Ina Valley

Japanese: 伊那谷 - いなだに

The name of a long, narrow basin along the Tenryu River in southern Nagano Prefecture. It is now called the Ina Basin, but due to long-standing customs, this name is still often used, including the climatic meaning. Administratively, it spans two counties, Kamiina and Shimoina, and three cities, Ina, Komagane, and Iida. The basin is about 60 kilometers north to south and about 5 kilometers east to west, with the Tenryu River running through the center. It was a unique presence in Shinano Province in terms of topography, industry, and folk customs, and had a dead end character. The flat land has different topography on both sides of the Tenryu River, and the right bank is based on the river terrace of the Tenryu River, and on top of that, a fan-shaped plain has been formed by the accumulation of sediment carried by large and small rivers flowing down from the Kiso Mountains. Therefore, the soil that makes up these topography is composed of accumulated sand and gravel, which affects how the land is used, and in places that are not particularly well irrigated, it has become mulberry orchards or other fields that can withstand poor water supplies. On the left bank, from 300-400 meters above sea level to about 800 meters above sea level, there are six to seven terraces on the western slope of the Ina Mountains, and settlements and cultivated land are distributed on the small flat areas on these terrace surfaces.

The main industries of the Ina Valley were rice paddies and sericulture, which made use of the terraced land. The road that crosses Gonbei Pass to the west of Ina City is mentioned in the Ina Song as the only way to send rice from Ina to the Kiso Valley. Sericulture was a major center of Nagano Prefecture until the 1930s, and silk-reeling factories operated by cooperatives run by sericulture farmers were everywhere. After World War II, mulberry fields were replaced by fruits such as Nijisseiki pears and apples, and dairy cows were raised. Furthermore, these industries disappeared south of Iida City, and there is nothing notable except for scattered rice paddies in the depressions of the hilly terrain, making it one of the most underdeveloped regions in Shinshu. The climate is the warmest in Nagano Prefecture and similar to the Tokai climate zone, so there is little snow in winter and many sunny days. In particular, the area south of Iida City is the warmest in Nagano Prefecture, with bamboo forests, tea plants and other tropical plants prominent, creating a climate that is different to the image of cold Shinshu.

[Hiroyoshi Kobayashi]

History

In early modern times, the southern part of the valley was under the rule of the Iida Domain, and the northern part was under the rule of the Takato Domain, with the Tenryo (shrine territory) between them being governed by Iijima Jin'ya. As the Ina Valley is biased towards the southern part of the prefecture, since historical times it has had closer ties in daily life with areas outside the prefecture, such as Mikawa (Aichi Prefecture) and Nagoya, than with the northern part. The ancient Tosando Road first entered the prefecture at Misaka Pass in Achi Village, Shimoina County, and headed north up the Ina Valley, and in the Middle Ages it was alternately governed by the Takeda of Kai (Yamanashi Prefecture), the Oda of Owari (Aichi Prefecture), and the Tokugawa of Mikawa. The early modern Sanshu Kaido and Akiha Kaido also had an important mission of transporting daily necessities with the Tokai region. However, in 1975, the Chuo Expressway, the first expressway in the prefecture, opened in Ina Valley, making it only an hour and a half to travel to Nagoya. The influence of Chukyo has suddenly increased, with the shipment of local specialties such as 20th century pears and apples, and the establishment of hotels, large supermarkets, and factories with Nagoya capital.

From a tourist perspective, the villages of Namiai, Hiraya, and Neba in Achi Village along the Sanshu Kaido still have horse-riding inns from the early modern period, and because there was little exchange with other regions, excellent local performing arts have been preserved to this day. Representative examples are the Nembutsu Dance of Wago in Anan Town, and the Winter Festival of Sakabe in Tenryu Village. The Snow Festival and Bon Odori in Niino, Anan Town, and the Shimotsuki Festival in Toyamago in the Toyama Valley, a tributary of the Tenryu River, are designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties by the national government. All of these are traditional festivals that remain in the mountain villages around the Ina Valley, but there are also marionettes and tea ceremonies in the vicinity of Iida City in the basin. In addition, in the outskirts of Iida, there are traditional industries such as mizuhiki, which is a descendant of umbrellas and motoyu from the early modern period. In terms of natural scenery, there are beautiful canyons such as Tenryu Gorge, Garyu Gorge, Mango Valley, and Minamikyu Gorge, as well as Kayano, Komagane, Oyata, and Chausuyama Plateau. Also famous are the remains of Takato Castle in Takato (a famous cherry blossom spot), Ejima's grave, Kozenji Temple in Komagane, and Motozenkoji Temple in Iida.

[Hiroyoshi Kobayashi]

"The 100-Year Journey of Ina Valley" by Jun Iwashima (1967, Monthly Shinshusha)

[Reference] | Ina Basin

Tenryu Gorge
A scenic spot in the middle reaches of the Tenryu River. Cliffs with columnar joints rise up on both banks, and strangely shaped rocks named Ryukakuho and Eboshiiwa are scattered here and there. It is part of the Tenryu-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park, and is also the center of tourism for the Tenryu Line boat trip. Nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty Iida City, Nagano Prefecture © Shinshu-Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Tenryu Gorge

Snow Festival (Niiyano Snow Festival)
A festival to celebrate a good harvest held at Izu Shrine in Niino, Anan Town, on January 14th and 15th. Dengaku and Bugaku dances, the lighting of large torches, and festivals in the large gardens are held throughout the night. The photo shows the first dance in the garden, "Saihou," which represents Toshigami (the god of the year). Nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property Anan Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture © Shinshu-Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Snow Festival (Niiyano Snow Festival)

