The historical town of Tsumago is located in the lush Kiso Valley on the route between Edo and Kyoto and served as a post station during the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The old-world ambience, beautiful traditional wooden buildings, and an incredible setting amid densely forested mountains make Tsumago an utterly charming destination. There are numerous enthralling Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines to see, which have stood since Shogun times. A 30-minute walking trail leads from one end of Tsumago to another, taking in the lovely local architecture and several museums along the way. Those looking for a more strenuous hike should try the beautiful nine-kilometre route between Tsumago and neighbouring Magome. As cars are prohibited on the main street during the day, and phone and power lines are concealed, the village is often spoken of as having ‘escaped modernisation’, feeling like an ‘open-air village’ or somewhere where time stood still.