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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Suitable-Television9 on 2025-04-14 01:58:32+00:00.

Me (33M) and wife (32F) traveled to Central Japan from 25/3 - 5/4. This is our second time visiting Japan, the first one being in Kansai region (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara) in spring 2024 (you can read that trip report here)

DAY 1 - INUYAMA >> NAKATSUGAWA

• Touched down at Chubu Centrair International Airport at 7.30am.
• Took the airport train to Nagoya Station and stored our luggage in coin lockers. Then, we headed to Inuyama Station.
• Walked and explored around Honmachi-dori, the main street that leads to Inuyama Castle. There were not a lot of people, and not many shops were opened yet as it was still very early.
• Visited Sanko Inari Shrine. Bought a Goshuincho and got my very first Goshuin.
• Explored Inuyama Castle. The view from the top of the castle was amazing!
• Left the castle and went back to Honmachi-dori. Many shops were already opened. We had an interesting tofu-themed meal at 本町茶寮.
• Walked to Daishoji and explored the temple grounds. From there, headed towards Inuyamayuen Station and took the train back to Nagoya Station.
• Retrieved our luggage and took the JR Shinano bound for Nakatsugawa.
• Reached Nakatsugawa Station and checked-in our hotel. Took a few hours nap, as we didn’t have a proper sleep throughout our overnight flight.
• Woke up feeling much rested. Had a wonderful obanzai dinner at 笑処 あいろ.

Step count: 17,560 steps

DAY 2 - NAKASENDO WALK (OCHIAI , MAGOME , TSUMAGO)

• Woke up at 5am on my own and went for a morning walk, exploring Nakatsugawa Town.
• Came back to the hotel at 8am and wife was up and ready. Took a bus to Ochiai and started our Nakasendo hike from Ochiai-juku.
• After 1h30m, we reached Magome-juku. What a beautiful post-town! We couldn’t stop taking pictures!
• Explored around a bit and bought some coffee and sandwich for snacking. Then, we departed for Tsumago-juku.
• Really lovely countryside vibes along the way. As we’re approaching Tsumago, we had goheimochi and knife-cut soba for lunch atKongoya (it was the absolute BEST soba we’ve ever had in our lives!)
• After 3h10m of trail walking, we reached Tsumago-juku. Spent the next hour exploring around the town.
• Supposed to head to Narai-juku after this, unfortunately we missed the bus. The next bus doesn’t go well with the train’s timing, and we realized that it would be all dark the moment we arrive at Narai. So we scraped the plan.
• Continue walking another 45 minutes towards Nagiso Station and took the train back to Nakatsugawa.
• Visited the town’s Valor Supermarket. Was really surprised how much cheaper everything here is, especially after the evening discount! Loaded up with lots of sashimi, bento and snacks and had a feast back at the hotel.

Step count: 45,160 steps

DAY 3 - NAEGI , ENA , IWAMURA , AKECHI

• Woke up at 5am on my own and went for a morning walk. Explored the Nakasendo post town Nakatsugawa-juku and some local residential parks. Tried the infamous strawberry sando from 7-eleven for breakfast.
• Came back to the hotel at 8am and wife was up and ready. Took a bus to Naegi and hiked up to Naegi Castle Ruins. The top of the castle ruins offers a splendid view of the whole Nakatsugawa Town!
• Descended from the castle ruins and took the bus back to Nakatsugawa Station. Took a short train ride to Ena Station. From there, switched to the Akechi Line and headed towards Iwamura Station.
• We had Tonkatsu for lunch at Kawairight outside Iwamura Station. We’re normally not a fan of Tonkatsu back at home, but this meal genuinely surprised us! The meat was thick, juicy, tender and deep-fried to perfection! Pairing with the hatcho miso sauce, this was hands down the best Tonkatsu we’ve ever had!
• Explored around Iwamura-cho, a traditional castle town street that leads to Iwamura Castle Ruins.
• Spent about 40 minutes hiking uphill. The castle ruins was full of mysterious vibes, it felt as if we were in a Zelda game! We explored the castle ruins and hiked down back to Iwamura-cho.
• Took the train to Akechi Station. Wandered around the town’s Taisho Village and visited Hachioji Shrine.
• Took the Akechi Line back to Ena Station. Had an AMAZING udon meal for dinner at Muginawa. Wife was a big fan of Kitsune Udon, and she told me the ones here were the best she’s ever eaten!
• A short train ride back to Nakatsugawa and called it a day.

Step count: 32,846 steps

DAY 4 - GERO >> TAKAYAMA

• Woke up at 6am on my own and went for a morning walk. It rained throughout the night, and a huge, beautiful rainbow formed above the sky as the sun came out. Spent a good full 20 minutes at a spot just taking pictures of the rainbow until it eventually fades away.
• Came back to the hotel at 9.30am and wife was up and ready. Checked-out our hotel and stored our luggage there.
• Walked to Nakatsugawa-juku and did some souvenirs shopping there. Tried the local specialty chestnut sweets - Kurikinton.
• Had delicious cold soba for lunch at Masa Soba Restaurant.
• Went back to our hotel and retrieve our luggage. Caught the 12.15pm bus bound for Kashimo, and from there switched buses and arrived Gero at 2pm.
• Stored luggages at Gero Station and started exploring the onsen town.
• Visited Onsenji and the Frog Shrine. Tried some foot baths along the way as well.
• At 5pm, we retrived our luggage and took the local train towards Takayama Station.
• Checked-in our hotel in Takayama, had Chinese food for dinner at中国料理小満.

Step count: 21,409 steps

DAY 5 - TAKAYAMA

• Woke up at 5am on my own and went for a morning walk. Wandered around the west side of Takayama and did a short hike up to Takayama Sky Park.
• Reached back to the hotel by 9am and wife was up and ready. Walked to Miyagawa Morning Market and explored around. Had some wonderful cream puffs and coffee for breakfast at Coffee Don.
• Continue towards Sakurayama Hachimagu Shrine. Got a goshuin here!
• Finished the entire Higashiyama Walking Course, and ended up at Shiroyama Park near Takayama Castle Ruins.
• Had a really wholesome Hida beef bowl and Hida beef curry rice for lunch at an unknown restaurant at Shiroyama Park (couldn’t even find it on Google Maps)
• Walked towards Sanmachi-suji and explored the old townscapes of Takayama.
• Feeling a little tired, we headed back and rest at the hotel. Had our very first onsen experience in the hotel onsen.
• Headed out after sunset and had a really fantastic sushi meal for dinner at Matsuki Sushi.

Step count: 32,380 steps

DAY 6 - HIDA NO SATO , HIDA-FURUKAWA

• No morning walks for today. Left the hotel around 7.30am and went to Miyagawa Morning Market for some souvenir shopping.
• From there, we took a 40 minutes walk to Hida no Sato. Stopped by [Boulang…

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