The preserved Nakasendo street is Magome's reason to exist as a travel stop. The old road climbs past wooden houses, water channels, small shops, inns, and views that open suddenly between the roofs. It has been restored for visitors, but the slope and stone paving keep the town from feeling too tidy.
Give yourself time to walk both directions. Going uphill is slower but more satisfying, while the upper end gives the best sense of how the post town sits in the mountains. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to see the street without the day-trip crowd.