Nakasendo Walk (16) Shiojiri (30/69) -Niekawa (33/69): Sept 17, 2016 (off Tokyo)

There are 25 shukuba stations of Nakasendo in Nagano Prefecture (Shinshu in old name). I walked the first 13 stations in the eastern part of Nagano this spring. It was from Karuizawa, the 18^th station from Nihonbashi to Shiojiri, the 30^th.

I resumed my walk today. It was from Shiojiri to Niekawa, the 33rd station.

Shiojiri is an important transportation hub. The roads and railways from Tokyo, Nagoya and Niigata areas meet here. 

The rails go eastwards to Tokyo and westwards to Nagoya from JR Shiojiri Station. The window’s decoration is grape design.

The area grows good grape and produces wines. They had “the Grape Festival” as September and October are the harvest season.

There are many grape fields along the roads. (see also the 2nd photo from the top)

Grape picking services were offered in many farms.

I also saw the fields of lettuce, cabbage and other vegetables.

There is an archaeological site at the side of Nakasendo on the way to Seba, the 31st station. It is called Hirade remains. The houses of Jomon era (B.C 13-B.C.4 century), Kofun era (A.D. 3-7 century), and Heian era (A.D.8-12 century) are rebuilt. (see also the 3rd photo from the top) 

The grape fields spread around the remains.

There remains a set of milestone in the area. The rice fields behind were shinning gold.

I walked into the area of Seba station. I saw houses as well as vegetable and rice fields spread in the narrow lands between the mountains (see also the 4th photo from the top). 

Autumn flowers were beautiful at the side of the road. 

There is a legend that Minamoto Yoshinaka, one of the heroes in the 12^th century (late Heian era) washed his horse in the well here. The overflowing water was clean and cold.

I saw many fields of soba (buckwhest) on the way to Motoyama, the 32^nd station. The flower is white.

Soba was eaten from ancient days, but it was the Edo ear when people began to cook soba as noodle. The new style started here in Motoyama.

I walked southwards and arrived Sakurazawa area.. There is a stone monument at the side of the road.

It says: the starting point of Kiso road, down to south. (see also the top photo)

Kiso is a deep valley between the mountains.

There are 11 shukuba stations in Kiso road. I arrived in Niekawa, the first station of the Kiso road and the 33^rd station from Tokyo’s Nihonbashi.