[Japan Mountaineering Association] We will publish the website “120 selections of ancient mountain roads in Japan”
*JAC*
Press release: August 5, 2024
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The website “120 selections of Japan’s ancient mountain roads” will be released. *“Trail Heritage” – Introducing ancient mountain roads across the country and passing on the values that are being lost*
https://prtimes.jp/a/?f=d145407-1-04dcd81491ed047fb3c2644c600749b2.pdf Website: “120 ancient mountain roads in Japan selected by the Japan Alpine Club”
Release begins on August 11th, “Mountain Day”
Japan Mountaineering Association (5-4 Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) To celebrate the 120th anniversary of its founding, Chairman Shiori Hashimoto has selected 120 ancient mountain trails in Japan that should be recorded and preserved due to their cultural, historical, and geographical value.
Centered around our association’s 33 branches nationwide, we have been conducting research for several years with the cooperation of local residents, ancient path researchers, local governments, and others. From August 11th onwards, we will be introducing them one by one on our website “120 Ancient Mountain Routes in Japan.”
[Click here if you would like to view it before publication] URL: https://kodo.jac1.or.jp/
ID: kodo120
PW: P8w87veDYv7M
Mountain Kodo is an old road that goes through the mountains. A mountain kodo is an old road that passes through the mountains. Kumano Kodo and Hakone Old Highway are well known.
Many ancient and medieval roads passed through high places, such as mountain ridges.
Roads along ridges are less likely to break, have long daylight hours, provide good visibility, and are advantageous against enemies with bows and beasts, rather than roads along rivers or roads in flat areas with wide swamps that are prone to collapse due to heavy rain. did. Eventually, a peaceful world arrived, and as civil engineering technology improved, roads moved to the foothills of the mountains where people lived and to flatlands.
As housing development progressed, new roads were built, and old roads were severed due to quarrying, dam construction, or disasters. The road was paved and developed as a main road, and eventually the old road disappeared from people’s memories.
This is the path that warriors from eastern Japan walked to defend Kyushu. The path through the mountains that Shugenja walked to attain enlightenment. The road where salt and fish were carried on horseback and oxen. A road built to capture a castle.
A road used to transport the gold and silver that was dug up. A road that common people in the Edo period climbed to visit temples and shrines.
–Various roads still lie hidden in the mountains.
Mountain walking specialist searches for footprints
In the Japanese archipelago, where the geology is fragile and there is a lot of rain, roads that are no longer in use quickly become covered with bushes and collapse, making them unsuitable for travel. Ancient mountain roads are disappearing into nature, while retaining local resources such as history, culture, and scenery.
There are many roads that are talked about in the region, roads that appear in ancient documents, and roads that have been erased from maps.
Where are the roads that were used by people in the distant past, and where are the legendary roads that great people took?
We visit people, walk in the mountains, clear brush, cross rivers, and use our hands and feet to confirm the true nature of ancient roads. 120 ancient mountain trails selected by the Japan Mountaineering Association Passing on values that are being lost
Ancient roads are cultural heritage.
The release of “120 Selected Ancient Mountain Trails in Japan” will arouse new interest and lead to a rediscovery of the charm of the Japanese archipelago.
By clarifying the historical and cultural value of ancient roads, we will not only deepen our understanding of Japan’s history and culture, but also make it possible to discover new cultures.
In addition, through the experience of walking on ancient roads, you can feel the historical space firsthand, touch the depths of the land, and imagine the lives of people in ancient times.
Furthermore, we will foster love for the local area and contribute to regional revitalization and tourism promotion.
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Trim bushes, rebuild stone walls, and repair broken roads.
There are people across the country who continue to do volunteer work to maintain these ancient roads.
We would like to introduce the charm of ancient roads and encourage many people to walk them.
If people use them, the ancient roads will be maintained and the area will be revitalized.
We propose walking on ancient mountain trails as a new way to enjoy mountain climbing.
We want to spread the joy of walking mountain trails while thinking about history and culture to people who love mountains.
Asahi Military Road: Road from Mt. Sagae to Mt. Daiasahidake (Yamagata Prefecture)
Wakahikodo Oishi Pass (Yamanashi Prefecture)
Tateyama pilgrimage road from Ichinokoshi to the summit of Mt. Oyama (Toyama Prefecture)
Stone pavement of Hakone Old Highway (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Shichimenyama Omotesando Keishin-in Temple (Yamanashi Prefecture) Akiba Kaido Ogawaji Pass No. 13 Kannon (Nagano Prefecture)