Hiking the Magome to Minami-Nagiso section of the Nakasendo Trail offers a perfect mix of history, scenery, and authentic Edo-period charm. Stone-paved streets, old inns, and panoramic views make this intermediate trail a must-do for travellers exploring Japan’s Kiso Valley.

A quiet winter visit to Iwamura Castle Ruins, one of Japan’s Three Great Mountain Castles, where ancient stone walls crown a 717-metre summit. A peaceful, history-filled walk through one of Gifu’s most beautifully preserved castle towns.

I hiked up Mount Kinka via the Meisou no Komichi Trail to reach Gifu Castle, a mountaintop fortress once home to Oda Nobunaga. The 2.3 km trail was steep but scenic, winding through forest and rewarding me with sweeping views of Gifu City and the Nagara River from the summit.