Shiojiri, Mountain city in Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Shiojiri lies at the center of Nagano Prefecture and is surrounded by mountains and valleys in the Matsumoto Basin. The city extends across an area connecting several valleys and ridges with one another.
The place developed as a rest stop on trade routes between the coast and the interior. Over the centuries it grew into an important waypoint for travelers and traders.
The name comes from salt merchants who stopped here on their routes inland to rest and trade goods. Today museums and old trade paths recall this former role as a hub for commerce.
The city can be reached by train from Matsumoto or from the direction of Nagoya, with both connections offering direct trains. Anyone planning to visit the historic districts should pack sturdy footwear, as many paths run over uneven ground.
An archaeological site preserves traces of dwellings from several epochs that were inhabited over thousands of years. Visitors can trace here the different building styles and settlement forms that developed over long periods.
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