Magome ⇄ Tsumago Ask about the last bus. Show the card.
Unofficial helper for the Nakasendo walk from Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku. It gives you the sentence to show at your inn or the tourist information office, and a way to work out whether you'll arrive before dark. Cards 1–7 are written for walking from Magome to Tsumago and taking the bus or a taxi from Tsumago to Nagiso Station. If you walk the other way, from Tsumago to Magome, go to the reverse-direction cards (8–12).
Why no bus times here. The bus that links Nagiso Station, Tsumago and Magome is the Magome line of Nagiso Town's community bus (地域バス). The town changed its times and fares on 1 April 2026, and times can change again. Ask on the day, then enter the time you were told in the calculator below. Source: Nagiso Town, town.nagiso.nagano.jp (read 14 October 2026)
Cards: show the Japanese, read the reply
Card 1Last bus
You sayWhat time is the last bus from Tsumago to Nagiso Station?
Show this妻籠から南木曽駅へ行く最終バスは何時ですか。
Reading the replyThe answer is a clock time: ○時○分 (ji = hour, fun/pun = minute). 午後5時15分 and 17時15分 both mean 5:15 p.m. Write it down, then use the calculator.
Card 2Is it running today?
You sayIs the bus running today? Are the times different at weekends and on holidays?
Show this今日はバスは走っていますか。平日と土日祝で時刻は違いますか。
Reading the reply
運休 – not running
土日祝のみ – weekends and holidays only
平日のみ – weekdays only
○月○日〜○月○日のみ – only between those dates
Card 3Does it stop at Tsumago?
You sayI want to get off at Tsumago. Does this bus stop there? Which stop?
Show this妻籠で降りたいです。このバスは妻籠に止まりますか。どのバス停ですか。
Reading the reply止まります = it stops there. 止まりません = it doesn't. ○○で降りてください = get off at ○○. Ask them to write the stop name down. Use this card at Magome if you decide to ride instead of walk.
Card 4Sending luggage
You sayCan I send my luggage on to Tsumago? What's the latest I can drop it off?
Show this荷物を妻籠まで送れますか。何時までに預ければいいですか。
Reading the reply〜までに = by (a deadline). The Tsumago tourist association's Japanese page gives these terms for 20 March – 30 November 2026: hand bags in 8:30–11:30, collect them 13:00–17:00, ¥1,000 per bag. You can hand them in at the Magome tourist information office or Magome-juku BASE, the Tsumago tourist information office, or an inn in Ōtsumago (大妻籠, on the trail between the two towns). Check the terms where you hand the bag in. Source: tsumago.jp/walk (read 14 October 2026)
Card 5Before dark?
You sayIf I start walking now, can I reach Tsumago before sunset?
Show this今から歩いて、日没までに妻籠に着けますか。
Reading the reply着けます = you can make it. 難しいです = difficult. バスのほうがいいです = the bus is better. The calculator below gives your own estimate to compare.
Card 6Taxi
You sayI want to go to Nagiso Station. Could you call me a taxi?
Show this南木曽駅まで行きたいので、タクシーを呼んでもらえますか。
Reading the replyThe Tsumago tourist association lists Nagiso Kankō Taxi (南木曽観光タクシー), open 7:00–19:00. From the station to Tsumago takes about 10 minutes. ○分で来ます = it will come in ○ minutes. Source: tsumago.jp/access (read 14 October 2026)
Card 7Words you may see
You sayWhat does this word mean?
Show thisこの言葉の意味を教えてください。
Words on timetables and notices
最終 – last (service)
始発 – first service
運休 – not running
午前 / 午後 – a.m. / p.m.
平日 / 土日祝 or 土休日 – weekdays / Sat, Sun and holidays
予約 – reservation
Walking the other way: Tsumago → Magome
The association gives one walking time, 2.5 to 3 hours, and does not split it by direction. These facts come from the Tsumago tourist association's walking page (tsumago.jp/walk).
