Soak in quiet and soothing atmosphere in ancient Yabuhara and Narai
Relatively less-traveled among the post towns in the Kiso valley along the ancient trail Nakasendo are the towns of Yabuhara and Narai. While Yabuhara town only offers a light sense of the bygone era with some facades of wooden buildings here and there, Narai is an awesome spot to experience what life would have been in the Japan of old. Sometimes referred to as “Narai of a Thousand Houses”, this post town is one of the longest and most wealthy during the Edo Period, and now is remarkably well-preserved with its main street stretching over a kilometer. Many of the well-restored old buildings serve as souvenir shops or local restaurants and minshuku where trekkers and hikers can can stop for overnight and enjoy local delicacies such as gohei-mochi (sticky-rice cakes) or soba (buckwheat noodles). For a look at the inside of traditional houses, you can visit the Nakamura Residence or Kamidonya Shiryokan, both are the former houses of local merchants. Narai is best seen in the evening when the old buildings are lit with glowing lanterns.
