Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

Kiso-Fukushima was a post-town on Nakasendou highway which linked Edo (old name of Tokyo) and Kyoto. It is in Nagano prefecture of central Japan. Kiso-Fukushima is a center of “Kiso” region at Kiso Valley ; there were eleven post-towns in Kiso. Mountains approach the town; therefore, it is a high-density housing area. Its major industry has been forestry . The Festival Museum shows us the enthusiastic festival in summer . Kiso people explode their energy at the festival. 尾張藩の代官所と関所が置かれた木曽地方の中心地・福島 は、木曽川沿いで山が迫った町です。 林業の町です。そこに、多くの家がひしめいています 。 まつり会館では、神輿を転がすという荒々しい夏祭りが紹介 されています。人々のエネルギーを感じますね。   Kiso-Fukushima town 、木曽福島 The town is between mountains.  Three-story houses were built  along Kiso River; those are called “ cliff houses ”. People have gathered and have lived there. They have managed to live in a narrow land. 山に挟まれた木曽福島。木曽川に沿って、 崖家作りといわれる三階建ての家 が並びます。木曽福島は人が集まる町、狭い土地で何とか暮らしてきたのですね。 The three-story cliff houses  look two-story building from the street . 三階建てですが、 通りからは二階建て

The legendary samurai “Kiso Yoshinaka” (Minamoto no Yoshinaka, 1154-1184) grew up here ; his lineage led to an emperor. He rebelled against Taira clan (Heishi ） here who ruled Japan back then. Therefore, the town would be familiar with many Japanese. Because, we learned the legend in school. 宮ノ越宿は、 木曽義仲（源義仲）が育ち、旗揚げをした場所 にある宿場です。木曽義仲の遺跡があり、平家物語を知る旅人にとっては感慨深い場所だったと思います。今は、静かな町です。   There is a deep pool in Kiso River at the north end of Miyanokoshi. It is said that a beautiful girl swam here; she also rode on a horse and run around fields and hills. Her name is “Tomoe” and supported “Kiso Yoshinaka” for a lifetime.  The legend says that a dragon which resided here transformed itself to “Tomoe” and supported “Kiso Yoshinaka” . 宮ノ越宿の北端に巴淵（木曽川）があります。 麗将・巴は、少女時代にここで泳ぎ、馬で野山を駆け巡った そうです。この淵に住む龍神が、巴に化身して、木曽義仲を守り続けたという伝説があるとのことです。 Kiso Yoshinaka was ordered to destroy Heike by Prince Mochihito in 1180. He raised his army and prayed for a victory at the shrine above  (Hataage Hachiman-gu). Al

The museum is near Yabuhara post-town in Nagano prefecture of central Japan. It was on Nakasendou highway which linked Edo (old name of Tokyo) and Kyoto. Mountains approach the town. However, locals have developed specialties such as comb and medicine at the narrow flatland . Plus, they have continued the exciting festival . There were twelve post-towns in Kiso area, and each town had its feature. My impressive exhibit is the letter; it asked an official of each post-town to send over a sick traveler to his home town. They are kind. *Notice: there were no staff when I visited. We have to push the buzzer by the entrance door, and to call staff from another building. 中山道・鳥居峠の南側・藪原宿の近くにある郷土館 です。山が迫った場所ですが、 お六櫛や百草丸といった名産品を生み出し、活気がある祭りも催してきました 。興業の意欲が強いと思います。木曽 12 宿といって、いろいろな宿場町がありますが、土地土地の特徴がありますね。 印象的だったのは、病気で歩けなくなった旅人を居住地（埼玉県）まで戻したいので、各宿場は駕籠で次の宿場に送ってくださいという送り状（の控え？）です。世は情けですね。   The museum is on the left. The  train (lower left) transported woodcutters  to mountains. For

The museum is at Narai  post-town  in Nagano prefecture of central Japan. It was on Nakasendou  highway  which linked Edo (old name of Tokyo) and Kyoto. The town has not suffered from big fire since late 19 th  century, so  old building remains ; I can say residents preserve old building and live there. Many travelers stayed at Narai, because they had to walk through the difficult pass in order to go south. Many travelers including foreigners visit Narai even until now because of the old buildings and its atmosphere. However, it is a calm town if you visit on a weekday. I walked from Narai, passed the peak (Torii Pass) and went to the next post-town (Yabuhara). 奈良井宿は、松本平から中山道を南に向かい木曽路に入ると、二つ目にある宿場町 です。江戸末期から大火にあわず、 古い街並みが残っています 。また、住民のみなさんによって、家々が保存されています。かつては、鳥居峠を前にした宿泊者が多い宿場町でしたが、今では外国人も訪れる人気観光地です。でも、平日に訪れると静かな町です。 奈良井宿から、分水嶺（最後は信濃川となって日本海に流れる奈良井川と太平洋に流れる木曽川）になっている鳥居峠を越えて、次の藪原宿まで歩きました。   Inns stands beside the old highway . 旅館や民宿 が今も建ち並んでいます。 There are also  souvenir shops .  The sho