Visiting Tsumago, a Medieval Town in Nagano

[@etherdog]

Quinlan, a lot of JTubers just coast through these promotional videos and don't offer much context or show some of the local people. In contrast, you do a great job describing the history of the Nakasendo, who established it and why, featured some local artisans and talked with them about their work and its cultural significance, and teased us with some delectable food! It might go underappreciated or even noticed, but the woman who served you the beef and miso spoke English, which to many travelers eases their anxiety about visiting places outside of the normal tourist spots. Well done!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thank you so much! It was a challenge in a number of ways, but I'm happy with how the videos turned out! Yeah- that woman runs the Fujioto Ryokan there. Her husband isn't Japanese, so she speaks English quite a lot and has a really great accent! Definitely recommend that spot! (I regret not getting her on camera, but with the time we had and the focus on food, I just ended up shooting myself in front of the food for that part.. but if I ever go back I'll be sure to have her on screen talking!)

[@TopAnimeLoverEver]

Augh YES, this is definitely going on the travel list. I want so so so so badly to see the old Japan, the traditional Japan. The little villages and the HISTORY. I still remember spending 2 hours in Osaka Castle reading all the footnotes and really imagining the reality of the events that happened. Just immersing myself. History is so amazing. This town looks so quaint and beautifully calm. Love love love. ❤️ thank you for sharing Quinlan!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thanks so much for watching! Hopefully you can come visit soon!

[@andresmc2996]

This Nakasendo trail is just super incredible. The villages looked like if they came from a traditional japanase tale. All these places are definitely worth visiting

[@joshuacervenkamusic327]

I highly recommend this area to anyone! I spent day or so here back in 2016 hiking some of the Kiso Valley

[@JapaneseJourney]

Beautifully done Quinlan! If you happen to be in Nagano again, let’s have a drink of you want.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Definitely!

[@HeatherHalavais]

Loved that little town! Those charming shops are everything! Excellent vid Q! Looking forward to #3

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thanks! It is such a great area!

[@FlexxenRandomPlaces]

The cyprus used to build these houses look just so fascinating and picturesque!!!

[@QueenToken]

This is so wonderful the history the ancestry. 😍

[@tansrb]

your channel seriously deserves more viewers. awesome videos

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thanks!

[@TimParker]

stunning light in that old room! great video again!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, that light was something else!!

[@chibilume]

This reminds me so much of Inu Yasha!! Watching this on a rainy day and loving the history & story telling as always. Your Japanese is so good and I think that's what helps when you want to do videos like these.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thanks! Appreciate that!

[@brewstergallery]

What a great series. Thank you.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@casingena1985]

I remember stroking a cat at that beautiful wooden water wheel in Tsumago in 2018. We can’t wait to return to Japan and spend some time in the north. Looking forward to the third video.

[@GoNorthJapan]

I'm sure the cat will be glad to see you again, too!

[@ronin_9]

What an amazing video Quinlan! Must've been an awesome experience.

[@GoNorthJapan]

I've been there once before this, but it was really nice to go during the winter when no one else was around! Felt deserted but sort of magical!

[@SingleMaltSmash]

absolutely going here on my next trip and doing that woodworking. mark my words ;)

[@GoNorthJapan]

w00t! Mission accomplished!

[@Pogue4]

Love all your video's this one really stood out to me stunning village.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thanks! Really appreciate that!

[@freakMasha]

thank you for making this series! I really like your narration style and things you focused on in this and a previous video. Waki-honjin looks stunning, what a clever use of natural lighting and quality material, so cool. I hope you get more opportunities like this in the future.

[@frankbaird8645]

Enjoyed this very much.

[@manfredmarschik]

Danke!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thank you so much! Very appreciated!!

[@bobriensan]

Tsuwano and Tsumago are two of my favorite towns to visit in mainland Japan.

[@michaelsmith7193]

Wow, what a wonderful series this is! I so enjoyed the woodworker and his explanation about his lineage and craft. Can’t wait for the next adventure! Thank you!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, he was really a character! Great charisma and loves what he's doing!

