Salt Road linked the Sea of Japan and Matsumoto Basin (inland) which is 120km away. Marine products such as salt and agricultural/forestry products have been exchanged. The museum below was a private house built more than 200 years ago . It was near the checkpoint site. It shows items about porters and cattle-drivers who led around six cattle which carried loads. 日本海の塩や海産物を内陸部（信濃）に運び、内陸部の産物を沿岸部（越後）に運ぶための物流路が 塩の道 。 200 年以上前に建てられた３階建ての民家が資料館 。名主や庄屋の御屋敷ではないのに、こんなに残っている民家は珍しいです。越後側の口留め番所・山口関所跡の先にあります。館内では、荷を運んだ 歩荷（ぼっか）や牛方に関する品、現地の民具 が約 2100 点も展示されています。 Porters' costumes are displayed at the entrance hall. A porter carried a 10kg load and walked 30km a day on the mountain road. 玄関を入ると 歩荷の装束 。 50kg の荷を背負い、１日 30km ぐらい歩いたそうです。山道ですからね。 A porter had to carry a tag, which was a license . Someone used the tags above. 歩荷が携帯を義務づけられていた 鑑札 。誰かが持って歩いていたのですね。 The stone on the left was used to tie cattle . It remains at various places along the salt road even until now. The photo was taken ...
The museum is in central Japan (Niigata pref. Joetsu City). It was a parents' home of Dr. Sakaguchi (1897-1994) who made important research achievements in fermentation science . He was also a poet. He lived in the residence during WW2 to avoid air raids, and interacted with intellectuals and master sake (alcohol) brewers ; his family run a sake brewery. I'm jealous of him! 発酵学に貢献された坂口博士（ 1897-1994 ）の屋敷 を資料館にしています（新潟県上越市頸城区）。坂口博士は学者であるだけでなく、 歌人としても活動し、戦時中に疎開していたこの屋敷で地元の頸城（くびき）杜氏や文化人と交流 していました。 杜氏の酒造りと博士の粋人としての活動がわかります。庶民の憧れの暮らしですね。 The staff made bamboo lanterns at the entrance hall above when I visited. The showcase in behind has sake bottles. It is rare to be able to drink alcohol in museum except for brewery company’s ones. ホール では職員さんがイベント用の竹灯籠を製作中。後ろには、お酒が。酒造会社の資料館以外でお酒を呑めるところは珍しいです。 Brewery equipment such as a big presser are displayed in the exhibition room at the 1 st floor. Sakaguchi family is a wealthy farmer and also a brewery; brewery, which is initiat...