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STORY #028

The Old Trade Route of Kisoji
Preserver of the Mountain and Survivor of Time

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STORY

When the Warring States period (1467-1603) came to a close and the development of new towns had begun, the steep increase in demand for lumber to build castles, temples, and shrines caused reckless deforestation throughout Japan.
By the start of the Edo period (1603-1868), the Kiso Valley and its surrounding areas faced a crisis when timber, its primary resource and backbone of the local economy, was depleted.
In response, the overseeing Owari government enacted a forest preservation ordinance that restricted tree cutting, and effectively forced the people to create new local industries in order to survive.
By the end of the Edo period, local products like Kiso lacquerware became popular and were distributed nationally due in part to the timely development of a highway system that included Kiso on the route to the popular pilgrimage to Mt. Ontake.
Thanks to successful preservation efforts, Kiso is still known for its famed paulownia wood, the Kiso horse, and local crafts like Kiso lacquerware that gained national recognition during the Edo period.

CULTURAL PROPERTIES

AREA

Nagiso, Agematsu, Kiso towns, Ookuwa, Kiso, Otaki villages, Shiojiri city, Nagano Prefecture

ACCESS

Nagiso Town
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.（Chuo-sai Line Ltd Exp）〜JR Nagiso Sta.
    • JR Tokyo Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Nagiso Sta.
    • Kintetsu Osaka Sta.（Kintetsu Nagoya Line）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Nagiso Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Nagiso Sta.
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Shiojiri IC（National Highway R19）〜Nagiso Town
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC〜Nagiso Town
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Nagiso Town
Ookuwa Village
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Suhara Sta./Ookuwa Sta./Nojiri Sta.
    • JR Tokyo Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Nakatsugawa Sta.〜JR Nojiri Sta./Suhara Sta./Ookuwa Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Nakatsugawa Sta.〜JR Nojiri Sta./Suhara Sta./Ookuwa Sta.
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Shiojiri IC（National Highway R19）〜Ookuwa Village
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Ookuwa Village
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC〜Ookuwa Village
Agematsu Town
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Agematsu Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Nakatsugawa Sta.〜JR Agematsu Sta.
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Shiojiri IC（National Highway R19）〜Agematsu Town
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Agematsu Town
    • Osaka（Meishin Expwy）〜Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Agematsu Town
  • Express Bus
    • Tokyo(Shinjuku）〜Shiojiri IC（Local Bus）〜Agematsu Town
Kiso Town
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Miyanokoshi Sta./JR Kisofukushima Sta.
    • JR Tokyo Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Kisofukushima Sta./JR Miyanokoshi Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Kisofukushima Sta./JR Miyanokoshi Sta.
    • JR Shin-Osaka Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Kisofukushima Sta./JR Miyanokoshi Sta.
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Shiojiri IC（National Highway R19）〜Kiso Town
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Kiso Town
    • Osaka（Meishin Expwy）〜Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Kiso Town
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Kiso Town
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Kiso Town
  • Express Bus
    • Tokyo(Shinjuku）〜Shiojiri IC（Local Bus）〜Kisofukushima
Otaki Village
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Kisofukushima Sta.（Bus）〜Otaki Village
    • JR Tokyo Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Kisofukushima Sta.（Bus）〜Otaki Village
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Kisofukushima Sta.（Bus）〜Otaki Village
    • JR Shin-Osaka Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Kisofukushima Sta.（Bus）〜Otaki Village
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Shiojiri IC（National Highway R19）〜Otaki Village
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Otaki Village
    • Osaka（Meishin Expwy）〜Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Otaki Village
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Otaki Village
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Otaki Village
Kiso Village
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Yabuhara Sta.
    • JR Tokyo Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Yabuhara Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo-sai Line）〜JR Yabuhara Sta.
    • JR Shin-Osaka Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Yabuhara Sta.
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Shiojiri IC（National Highway R19）〜Kiso Village
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Kiso Village
    • Osaka（Meishin Expwy）〜Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Kiso Village
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Nakatsugawa IC（National Highway R19）〜Kiso Village
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Ina IC（National Highway R361/R19）〜Kiso Village
  • Express Bus
    • Tokyo(Shinjuku）〜Shiojiri IC（Local Bus）〜Yabuhara
Shiojiri City
  • Train
    • JR Shinjuku Sta.（Chuo Line）〜JR Shiojiri Sta.
    • JR Tokyo Sta.（Shinkansen）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜R Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Shiojiri Sta.JR Hideshio Sta./JR Kisohirasawa Sta./JR Narai Sta.
    • Kintetsu Osaka Sta.（Kintetsu Nagoya Line）〜JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜R Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Shiojiri Sta.JR Hideshio Sta./JR Kisohirasawa Sta./JR Narai Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜R Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Shiojiri Sta.JR Hideshio Sta./JR Kisohirasawa Sta./JR Narai Sta.
    • JR Nagoya Sta.（Chuo Line）〜R Shiojiri Sta.〜JR Kisofukushima Sta.〜JR Shiojiri Sta.JR Hideshio Sta./JR Kisohirasawa Sta./JR Narai Sta.
  • Car
    • Tokyo（Chuo Expwy）〜Okaya JCT〜Shiojiri IC
    • Nagoya（Chuo Expwy）〜Okaya JCT〜Shiojiri IC
  • Express Bus
    • Tokyo(Shinjuku）〜Shiojiri IC
    • Nagoya〜Shiojiri IC

CONTACT

  • Nagiso Town Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-264-57-2001
  • Ookuwa Village Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-264-55-4566
  • Agematsu Town Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-264-52-1133
  • Kiso Town Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-264-22-4000
  • Otaki Village Office
  • TEL：+81-264-48-2001
  • Kiso Village Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-264-36-2543
  • Shiojiri City Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-263-54-2001
  • Naraijuku Tourist office, Shiojiri City Tourism Association
  • TEL：+81-264-24-0024