum” is a faithfully restored “Honjin” (an inn officially recognized by the Shogunate as a lodging house for feudal lords) and the “Tsumago Shuku Honjin” (a lodging house for daimyo and other feudal lords).

Tsumago Yado Honjin
This is the building where the novelist Shimazaki Toson worked as both the main innkeeper and village headman, and is also the birthplace of Shimazaki Toson’s mother.
It was demolished in the Meiji era (1868-1912), but has been restored based on a floor plan from the late Edo era (1603-1868).

Wakihonjin Okuya
This imposing mansion was completed in 1877 and was built in the style of the time with all cypress wood construction. It was the residence of the Hayashi family, who worked as wholesale dealers, and is now open to the public as a museum facility exhibiting historical items such as daily utensils from the past and items received from the Crown Princess Wamiya. It is also designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Historical Museum
The museum has materials from ancient to modern times, and introduces the history of Nagiso and its inns.