The
walks became easier for me than before as the mountain road ended.
Mirake,
the 49th shukuba station
from Nihonbashi, developed a temple town. The main inn and other old buildings
remain in the station.
An
old merchant house named “Takeya” is open to the public. The family developed
such businesses as real estate, brewery, post office and sericulture in the
house. It is now used to welcome tourists and for community activities.
The
JR Mitake station locates near the shukuba.
The town is struggling to maintain the railway, which connects MItake and
neighboring Kani City.
There
is a building along Nakasendo which concludes library, Nakasendo Museum and
other cultural facilities.
I found a relief of ancient elephant displayed.
Mitake produces various fossils.
I moved westward to
Fushimi, the next shukuba station. I
found a sign board which stressed the importance of preserving natural
environment.
Mitake used to produce
lignite and there remain tunnels under the ground. They sometimes have collapse
of the lands.
Mitake became famous
nationwide about 20 years ago when its town manager was attacked and insured
over the industrial waste issue. The crime is not yet solved.
“Environment” remains a key
word at Mitake. They have a research center on the issue.
There stands a monument of
main inn (honjin) in Fushimi.
A small memorial park with a pine
tree was developed in 2008.
The family members of the
old village headman and the local people opened a guest house using old
headman’s house. I was welcomed by a member and had a interesting talks.
A very modern house was
built next to the guest house. There is no regulation on the preservation of
the town here.
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