Tsumago

Tsumago turned out to be even more idyllic than Magome. This town, also established around 1600, is comprised of the original wooden Japanese homes, lined up side-by-side along a single road that runs parallel to the Kiso river. Although there are some shops in the street-facing buildings, this town is much less commercial than Magome.

After dinner, we took a stroll in complete darkness (no street lights here, only the occasional lantern) down the town's single street. The only sound was of water bubbling down the small canals on either side of the road. We climbed a dozen or so stone steps to a small shrine, which was frankly kind of creepy in the dark. We were also able to glance discreetly into a few homes to see how people lived in this well-preserved bit of history.