Itoigawa and Hakuba line along the Hime-kawa(river) has become a famous year-round resort for several reasons, which are big mountains, beautiful valleys, great hiking tracks and cool summer in summer and deep snow in winter.

  However, going back 100 years ago, there were only small villages along the river.

  There was a track along the river, the link between Itoigawa on the Sea of Japan coast, and Matsumoto inland Nagano. It has been called the Shio no michi ( Salt Road).

  Salt is essential substance for human beings. Salt was carried inland through this route by people and oxen. There is a famous story that the load of Echigo, means Niigata, sent salt to the load of Kai, means Yamanashi, both was under the war at that time.

  Now the road has been well kept as a hiking trail. The Salt Road museums have been constructed in both Itoigawa and Shinano-oomachi. Many hikers visit here and enjoy walking through this route.

  The vest view point of this route is Shiro-ike (means white pond ) located at the middle of this trail. There is a rest house with a lavatory for hikers and a water supply. High and steep mountains beyond the valley are looked closer from the pond and they are reflected in the water.

  Recently a new forestry park called Amakazari forestry park was made near and just below Siro-ike. There is a managing house, a rest house and a large car park in the park.

  It takes only 20 minutes on foot to go up to Siro-ike from the forestry park. Besides a new mountain trail was made from Kakuma-ike (pond) just before getting the pass of this trail, which is the highest point, because some hikers could not be satisfied with only going through the salt trail, which has mostly been covered with the forest.

  I went to the Salt Road and climbed this mountain called Togura-yama of 976 meters last weekend.

  Thanks of the new paved road rising up to the forest park, it was an easy hiking taking 3 hours all together. In fine weather we enjoyed seeing the views of high mountains around from the top.

  After that we returned home by car. It was 3 hour driving, so I was more tired than hiking.