Improved Access to Magome-juku with the Kanzaka Smart Interchange Opening
The Kanzaka Smart Interchange (SIC) on the Chuo Expressway opened in September 2025!
Thanks to this new interchange, access from mökki toward Nakatsugawa is now incredibly convenient. You can easily extend your trip to historical post towns and long-established Japanese confectioneries, as they are now only about a 15-minute drive away!
 
O Magome-juku: The Cobblestone Post Town
Magome-juku is the 43rd post town on the Nakasendo trail. The town is built along a cobblestone slope, lined with freshly baked senbei (rice crackers), oyaki (steamed buns), Gohei Mochi, souvenir shops, and traditional cafes on both sides of the street, making it a perfect spot for strolling and trying local treats.
 

Escape the daily grind and enjoy a serene moment in this nostalgic post town, feeling a pleasant breeze that you won’t find in the city. The cobblestone street still retains the atmosphere of the Edo period. Magome-juku is also famous as the birthplace of Tōson Shimazaki, whose former home and the site of the Magome-juku Honjin (main inn) are now the Tōson Memorial Museum. Why not enjoy a walk steeped in history?
 

O Kawakamiya: Famous Chestnut Confectionery Shop
Kuri-kinton (sweetened mashed chestnuts) is synonymous with Nakatsugawa. Kawakamiya, which began in the late Edo period in 1864, is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop that continues to preserve that original flavor. Kawakamiya’s Magome branch, whose main store is in Honmachi, Nakatsugawa City, is easily accessible from the Kanzaka Smart Interchange, making it ideal for a visit before or after check-in. The chestnut confections available all year round, not just in autumn, and the seasonal Japanese sweets are perfect souvenirs for your trip.
 

By combining your stay at mökki, where you can relax amid Japan’s best stargazing and nature, with a stroll through a historic post town and the taste of a famous shop, your journey will be much more fulfilling.