Hida district is on the Hokkoku- kaidou (highway) which links mountainous area (Nagano pref.) and seaside one (Niigata pref.) . It is in a boundary zone between mountainous area and plain. 妙高市・斐太地区は、妙高山麓を流れる関川が山地から平地にでた場所にあり 、水田が広がる地域です。信越を結ぶ北国街道が通る地区でもあります。 Both the cattle and rice bales in the entrance hall are made by rice straw. There are rich rice fields there (The museum is at the first floor in the building at lower left). ホールには 牛と米俵の藁細工 があります。米どころですね。左下が資料館がある建物。 The exhibition starts with the history section. 展示室は歴史からスタート。 Although the history is not the theme of this blog, I would like to highlight the exhibits about Uesugi Kagetora. He was expected to succeed to the powerful warlord Uesugi Kenshin. Unfortunately, he was defeated at the castle near the museum. The carbonized rice at lower right is assumed to a onigiri (rice ball); it was found at the castle site. There is a history park “Hida-rekishi-no-sato” which has the castle site and the ancient ruins. ...
Mt. Myokou (2454m) in central Japan (Niigata pref.) has been worshipped since the ancient era . Sekiyama Shrine and Houzouin Temple were the center of the worship ; we can know the prosperity in the old days. Those locate by Hokkoku- kaidou (highway). The article was written based on guide boards at the site. Traces of the syncretism and subsequent separation of Shinto and Buddhism can be seen. 妙高山（ 2454m 、新潟県）は古代から信仰を集めてきました 。北国街道沿いの 関山神社と別当の宝蔵院は妙高山信仰の拠点 。江戸時代には大いに栄えました（本記事は、妙高市教育委員会の案内板をもとに作成しています）。神仏習合と神仏分離の跡が見えます。 Sekiyama Shrine 、関山神社 Mt. Myokou has been considered as the deity dwelling mountain . The shrine is dedicated to the deity. 妙高山を神体山としてまつる神社（里宮） とされています。 The main building above was rebuilt in 1818 . 1818 年に再建された社殿 。本殿・幣殿・拝殿が一体化し、最奥部に宮殿があります。 View of Mt. Myokou . I visited several times, but I unfortunately have not seen the summit (photo at lower rignt. It is a panel of “Myoko-Kogen Visitor Center” in 2025). The shape of the mountain resembles ...