"Road of Gold" Heritage Walk in Nagano (November 16)

　On November 16, the "Okaneni-no-michi Walk in Nagano" was held in Nagano Prefecture, retracing the historical "Road of Gold" used to transport gold and silver from Sado to Edo. Approximately 90 participants, dressed in traditional Edo-period traveling attire, walked along the Hokkoku Kaido highway across the cities of Ueda, Tomi, and Komoro, reflecting on the hardships of their ancestors.

The walk was divided into two groups: a "Walking Course" (approx. 16 km) and a "Railway Course" (approx. 7 km of walking, using the train for some sections). At the opening ceremony held at the Shinano Kokubunji Museum in Ueda, Kenichi Tashiro, director of the Tohoku Electric Power Network Sado Power Center, dressed as a guard official and formally declared the "departure." In a solemn atmosphere, the group set off for the finish line at Otemon Park in Komoro.

The procession visited historical sites such as the Bato Kannon and Oya Nio-son statues, as well as Unno-juku, a well-preserved post town that still reflects the prosperity of the Edo period. Upon their arrival, the local performing arts group "Oasama Kaen Taiko" welcomed them with a powerful drumming performance that helped ease the fatigue of their long journey.

This year’s series of walking events is scheduled to conclude with the "Edo-Tokyo" walk on November 30.