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Hida history and folklore museum、斐太歴史民俗資料館（新潟県）


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.

歴史はこのブログの範疇ではありませんが、このコーナーだけご紹介。戦国時代に上杉家がこの地に跡を残しました。謙信の後継者争いで上杉景虎が死んだ鮫ヶ尾城から発掘されたおにぎりと思われる炭化米（右下）などが展示されています。生々しいですね。

近くの「斐太歴史の里」には、鮫ヶ尾城跡と弥生時代・古墳時代の遺跡があります。

 


Edo period (1603～1868) to modern period、近世・近代

Many items are displayed.　多数の展示品があります。


The are many items concerning the ordinary people’s history, which is the theme of this blog. The item like an apron (inside the white dot line) was hung around a horse neck to prevent it from the attack of mosquitoes, flies and horseflies. People took care of horse well. It was used in the early 20th century.

本ブログのテーマの庶民に関する展示も豊富。左の枠内は、馬の胸に付けて蚊・蠅・虻の害を防ぐための蚊払い。人馬一体、馬を大切にする気持ちがわかりますね。昭和初期の品です。


Farmers stroked rice field to harden it, then pour water in it. The stones inside the dot line were used. Farmers sang while working (it was a common practice in the old days). They sang “Donto-naruseha-doukou-da. I love the grand kagura performance at Ise Shrine! I must go to Ise to see it.” Traveling to Ise seemed to be a dream; the song eased the burden of the hard work.

棚田の水入れ前に土を締め固める「かめかち石」。平らな石に穴を空けて藤蔓や荒縄を通し、どすんどすんと地を突きます。左のパネルでは、その時の作業歌・「かめかち唄」が紹介されています。

〽どんとなるせは　どうこうだ
お伊勢の太神楽　お伊勢の太神楽に惚れた
行かじゃなるまいお伊勢まで
惚れて通いば千里も一里

･･･と続きます。憧れの伊勢参りを想って力仕事をしたのですね。

 


Articles for everyday use、民具


Mochi cakes (model) are set inside the irori (fire place). Those were served between meals or were also children’s snacks.

Salted squid, salted trout, adzuki beans, miso-marinated foods and so on were in mochi cakes. Those were not luxury, however, seafood was used. Because the area is just 15km away from the Sea of Japan.

囲炉裏ではやきもちが展示されています。くず米で団子を作り、中に漬物などを入れ焼いたもので、信州のおやきに似ています。当初は主食でしたが、農作業時の間食や子どものおやつとしても食べられるようになりました。

具の例として、イカの塩辛、塩マス、あずき、味噌漬け、千切り大根や大根葉の胡麻味噌和え。贅沢な具材ではありませんが、美味しそうです。おやきと違って、海まで約15kmの斐太では海産物が入るのですね。


It is a heavy snowfall area. It is written that many kinds of tools have been devised to survive the harsh winter.

斐太は豪雪地帯。“きびしい冬を生きぬくために、昔から様々な道具が工夫されてきました” と書かれています。


The products above were made during winter which forced people to stay at home. There are many products made from straw, but the silk-floss-hat (inside the dot line) attracted me. It is light and warm. Sericulture prospered, so silk waste from factory was utilized.

It says, “It was classy for women to drape over their back. The hat was a practical item born from the wisdom of life in snowy area, and was a fashion item at the same time.” Btw, mochi cakes are also set in the irori above.

雪に閉ざされる冬に作る品々です。藁製品が主ですが、左上は軽くて温かい綿帽子（わたぼし）は、養蚕が盛んだったこの地域でも作られました。“さりげなく背中に掛けておくのが女性には品の良いものとされ、雪国人の生活の知恵から生まれた実用品であるとともにファッションでもありました” と書かれています。いいですね。手前の囲炉裏にも焼き餅が。


Sleds, which carried timbers or people, are displayed. The pictures help us how to use them. I like the heartwarming picture at upper right.

雪上の運搬具や人力車。イラストが使い方をイメージさせてくれます。箱ぞりのイラスト（右上）は子どもの頃の思い出を絵にしたものでしょうか。笑顔がいいですね。



According to the 2017 survey posted in the hall, 92% of respondents answered that the area was a good place to live (23.4% "very good" and 68.8% "fairly good"). It is a good town!

ホールに掲示されていた2017年のアンケート調査では、斐太地区の住み心地を良いと答えた人が92％（とても良い23.4％+まあ良い68.8％）でした。いい町ですね。

 

 


 

Visited in July, 2025

Official website: https://www.city.myoko.niigata.jp/docs/845.html (in Japanese), accessed in July, 2026

 

 

Previous post (on the same highway): Shrine and temple at the foot of Mt. Myokou (Faith in Mt. Myokou)、妙高山麓の社寺（妙高山信仰）

Next post (museum in the neighboring city): Joetsu City History Museum、上越市立歴史博物館(Coming soon)



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