[@Nynke_K]

Imagine knowing what your forebears were doing 1100 years ago! I doubt if even most of the nobility in Europe can go that far back. Mind-blowing! And also, of course, another beautiful video of a beautiful place. Thanks!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, it really blew me away that he knew that much about his ancestors. He actually said more about how they were initially a nomadic people that moved around different areas of Japan logging and doing woodwork before eventually settling. I had to cut some of it out, but he was such an interesting guy and so into his craft!!

[@Nynke_K]

@@GoNorthJapan that is fascinating!

[@cypriennezed5640]

The best part about being from the US Midwest is the cold-weather flex. ☺ Stay safe!!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Ahahaha, I couldn't help myself.

[@Itami95]

Wonderful views and wonderful people to meet along the way. We loved walking around Tsumago a few years back. Until next time…

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, it is such a beautiful area! Still want to go back and do some long walks!

[@xenawarriorhousewife2115]

Oh my so jealous. Beautiful.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Hopefully you can go this year or next if you visit Japan!

[@FSVR54]

Beautiful. Reminds me of chanbara movies

[@psn5040]

This is another great video, thanks for showing us Japan's rural side. Btw whenever I hear your voice, I feel such peace and calmness ❤

[@GoNorthJapan]

Wow, thank you!!

[@LovelyPariah]

Looks incredible! Would love to walk through a real folktale. Gorgeous!

[@GoNorthJapan]

It really has that feeling!

[@grenm9]

Thats some Cool history

[@WindCat64]

Great video ❤️ I will definitely go there when I get to visit Japan. I loved how passionate was the carpenter with his job, and it is amazing that his family has been doing that for 1100 years 🤯. Also, I need to try that goheimochi. Thank you as always for sharing! 😊

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, that woodworker guy was really great! I enjoyed meeting him quite a bit!

[@EllenHiller]

Loving these videos, Another beautiful place I need to visit. Thanks for showing it to us.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thanks for watching!

[@3tacoman]

Huzzah ! Great video 🤌🏼🍿🌶

[@WenziMan]

that was a great, informative and relaxing video! loved it

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thank you so much!

[@repHAWAIIxJPN]

These videos really make me wanna visit the whole Nakasendo even more . I love Naraijuku and have wanted to go there but didn't realize how many other fun places there are along the way

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah! Narai-juku is dreamy, but it's not even close to the only one! So many great villages along that route!

[@sianallama]

Really loving this series! Definitely adding some places to my "must visit" list!

[@GoNorthJapan]

So glad to hear that!

[@huggybear970]

3:35 I love it! Great series!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, such a beautiful building!

[@Cambesa]

Lovely!

[@iicydiamonds]

That looks fantastic! Visiting part of the Nakasendo was already on my wishlist, but now I've added that artisan in particular! What beautiful dishware!

[@GoNorthJapan]

So glad to hear that! He really is a great artisan!

[@kittykat3268]

What a cool little town! I'd love to visit :) the wooden items were so beautiful! Such talent!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah- he's such a great artisan!

[@kammymarie13]

It’s so hard for my American mind to wrap around the idea of a family living in an area for 300 years 😂 Also that building is absolutely gorgeous (the light beams omg!!) I am so glad you were able to film in there and share it with us!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, I agree on the 300 years!! Hard to keep two generations in the same city or state even! And yeah- the building had some amazing light! Love those "irori" open hearths as well!

[@flavorhostage]

Looks like you're having fun there! Like how you're spending some time with the people in the area but why wouldn't you?

[@rhianirory7310]

wow, this is an awesome city and a great video! happy to learn more about Japanese history!

[@GoNorthJapan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dyundu]

What?! Tsumagojuku?! How did I miss part one of this series? This literally the third stop on my vacation when Japan opens back up!

[@WillyToulouse]

Super meta. He's the protector of the protector's history.

[@kostadinb]

That lunch looks sooo good :)

[@GoNorthJapan]

It really was!

