Ashigarakami district, Administrative district in western Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Ashigarakami is an administrative district in western Kanagawa Prefecture comprising five municipalities: Kaisei, Matsuda, Nakai, Oi, and Yamakita. The area is defined by mountains and partly encompasses the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park, with natural forests and river valleys throughout.
The district became an official part of Kanagawa Prefecture in 1878 following the Meiji Restoration, transitioning from the former Ashigara Prefecture. Earlier, portions fell under direct Tokugawa shogunate control after Mount Fuji eruptions during the Edo period altered the regional landscape.
The mountain communities here maintain traditional farming methods and crafts that have connected generations of inhabitants. Walking through the villages, you notice seasonal practices and local ways of living that still reflect life in the highlands.
The five municipalities are connected by local roads and small train lines, making it easier to explore individual areas. The mountainous terrain means hiking and steep paths are common ways to discover the region.
The region was long held as state land by the Tokugawa shogunate and served as a strategic buffer zone between rival feudal powers. This history left marks on the settlement patterns and local structures that visitors can still observe today.
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