Item
Magome → Tsumago
Tsumago → Magome
Length
9 km, the same both ways
Time
2.5 to 3 hours, one figure for both ways
Magome Pass
790 m above sea level, on the Gifu–Nagano border, the same both ways
First half
Magome to the pass: a steep, short slope (uphill)
Tsumago to the pass: a gentle, long slope (uphill)
Second half
Pass to Tsumago: downhill, gentle (about 1.5 hours on foot)
Pass to Magome: downhill. The page does not describe this part or give a time
The page does not give the height of Magome or Tsumago themselves, so this page gives no height difference between the two towns. The 30-minute margin and 15-minute buffer in the calculator are this page's own choices, as before. Source: tsumago.jp/walk (read 14 October 2026)
Card 8Last bus from Magome
You sayWhat time is the last bus from Magome, and where does it go?
Show this馬籠から出る最終バスは何時ですか。どこ行きですか。
Reading the replyThe answer is a clock time, ○時○分, and a place name followed by 行き (bound for). Nagiso Town's Magome-line community bus is the one that links Magome, Tsumago and Nagiso Station; confirm that the bus you are told about is that one. Write the time down and enter it in the calculator.
Card 9Walking up from Tsumago
You sayIs this the way to Magome Pass?
Show this馬籠峠へ行く道は、こちらですか。
Reading the replyはい、こちらです = yes, this way. まっすぐ = straight on. 右 / 左 = right / left. あちら = over there. Ask them to point.
Card 10Sending luggage to Magome
You sayCan I send my luggage from Tsumago to Magome? What's the latest I can drop it off?
Show this荷物を妻籠から馬籠まで送れますか。何時までに預ければいいですか。
Reading the replyThe Tsumago tourist association's luggage service covers Tsumago, Ōtsumago and Magome. Its page does not say whether it works from Tsumago to Magome as well as the other way, so this card asks. Terms listed for 20 March – 30 November 2026: drop-off 8:30–11:30, collect 13:00–17:00, ¥1,000 per bag. できます = yes, it can be done. できません = it can't. Source: tsumago.jp/walk (read 14 October 2026)
Card 11Before dark?
You sayIf I start walking now, can I reach Magome before sunset?
Show this今から妻籠を出て、日没までに馬籠に着けますか。
Reading the reply着けます = you can make it. 難しいです = difficult. バスのほうがいいです = the bus is better. Set the calculator direction to Tsumago → Magome for your own estimate.
Card 12Taxi
You sayCould you call me a taxi? Which company is it, and how long will it take?
Show thisタクシーを呼んでもらえますか。どこの会社ですか。何分で来ますか。
Reading the reply○分で来ます = it will come in ○ minutes. Ask them to write the company name and phone number down. This page has no taxi information for the Magome side.
Booking the luggage service
Outside the regular drop-off hours in card 4, the Tsumago tourist association page lists a one-off service for ¥4,500 for up to 3 bags (¥1,000 more for each bag from the 4th), 8:30–17:00. The page does not say whether you need to book ahead. To ask, phone the Tsumago tourist information office on 0264-57-3123 (8:30–17:00) or the Magome tourist information office on 0573-69-2336, or show card 4 at the counter. Source: tsumago.jp/walk (read 14 October 2026)
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Can I arrive before dark?
Enter the date, your start time and the last bus time you were told. The calculator adds the walking time and compares it with sunset on that date.
The Tsumago tourist association gives 2.5 to 3 hours for the 9 km walk; the calculator uses 3 hours. The association gives one time for both directions. From Magome the climb to Magome Pass is short and steep; from Tsumago it is long and gentle. The association also suggests a shorter option: take the bus to the pass and walk only the downhill part, about 1.5 hours from the pass to Tsumago. The 30-minute margin before sunset and the 15-minute buffer before the bus are this page's own choices. Source: tsumago.jp/walk (read 14 October 2026)
Sunset at Tsumago
Calculated for 35.58°N, 137.60°E. The calculator works out the date you enter; the table is for reference. Checked against the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan's 2026 tables to within 1 minute. The times assume a flat horizon. In the valley the sun goes behind the hills earlier, so the path gets dark sooner than this.