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<< Inquiries >>
Alps Shionomichi Kouryuu Kaigi
Head Office: Niigata-ken, Itoigawa-shi, Yokomachi 1-1-1
TEL: 025-521-2627
FAX: 025-520-4151 |
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| "Shionomichi" ?Ethe
Road of Lifelong Learning |
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| "Shionomichi," Japan's longest and
oldest route, is located right in the centre of the Japanese
archipelago at east longitude 1380. The Northern
"Shionomichi" extends southward from Itoigawa to
Shiojiri and the Southern Shionomichi extends northward from
Omaezaki and Sagara to Shiojiri. The route lies along the Fossa
Magna and Median Tectonic Line that pass between the Northern,
Central and Southern Alps and it is a treasure trove of natural
geography, historical sites, folklore and traditional culture.
We aim to develop collaboration between groups from regions that
extend from Northern to Southern Japan and to restore and
appreciate this route, so that it might become a "Road of
Lifelong Learning" where people can gain knowledge about
the Japanese peninsula. |
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| Declaration to make the
North-South "Shionomichi" a "Road of Lifelong
Learning" |
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| The first Shionomichi Conference was held over
two days from October 21-21, 1995 in Kakegawa and it was
attended by representatives of 12 cities and 34 towns and
villages from 8 broad zones across 3 prefectures. This kicked
off the Sea of Japan-Pacific Ocean 350 km Shionomichi
Conference. There was an appeal to sublimate the Shionomichi
into the "Japanese Road of Lifelong Learning", which
is summarized below. |
| The Shionomichi Kaigi
Declaration |
October 20, 1995
Place: Shizuoka Prefecture, Kakegawa City |
350km "Nihonkai to Taiheiyou wo
musubu tate no Renkei Jiku"
Salt is necessary for life.
The word "salaryman" is derived from the
word, "salt."
In the past, there were a large number of
"shionomichi" in regions all over
Japan.
"Shionomichi" is the longest and oldest of
these routes that passes through the middle of the
Japanese archipelago and traverses the Fossa Magna
that divides the North-Eastern side from the
South-Western side of the Japanese archipelago.
Since ancient times, this enormous upstream region,
which was formed naturally by the Northern, Central
and Southern Alps, produced a number of roads such
as the Kokuyou-seki (obsidian) and Hisui (jade)
roads, roads for exchanging marine and mountain
produce (in medieval and in modern times), roads
where the Sengoku warlords rose and fell, pilgrim
roads and roads of folk performance arts.
Also known as the Sengoku-Matsumoto and Akiba City
Akiba-Shinshu Expressways, these roads were key
routes that were used for daily life and socializing
until the development of ship transportation and
railways.
Representatives from 12 cities and 34 towns that are
located in the 8 zones along this road gathered
together and submitted a proposal to share the fine
web of culture and various revitalization resources
that lie along the "Shionomichi" so as to
make this route a "Road of Lifelong
Learning" for observing the Japanese
archipelago.
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| Regional Resources of
"Shionomichi" ?Ethe Road of Lifelong Learning |
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138The Itoigawa/Shizuoka Tectonic Line Fossa
Magna: East longitude: 138°
- The longitudinal axis that lies between the
"Shionomichi" Western border and the Median Tectonic
Line -
The ancient
route of traffic, distribution and archaeological
sites
- The Hisui ("jade") Road (jade was produced in
Itoigawa) and Kokuyouseki ("obsidian") (star
droppings) Road -
Pilgrim roads, ancient
mythological roads, the route for folk art performances &
festivals
- The Suwa faith (Water) and Akiba faith (God of Fire)/ Doozojin
Signpost Culture -
The road where the Sengoku
warlords rose and fell and the route to their castles
The route of daily life and
folklore
The route of the arts and
sciences
The sports route
The route of dietary culture
& country resorts
Japan Rail (JR) rail system,
expressways and roadside stations
10 East meets
West: regions where different cultures merge and cultural
exchange occurs
- The massive core of collaboration between North-Eastern and
South-Western Japan
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>>The Regional Resources of
"Shionomichi"
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| An Overview of the Sengoku
Kaidou ("Expressway") |
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| This 120km highway, which links Itoigawa to
Matsumoto Joka, is known as the Sengoku Kaidou
("Expressway"). The Sengoku Kaido is a typical highway
that connects the inland regions with those on the coast. It was
also the setting for the legendary story of the Battle of
Kawanaka Island, where Kenshin Uesugi sent salt to his enemy
Shingen Takeda, the leader of the Kai. |
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| Maeyama Hyakutai Kannon
(Shinnohara, Otari Village) |
Ushikata-shuku
(Kutsukake, Otari Village) |
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| The forest highway
(Ochikura, Hakuba Village) |
Oyazaka (Kutsukake-Senda,
Otari Village) |
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| The highway and
"kayabumi" thatched-roof houses (Iida,
Hakuba Village) |
Alps from the highway
(Hakuba Town, Hakuba Village) |
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| Matsumoto-jo |
from the Aoki lakeside to
the Sanozaka Hill Pass (Omachi) |
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| Active Endeavors
to Restore the Old Road |
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In March 2002, the 1.4
km Nakayama Old Road in the Omachi area and the 3.3 km Yamaguchi
Old Road of the Nechi area of the Sengoku Byways were designated
as national historical sites. This was a result of a large
number of citizens and the government coming together to
restore, preserve and maintain, exploit and foster the
"Shionomichi," and make citizens familiar with and
therefore proud of the route, which thus became widely known.
These activities to preserve "Shionomichi" started in
May, 1974 when city youth groups began to study
"Shionomichi" in order to locate where it was in their
own hometowns. In an article that was dated June 30, 1974, the
Niigata Nippo reported as follows. "While the local youth
volunteers continue their activities to maintain the road and
turn it into a nature walking trail, they are digging up tools
that were used in daily life and festivals and compiling a book
on their findings. Furthermore, in the Fall, they are planning
to call on citizens to walk on the road."
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| In 1974, local youth volunteers planned
the first "Shionomichi" hike. Today, 30
years later, that activity is continuing. |
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Due to the continuation of
"Old Road Revival" activities, 3.3 km of
"Shionomichi" was designated as a historical site.
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Designation as an important
tangible asset of folk culture of Japan
2004 "Collection of Echigo Himekawa Valley
"Bokka" Hauling Implements"
2006 "Collection of Itoigawa Kichiya Manufacturing Tools
and Products" |
| "Shionomichi"
Shiryoukan |
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| Kichiya Village |
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| The Echigo and Itoigawa
Shionomichi Walking Trip |
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| In 1985, the first "Echigo and Itoigawa
Shionomichi Walking Trip" was held in order to emphasize
the necessity of using and preserving this route, while
exploiting it as a historical site. Over 300 people from regions
all over Japan participated in the walk. Since then, this event
has been held 21 consecutive years, without a break. With
"Yomigaere Ningen" as its slogan, this walk has become
widely known as an event that values people meeting and talking
to one another while they walk the historical trail. |
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| The "Shionomichi
Matsuri" Festival ?E27 years of proud history |
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| The "Shionomichi Matsuri" is jointly
held each year by Municipalities
and the Villages of Hakuba and Otari during the 3 days of Golden
Week. A huge event in the area, this festival has become firmly
entrenched as a seasonal springtime tradition that entails
walking the historical road and the foot of the Northern Alps to
see the sakura blooming and observe the arrival of the spring
season. |
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Trends:
"Shionomichi" Matsuri Participant
Numbers
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| The "Shionomichi" Matsuri |
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