The Salt Road — Nearly Forgotten Trade Route Between Itoigawa and Matsumoto

For centuries, obtaining salt in the landlocked domain of Shinshu, present-day Nagano Prefecture, was a challenging task. Porters would undertake a perilous journey along a rough trail, braving steep slopes to transport salt and other goods from the Sea of Japan. This trail came to be known as The Salt Road. Its origin can be traced back to the Warring States Period of the 15th and 16th centuries. Takeda Shingen, a powerful warlord ruling over the Matsumoto area, faced a salt shortage when his access to salt from the Pacific coast was cut off by enemies in the south. <a href="https://medium.com/japonica-publication/the-salt-road-nearly-forgotten-trade-route-between-itoigawa-and-matsumoto-d5bbfe9e300c">Learn More</a>