[@Timothy_K_photography]

Thanks

[@Timothy_K_photography]

Thanks Quinlan, What a spectacular location!!! The lighting in that inn was amazing :P

[@GoNorthJapan]

Thank you sooo much! That really helps!! And yeah, loved that lighting. Really looked amazing.

[@MasaMuneDenadoro]

I'm having trouble finding an available ryokan to stay in tsumago. Fujioto closed their inn, Daikichi is perpetually booked, and can't find any others. Any recommendations on where to stay?

[@VerhoevenSimon]

What a fascinating town. How would you contrast the preservation of a town like this, to say a Western European one?

[@GoNorthJapan]

Great question! Sadly I have very little experience in Western Europe so I have no idea... In a few years I'll hopefully be able to visit Europe some and explore... but I've really only been to Italy (twice) and that was more than 20 years ago...

[@Slewenski]

First of all: Thank you for the heads up that you are fine. I was worried to hear that it struck so close. Frankly, the first reaction to the news was a strong dejavu anyway, I'm glad that slowly the news tickle in that maybe thing's are okey...bless Japan for their gnerally fanatstic earthquake security. That being said, I have yet to watch the other video :o which i totally should do now...so I'll circle back here...lol (so I'm back lol) the part about lunch where this like..."flirt music" starts playingcracked me up...XD getting hungry againb ut lunch is still a long shot off...aside of that...just..wow..wow wow wow... I can only repeat what I said on the other video..i..wanna..be..theeäääärrrrrrre argh D': lol..you certainly are succeeding at promotin the area that's for sure.

[@GoNorthJapan]

Hahahaha, yeah I struggled with what music to use, but went with that vibe for the sexy luxurious meat... Glad that my promotion was effective!

[@renatosatnos9250]

how many days y spend four this trip? and you use a car? i see in the google maps is a bite far from the place to place. tnk y so much for this video

[@GoNorthJapan]

For this trip we had a large contingent and were going for the purpose of making the video so we traveled by car, yes.

[@renatosatnos9250]

@@GoNorthJapan tnk y so much

[@Kriseaf]

Can you hike the traditional Nakasendo route or is it all roads these days?

[@GoNorthJapan]

A lot of it isn't really interesting to hike now- yeah, normal road-type stuff... but there are some parts that are still definitely beautiful and worth exploring. That's exactly what I want to do next time- find the good parts and experience them on foot.

[@Nufarella]

That trail was my dream in my last visit in Japan 😅. But it was too complicated to depend only on public transportation (and match my trip timetable)

[@GoNorthJapan]

Ah, yeah in some areas public transportation is spotty for sure. I rented a car for parts while I was there.

[@Nufarella]

@@GoNorthJapan did you walk tsumagu-juku to mahonés-juku and back the same day? Or left the car, stayed over night, and returned the same day? And how did you get along with driving on the left side of the road? (I’m just trying to understand the logistics, because I still want to do this)

[@Nufarella]

@@GoNorthJapan thanks for commenting back 🌷🌷🌷

[@GoNorthJapan]

@@Nufarella This trip was just for the purpose of making these videos, and I was with a group of government workers that provided transportation, so I didn't get to walk that much between. I want to go back and do that next time... I have been driving in Japan for more than 10 years so I am fine with it now though!

[@karenburman6787]

@@Nufarella there’s a bus that goes between the 2 juku. It. Takes about 20mins. It also runs to Nagiso station or Nakatsugawa station. Google for timetables

[@philiptata3607]

Sadly Fujioto appears to be indefinitely closed 😢

[@brentsutherland6385]

Mr. Yamaichi speaks very crisply, I was expecting a hick accent!

[@GoNorthJapan]

I think he lives in or near Tokyo...

[@Zhanas]

Ancient people built such houses because they could be destroyed by an earthquake at any time. In fact, it is not a house, but rather a shelter. Those who had real houses became historical figures.

[@InakaAdventure]

Damn if that hearth wasnt comfy looking

[@GoNorthJapan]

Yeah, irori are the best!