kiso valley travel

Where to Stay in Narai Juku: Ryokan, Minshuku & the Best Overnight Stays

by

Staying overnight in Narai Juku is worth it — if the reason you travel is to see a place after the day-trippers leave. This former Nakasendo post town is lovely in daylight, but the empty main street at dusk and early morning is what staying here is really about. One night is enough for most … Read more

Narai-juku Cherry Blossoms: When to Visit, Crowds & Spring vs Autumn

by

Narai-juku sits at roughly 940 m above sea level in the Kiso Valley, high enough that its cherry blossoms usually open later than Tokyo’s — often a week or more after the capital has already turned to green. For travelers who missed sakura in Tokyo or Kyoto, that makes this old post town a realistic “second … Read more