Kiso Valley (Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku), Nagano

#cherryblossom25 Walking the old Nakasendo trail between Magome and Tsumago under cherry blossoms is like starring in your own historical movie. These preserved Edo-period towns already feel like a time warp — wooden inns, cobbled paths, misty hills — and when the sakura bloom, it’s another level. I hiked the trail with a light breeze scattering petals along the way, past old waterwheels and mountain vistas. The towns themselves are sprinkled with cherry trees peeking out from behind dark wood houses. In Tsumago, I sipped hot amazake under a giant sakura tree at the town entrance — one of my favorite moments of the whole trip. My #cherryblossom25 shot was an empty street at golden hour, with blossoms glowing above the roofs. If you’re a romantic traveler, Kiso Valley during sakura season will absolutely steal your heart.