Salt road museum、塩の道資料館（糸魚川市）

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 in 1934; it was after the new road was constructed. I guess men on the photos wore porter costume.

左側が牛つなぎ石。塩の道のところどころに置かれています。右は鞍ですね。写真は1934年の撮影。明治時代に馬車が通れる道ができているので、記念の写真かもしれません。

Abundant exhibits are kept in the rooms.

室内にも多量の展示品があります。

The “hiirige” lunch box (a bag at upper left) would be useful. The material is breathable, so foods in it didn’t go rotten easily. It is foldable, so you can make it small after eating. There are three kind volumes: 3.5ℓ, 1.7ℓ and 0.7ℓ. It was knitted tightly like a craft.

民具の中にイグサで作ったお弁当箱「ヒイリゲ」（左上）があります。一升、５合、２合の３タイプ。よく食べますね。通気性がよいので腐りにくく、食べた後は折りたためるのが利点です。工芸品のように緻密に編まれています。

The gaiter (habaki) was also knitted tightly. It is made from gama (cattail). It was durable; it was used for a few years. In addition to it, it had blood-stopping effect. The gaiters were produced in a neighboring village, wherein the works had the machine to kit the plants (cattail).

ガマで作ったハバキ（脛巾）。けがをしたら血を止める効果があるだけでなく、耐久性がよくて２、３年使えました。ただし、自作ではなく、小谷村深原で専用の編み機を使って作られていました。こちらも緻密に編まれています。

A porter carried fishes using the wooden box on the left. They also carried glass bottles of sake (alcohol), soy-sauce, cooking oil and so on. They look heavy!

左側の箱では歩荷が魚を運び、右の瓶ケースでは酒や醤油、食用油等を運びました。魚は120km離れた松本まで、瓶類は途中の山中まででしょうか。瓶が使われたのは明治以降です。どちらも重そう。

The 3^rd floor is an attic. Two pulleys (upper right) are hung which move items from the entrance to the 3^rd floor. The area was isolated by snow. I want to know what they kept there.

３階は屋根裏部屋。土間から荷を上げる滑車（右上）があります。雪に閉ざされる地域です。何を屋根裏で保管したのか、気になりますね。

There is an administrative work space in the irori (fireplace) room.

囲炉裏のある部屋は職員さんの事務スペースでもあります。展示室の一角にあるのは珍しいですね。

I ate lunch at Itoigawa City at the coast of the Sea of Japan is famous for seafood. The stir-fried noodles (specialty) are black because squid ink in it. It had rich taste.

糸魚川は魚の町ですが、イカスミを使ったブラック焼きそばも人気です。魚は美味しく、山中の人が海の魚を求めるのもわかります。「くろひめ」さんでいただきました。

Visited in Aug, 2025

Official website: https://www.itoigawa-kanko.net/spot/shionomichi_museum/ (in Japanese), accessed in July, 2026

Previous post (museum in the same prefecture): Dr. Sakaguchi memorial hall、坂口記念館

Next post (museum in the same city): Folklore museum of woodturner 、木地屋民俗資料館(Coming soon)

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