Nakasendo Walk (17) Niekawa (33/69)-Narai (34/69): Sept. 19, 2016

Today’s walk was from Niekawa, the 33^rd shukuba station to Narai, the 34th station. It sometimes rained.

Niegkawa was a small station. It was owned and managed by the Owari (Nagoya) Tokugawa family in the Edo era. An office was set to check the trade of Japanese hinoki cypress. It was rebuilt in the 1970s. (see also the 2nd photo from the top)

The old town has been lost because of the fires. The public water wells remain.

I moved southward to Hirasawa district, which is famous for the production of Kiso lacquer ware. There are tens of craft houses and shops along Nakasendo.

I bought sets of wares. The industry developed here as they produced good woods.

The Japanese lacquer is now mainly imported from China as the domestic production is decreasing. (Globalization!!) I got such information from the store’s madam.

I arrived in Narai. The old town and houses are well preserved. The area is registered as the country's historically important place..

Inns, shops and restaurants are in traditional buildings. There are no electric poles.

Public water wells are working.

Restaurants serve local foods. I enjoyed soba and iwana fish.

There is a bridge calles "Kiso no Ohashi" made of Japanese hinoki cypress over Narai river.

The river flows northward into Chikuma River and travels into the sea of Japan. 

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