Kamimura is a small village in Tohyamagoh
in central Japan (Nagano prefecture). Part 1 of this article is about its
festival (Folklore
museum of Kamimura festival, “Tenpaku” (1/2)). Part 2 is about history
and folklore. We can understand how people have earned a living and have
enjoyed life.
上村は、南信州の山間部にある遠山郷の集落。Part 1では有名な霜月祭りについて書きましたが（上村まつり伝承館「天伯」（遠山郷）(part1)）、この記事では歴史と民俗についてです。人びとが霜月祭り以外の行事も楽しんでいることが分かります。
Village history and folklore are well exhibited on the 1st floor.
１階が歴史と民俗の展示です。充実しています。
History of Kamimura、上村の歴史
The photos were taken around 60 years ago by Tsukahara Takuya. Although it’s really steep land, people live vividly.
表示板の横には、下栗地区（右上）の人びとの写真が展示されています。塚原琢也氏が約60年前に撮った写真だそうです。急峻な山地ですが、みなさん、元気で暮らしているようです。
Field is scarce, but forest is abundant. In Japan, people had paid rice tax; however, people in this area had paid wood tax.
In the modern era, a big company developed this area and cut trees. A thousand of people were hired, so shops and so on opened. It was a golden age of this area.
耕地は少ないけど木材資源が豊富な遠山では、鎌倉時代から年貢を米ではなく材木（榑木）で納めていました。
明治になると、王子製紙が用材を遠山に求め、共有林を買い取り、伐採を始めました。人夫は千人といわれ、店が増え、遠山は黄金時代となりました。
There were inns at Kamimachi district in Kamimura; there were six inns at the peak time wherein both horses and an attendant could stay. They washed horses by the channel at the center of the street.
上村の上町地区は元宿場町。全盛期には６軒の馬宿があり、道の中央を流れる井水で荷馬を洗う姿が見られました。
Horses carried load and went over the pass between the nearby city (Iida) and Kamimachi district. Rice, sake (alcohol) and so on were brought to Kamimachi; soy beans, charcoal and so on were done to the city.
Fifty to sixty attendants with horses went over the pass every day at the peak time. Each horse carried around 90kg load, and an attendant did around 20kg load. It took four days to go back and forth.
On the other hand, there were porters who carried around 30kg load of everyday goods (without horse). They stayed at regular customer’s house, took order and delivered goods; they were also merchants. It is written, “They informed mountain villagers of news in the city. They also introduced candidate of bride to villagers. Therefore, they were popular in the mountain villages.” We don’t have chance to talk about such topics with delivery driver. We are too busy to spend such a spare time.
In the early 20th century, the ropeway started operation and carried load. So, merchants, attendants and horses disappeared.
遠山郷への物流ルートは、大正時代に竜東索道（ロープウエイ）が開通するまでは馬で峠を越えて飯田へ行くのが主流でした。飯田からは米や酒が運び込まれ、遠山からは大豆、コウゾ、木炭などが運ばれました。
最盛期には馬追いが一日に50～60人通りました。馬追いは１～２頭の馬を追い、馬には約90kgの荷を、自分も約20kgの荷を背負い、飯田と遠山を４日間かけて往復しました。
馬は使わず、日用品を中心に約30kgの荷を背負って商いをする「背負子サ」と呼ばれる人たちもいました。得意先の民家で泊まり、注文を取ったり、頼まれたものを売ったりする商人です。“時には飯田地方の情報や、嫁さんの世話等も持ち込むなどして人びとに親しまれていました”と書かれています。無駄な仕事をしなくなった今では、運送屋さんとこんな話をすることはないですよね。私たちは忙しくなりました。
Elevation difference to the pass is 900 meters. The model above shows how difficult the route is. Not only carriers but also pilgrims to Akihasan (shrine) went through the pass. So, there was a teahouse at the pass (upper right) which was booming until early 20th century.
The ropeway took the place of carriers, but
was taken the place by truck transportation. Therefore, it quit operation in
1941. Now, people and load are carried by car or truck; only hiker walk
through the pass.
遠山と飯田の間にある小川路峠へは900mの上り下り。模型が展示されていますが、大変な道のりです。
運搬人だけでなく、飯田から秋葉山に詣でる人も通る峠には、茶屋（右上）があり、大正初期までは栄えていたそうです。
YAMAPに峠道の写真が多数掲載されています（https://yamap.com/activities/39250676）。石仏や木地師に関するものもあります。
大正８年に開通したロープウェイは運搬人に取って代わりましたが、トラックに取って代わられ昭和16年にその歴史を閉じました。以降は、遠山谷を走るトラックが輸送の主役になり、峠はハイキングコースになりました。
There is Akiha highway which links mountainous area and seaside. The 260 kms road is for logistic and pilgrims.
