The Chikuni-kaido road, connecting Matsumoto and Niigata prefectures was once the main link that
people used to get around as well as move commodities.
| Known as the Salt Road,
it was an important route bringing vitally needed salt and
marine products from the Sea of Japan into the mountainous
regions of Nagano and other areas of japan. Hakuba Village
retains a number of old temples, shrines and stone Buddhist
images along this historic highway. |
|
 |
Kazakiri
Jizo
(the guardian deity of the common people)
As
winds blow down Hakuba's mountains everything from vermin to
farm produce is protected against evil spirits. It is
believed that Jizo, the guardian deity of the common people
carefully makes these winds drive away evil spirits that may
be trying to spread sickness. |
|
 |
| Kirikubosuwa
Shrine This is a religious service called shichi dou sai that uses
people's religious treasures 'The Seven Faces' (each face
represents people's seven evil passions). One of the faces
called 'haniya' (a female demon) was created from a tragic
folk story called Okara-no-ana. |
| Kannon-bara
(Kannon Stone Buddhists)
This field contains 33 Kannon stone Buddahs from Western
Japan, 33 from the Kansai area and 34 from the Tokyo area
making a total of 100 stone Buddhas. There are also 87 Banto
Kannons stone Buddahs making a total of 187 stone Buddha' s
in a square. In historical times many travelers stopped here
to pray for a safe journey on the 'Salt Road'. |
|
 |
| The
Hakuba History Museum
Where the mountains and the heavy snow meet each other
lives 'Hakuba'. The Hakuba villagers' life and wisdom is captured in
this hall as you can see historical farm tools and daily
life equipment on display and find out how people used to
live. Adjacent to the hall there is an
historical house that has a fireplace, stable and other
relics. That
will make you feel like you are a part of history.
|
| |
Location: |
The Museum is located
inside the Green Sports Park |
| |
Operating
Hours: |
9:00am-4:30pm
(closed from
November 5 to Golden Week) |
| |
Admission:
|
Free |
| |
Contact:
|
Hakuba Village Promotion Corporation
+81-261-72-2279
The Hakuba History hall
+81-261-72-4755 (tel)
+81-261-72-4838 (fax) |
| Choukokuji
Temple This is a
well-known as temple on the Salt Road. The main
hall of the temple has a 300-year history and still has
original beams supporting the huge roof. The road up to the
temple gate is lined with stone Buddhas and 500 year old
Japanese cedar trees giving you a sense of history.
|
|
 |
| |
Telephone
|
+81-261-75-2028 |
| Sanosaka
Saigoku the 33rd Kannon
Near the roots of the pines and Japanese cedar trees alone the
road, statues are lined up such as those of Senjukannon (one thousand handed Goddess of Mercy) and Juichimenkannon (eleven faced Goddess of Mercy)
- said to be
sculpted by a stone Buddhist image sculptor of Takatou. Even
on the Shionomichi road, through the area that goes from
Sano to Sanosaka to the shores of Lake Aoki, this place
reminds you of the past. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
