宿場町中津川宿
江戸時代にタイムスリップしたかのような、中津川宿の町並み。この町は中山道の69の宿場のうち45番目の宿場だった。中山道は別名「武士の道」とも呼ばれ、江戸と京都を結ぶ五街道のひとつだった。当時の街道はほとんど失われてしまったが、中津川のように当時のまま残っている場所もある。
かつて中津川は、国の中心に近い要衝として栄えた。中津川宿には、曽我家住宅（旧村長住宅）など江戸時代の木造建築が残っている。火災の延焼を防ぐために屋根の縁が高くなっているなど、東濃地方（岐阜県南東部）の一等地としての豊かさと地位を反映している。
中津川宿の路地裏や細い路地を歩くツアーでは、中山道の原風景を体験することができる。
また、このツアーでは地酒の蔵元であるはざま酒造や、栗きんとんと呼ばれる地元の栗菓子を提供する和菓子屋も訪れる。脇本陣などの歴史的建造物を見学することもできる。
Post Station Nakatsugawa-juku
Step back in time to the Edo period (1603–1867) with a walk through the historic townscape of Nakatsugawa-juku. This town was the 45th of 69 post stations on the Nakasendo highway. The Nakasendo, also known as the “Samurai Road,” was one of five major highways that connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto. Most of the original walking paths have been lost, but in some areas, such as Nakatsugawa, parts of the original road remain unchanged.
In the past, Nakatsugawa prospered as a key junction close to the center of the country. Nakatsugawa-juku still has wooden buildings preserved from the Edo period, including the Soga House (formerly the village mayor’s house). Architectural features, like roofs with raised edges to stop fires from spreading, reflect its wealth and status as one of the premier towns in the Tono region (southeastern part of Gifu Prefecture).
A walking tour through the backstreets and narrow alleys of Nakatsugawa-juku allows visitors to experience the sights of the original Nakasendo.
The walking tour also includes a visit to Hazama Shuzo, a local sake brewery, and a Japanese sweet shop that serves a local chestnut confection called kurikinton. Arrangements can also be made to visit other historical buildings in the area, such as the wakihonjin (an inn for high-ranking travelers).