秋葉街道は、信州諏訪から遠州相良町まで南北約260kmの道で、途中の上村上町で飯田へ分岐します。海と山を繋ぐ物流の道であり、秋葉神社への信仰の道でもあります。
Folklore of Kamimura、上村の民俗
Folklore of each district in Kamimura and traditional folk songs are shown in the section above.
各地区の民俗と正調絵島節が紹介されています。
Kamimachi district in which the museum is. Children brought the wooden poles (symbol of men, lower left) to newlyweds. They prayed for prosperity of descendants and bountiful harvests, and got small gift such as sweets. Newlyweds are rare recently because of aging village, so children visit each family now. It is held in January. There are also November ritual, and February event for getting rid of bad luck. They have events in winter which is an agricultural off-season.
資料館がある上町地区。正月、子どもたちは、男性を象徴するお祝い棒（左下）を持って新婚家庭へ行き、子孫繁栄や五穀豊穣を願い、お菓子などをいただきました。今は新婚家庭が珍しいので、地区の家々を回ります。２月は事の神送り。疫病神を追い払います。霜月祭りに始まり、冬の行事が多いですね。
Nakagou district is upstream from Kamimachi. They have held events from long time ago; they pray for rain, pray for peaceful life or forecast how rich or how poor the harvest of the coming year. I’m not sure people have believed the effect or the result of the events, however, I can say they have enjoyed the events.
上流の中郷地区。山中にある御池での雨乞い、安寧を願う獅子舞。竹筒への粥の入り具合で豊凶を占う管粥の神事（右上）というのもあるのですね。信じる信じないは別として、むかしの人はいろいろイベントを作ってきたと思います。
Hodono district is the most upstream of Tohyama Valley. They have a festival of Suwa deity which resides around 60 kms to the north of the village. Woodturner’s tools are exhibited; it is said that they were nomadic people.
最上流の程野地区では、諏訪明神の御柱祭が行われています。諏訪の信仰はここまで影響しているのですね。また、木地師の道具が展示されています。
Shimoguri district is at the other side of mountain, which is in the eastern side. There is rich sunshine but poor water. The equipment on the left is used at the dance held in August; it is said that people originally danced to pray for rain.
下栗地区。遠山谷からは尾根を隔てた東斜面。日当たりはいいですが、水は足らないとのこと。左は8月15日に行われる掛け踊りの祭具。雨乞いの踊りといわれています（下栗掛踊り - 飯田市ホームページ）。
Takatoh town, which is 50 kms to the north, is famous for the confinement of Ms. Ejima who got involved in a scandal in Edo castle. After retaining, songs about Ejima became popular across Japan. However, most songs didn’t pass down. The song was handed down in Kamimura area; it was sung during Bon (Buddhist rite) dance. I know old tradition tends to remain in remote area, although only few people can sing the song. Implements used in the events in Kamimura area are exhibited on the left.
秋葉街道で、上村から約50km北にある高遠では、大奥の絵島が幽閉されていました。絵島を偲ぶ唄が江戸で流行し各地に伝わりましたが、時とともに消えてしまいました。しかし、上村には盆踊り唄として残りました。山間部では、文化が伝え続けられますね。ただし、今では歌える人は少ないそうです。左側は、上村の年中行事。
Lyrics of Bon dance are shown above. All of them are so elegant; for example, “During a Bon period, parents are so generous, even if you return home too late.” Kamimura area is in mountains however villagers have high cultural standards.
盆踊り唄の歌詞が展示されていますが、「絵島」以外の歌詞も上品。“盆にゃ親様 おなさけござる 踊りがえりが 遅くとも”（のーさ）など、文化のレベルが高いですね。
The woods are used in the annual event in January. On the cross sections of woods, those were written, “rice”, “soy beans”, “wheat”, “buckwheat”, “millet” and “vegetable”. People pray for rich harvest of those crops. The mountain area doesn’t have enough rice field, so they planted miscellaneous grains in the past. They have lived strong.
年中行事のパネルの前の展示品は、小正月に豊作の願って作る木の福俵。大豆、米、麦、そば、きび、野菜。願いが伝わりますね。
Visited in October, 2025
Official website: Reference site: https://www.iida-museum.org/link/tenpaku.html (in Japanese), accessed in November, 2025
Previous post (part1 of this museum, about festival in November): Folklore museum of Kamimura festival, “Tenpaku” (1/2)、上村まつり伝承館「天伯」（遠山郷）(part1)
Next post (museum in
the same area): Tohyamagoh folklore museum、遠山郷郷土館「和田城」 (coming soon)
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