Elevation Profile

The Chikuni-goe route can be walked in either direction, but starting in Tsugaike from Matsuzawa makes for a gentle descent almost all the way to the end. The reverse route has significantly more climbing, making it a more challenging option for those with good stamina.

Historical Landmarks & Points of Interest

Hyakutai Kannon

This impressive cluster of one hundred centuries-old stone Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) statues represent those of Japan’s three major Kannon Pilgrimages: Saigoku, Chichibu, and Bando. Here they stand in two rows, looking peacefully out over the main Ushiro-Tateyama ridge line of the Northern Alps. (Designated as an Important Cultural Asset by Otari Village)

Hyakutai Kannon to Ushikata Yado

The area between the Hyakutai Kannon statues and the Ushikata Yado travels on a wide, gentle path at the edge of a forest, where magnificent views of the Northern Alps can be had on clear days.

Ushikata Yado

This marvelous thatched-roof structure served as an accommodation for the ushikata herdsman who drove trains of pack oxen loaded with Salt on the Shionomichi. The animals rested on the hardened dirt floor, while the herdsman stayed in the loft area on the second floor where they could overlook their bovine partners. This is the only remaining lodge of its kind along the Chikuni Kaido, and has been declared as a Prefectural Treasure by the government of Nagano.

Kobo-no-Shimizu

The fresh water flowing from this spring quenched the thirst of both the oxen and the porters laboring along the Salt Road. The spring is named for the statue of Kobo Daishi, Japan’s most famous traveling monk, which sits serenely on the hillside above it. (Designated as an Important Cultural Asset by Otari Village)

Nishiki-iwa

It is said that this large, solitary hunk of rock turns red when it rains.

Oxen Hitching Stone

A large stone beside the trail with a hole carved into it. It was used to tie the reins of oxen trains when travelers stopped to rest or water their animals.

Oyazaka Sekibutsu-gun

The steep Oyazaka slope is a scenic, but difficult section of trail, where, because of the severe gradient, paving stones were laid down to make it easier for the heavily burdened oxen and porters to climb and descend. These stones remain today, but have been largely dislodged and scattered by the ravages of time and the elements.

Chikuni-no-Sho Shiryo-kan / Chikuni Bansho

This restored checkpoint, located in a strategic spot along the historic Chikuni Kaido Salt Road, once served to collect duties, monitor the transport of salt and other goods, and check the documents of travelers. Now operating as a museum, it offers a unique glimpse into life from the Edo to early Meiji periods, and an interesting look at the operational side of the trail. The grounds also feature an old farmhouse that was moved from elsewhere within the same Chikuni settlement, and preserves features like an irori hearth, traditional living spaces, polished wooden beams, and rice-paper sliding doors. Visitors can also appreciate a variety of old items on display, from hina dolls and wooden rice containers, to other artifacts from the past. Additionally, the village of Otari is presented in more detail through dioramas and video displays.

Chikuni Suwa-jinja

This quaint shrine right on the Shionomichi is famous for playing host to the Sasara Festival each year in mid-September, a unique spectacle that attracts visitors from all over Nagano Prefecture and beyond.

Thirty-Three Kannon Statues

A row of old stone statues standing at the entrance to Genchoji, a Soto Zen Buddhist temple. The statues here represent the Thirty-Three Kannon of western Japan’s Saigoku pilgrimage and are a rare sight in this region.

Shionomichi Suisha

Shoki-sama

This large rock is engraved with the likeness of Shoki-sama, a deity originally from Chinese folklore, who was believed to have the power to ward evil spirits and plague.

Otari-mura Kyodo-kan

This quaint local museum introduces the history and folklore of Otari Village, with a particular focus on materials related to the Chikuni Kaido Salt Road. Exhibited items include measuring scales and wooden-framed packs for salt, and rare straw sandals and toenail clippers once used for oxen. In addition, a set of fossilized dinosaur footprints preserved in the bedrock of a nearby stream, which were discovered in 1994, are also on display.