Kiso district, Mountain district in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Kiso district is a mountain region in Nagano Prefecture containing several towns and villages spread along the central mountain range. The landscape is dominated by evergreen forests and river valleys that run through deep gorges.
This region formed a crucial section of the Nakasendo trade route connecting Edo and Kyoto, flourishing for hundreds of years as merchants and travelers passed through. The area received its current administrative structure in 1968.
The district preserves traditional wooden buildings in post towns like Tsumago and Magome, where you can see how people constructed homes and businesses across centuries. Walking through these streets shows daily life as it was organized along the old trade routes.
The Shinano Express train connects the district to nearby cities, with stations positioned near mountain trails and main towns. Spring through autumn offers the most comfortable hiking conditions and easiest access to post towns and mountain paths.
Local artisans continue crafting high-quality wooden items from hinoki cypress trees using methods passed down for hundreds of years. These specialized wood workshops remain a defining feature of several towns throughout the region.
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