Tsumago

1 October 2025

A short drive takes us southerly over the 2,628-foot Magome Pass. The pass is the highest elevation along the Nakasendō  Way. Surrounding mountains and the cedar and bamboo forests are outstanding. It is difficult to consider these undulating hills as mountains when I regularly drive over passes at 4,000’. However, unlike the more northern peaks in Japan that can receive up to 50 feet of snow, the Tsumago-Magome area is more temperate and snowfall is not as heavy or burdensome.