Japan (October 2016):
Kiso Valley
The Kiso
valley is located southwest of Matsumoto between the Central Alps on the east
and the North Alps on the west. The old Nakasendo
road built during the Edo Period to connect Kyoto to present-day Tokyo
traversed this valley. Narai, Magome,
and Tsumago are the best preserved post towns of the
valley along this road. Some vestiges of the old road remain, especially
between Magome and Tsumago.
Narai:
Old-styled
houses lined along the main street.
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Drawing artists inspired by the main
street.
Three of the
five wells dating from the Edo Period along the main street. They provide fresh
spring water from the surrounding mountains.
Chousen-ji temple.
Left: Roku Jizo
(Six Jizo) lined up in front of the Chousen-ji temple. In Japanese Buddhism Jizo
is a Bodhisattva (someone who is able to reach nirvana, but delays doing so out
of compassion to help other beings) who specifically protects children and
travelers. Right: Buddhist deity in the cemetery behind the temple.
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Notice board
(kosatsuba) where decrees and local rules were posted
on wood tablets. Similar boards were erected at the entrance of all post towns
along the Nakasendo road.
Old lacquered
combs on display in the former residence of Nakamuratei,
a lacquered comb wholesale dealer. (For centuries lacquerware has been a
particular specialty of the Kiso valley.)
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Magome:
Houses along
the inclined curved main street.
- On a rainy
afternoon.
- On a sunny morning.
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Sake house, marked by a sugi-dama (杉玉), a ball made of cedar leaves.
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Water wheel
of an old mill used to make rice flower.
Left: notice
board (kosatsuba). Right: old firefighting station.
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Front yards with unusual chairs and
plants.
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Stelae and
deities in the lower part of the village.
View of Mount
Ena (2190m) seen from Magome
on a sunny morning, with a small tea plantation in the foreground.
Tsumago:
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Along
the trail between Magome and Tsumago:
This trail has been restored to follow
the old Nakasendo road. It offers a pleasant 8km
hike (16km round-trip), even on a rainy day, across dense forests and a few tiny
villages.
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Old tea house along the trail.
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Harvested rice fields.
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