Toyama Festival (Toyama's Shimotsuki Festival)
Yutate Kagura is a traditional dance handed down in the Toyama region in southern Nagano Prefecture. It is also called the Shimotsuki Festival or Oshi Festival. It is held in each village in turn every year from early December. Water is boiled in a yukamata (pot of boiling water) and offered to the gods, and the attendees are also purified by pouring the water over them. The photo shows the Yutate at Toyama Tenmangu Shrine in the Minami Shinano region. Nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property Iida City, Nagano Prefecture © Shinshu-Nagano Tourism Association ">

Toyama Festival (Toyama's Shimotsuki Festival)

Kozenji Temple Garden
This garden is said to have been modeled after the Pure Land. It consists of the front garden of the main hall and the Tsukiyama-style pond garden in the main hall guest hall. The photo shows the garden behind the main hall guest hall. The grounds are also famous for their weeping cherry blossoms and the naturally growing luminous moss. Nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture © Shinshu-Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Kozenji Temple Garden

Mizuhiki crafts
Engagement decorations © Shinshu Nagano Tourism Association ">

Mizuhiki crafts

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

長野県南部の天竜川沿いの細長い盆地の呼び名。現在は伊那盆地の呼称に変わっているが、長い習慣上、風土的意味を含めて現在もこの呼び名を使う場合が多い。行政上は、上伊那、下伊那の2郡と、伊那、駒ヶ根(こまがね)、飯田(いいだ)の3市にまたがる。南北約60キロメートル、東西約5キロメートルほどの南北方向の盆地で、中央を天竜川が貫流する。地形的にも、産業上も、また民俗風習上も信濃(しなの)国のなかでは一つの特異な存在を示し、袋小路的な性格をもっていた。平地は天竜川の両岸で地形が違い、右岸は、天竜川の河岸段丘を基盤に、その上に木曽(きそ)山脈から流下する大小の河川の運搬土砂が堆積(たいせき)した扇状地が形成されている。したがって、これらの地形をなす土壌は砂礫(されき)の堆積からなり、これが耕地利用に影響し、とくに水利に恵まれた場所以外は乏水性にも耐えうる桑園とか、果樹園となった。左岸は盆地平坦(へいたん)部の300～400メートルから800メートルほどの高さまで、伊那山地西側の山腹に6～7段の段丘が分布し、これら段丘面の小さな平坦地に集落や耕地が分布する。

　段丘面を利用した水田と養蚕が伊那谷のおもな産業であった。伊那市を西へ権兵衛峠(ごんべえとうげ)越えの街道は、伊那の米を木曽谷へ送る唯一の道として伊那節(ぶし)にも歌われている。養蚕は、昭和10年代まで長野県下の一大中心をなし、養蚕農家が経営した組合方式の製糸工場が至る所にあった。第二次世界大戦後は、桑畑にかわって二十世紀ナシとリンゴなどの果物、および乳牛飼育が盛んになった。また、飯田市以南になると以上のような産業も姿を消し、丘陵性地形の凹地に水田が散在する以外は目だったものもなく、信州でも代表的な後進地域の一つになっている。気候は長野県下ではもっとも温暖なほうで、東海気候区に類似し、したがって冬季雪は少なく晴天が多い。とくに飯田市以南は長野県下でもっとも暖かく、竹林、チャなど暖地性植物が目だち、寒い信州というイメージとは違った風土色をかもし出している。

［小林寛義］

沿革

近世、谷の南部は飯田藩、北部は高遠藩(たかとおはん)の統治下にあり、その間の天領は飯島陣屋で統轄した。伊那谷は県南に偏るため、歴史時代から、県の北部よりも、県外である三河（愛知県）や名古屋方面と日常生活の関連が深い。古代の東山道(とうさんどう)は、下伊那郡阿智(あち)村の神坂(みさか)峠で県下に最初に入り、伊那谷を北上し、また中世は甲斐(かい)（山梨県）の武田と、尾張(おわり)（愛知県）、三河の織田、徳川に交互に統治された。近世の三州街道、秋葉街道も東海方面との生活物資の交流が重要な使命であった。しかし、伊那谷も、1975年より県下初の高速道である中央自動車道が開通し、名古屋へは1時間半の行程になり、特産物二十世紀ナシやリンゴの出荷、あるいは名古屋資本によるホテル、大型スーパー店や工場の進出など、にわかに中京の影響力が増してきている。

　一方、観光面からみると、三州街道に沿う阿智村浪合(なみあい)や平谷(ひらや)、根羽(ねば)の各村には近世の馬宿の民家がいまも残り、また他地方との交流が少なかったため、郷土芸能として優れたものが現在まで保存されている。その代表的なものは阿南(あなん)町和合の念仏踊(わごうのねんぶつおどり)、天竜村坂部の冬祭(さかべのふゆまつり)である。阿南町新野(にいの)の雪祭りと盆踊り、天竜川支流遠山(とおやま)渓谷の遠山郷の霜月祭(しもつきまつり)は国指定重要無形民俗文化財である。これらはいずれも伊那谷の周辺部にある山間村に残る伝統的祭りであるが、盆地の飯田市付近にも操り人形や、茶の湯などがある。また飯田の近郊には、近世からの番傘や元結(もとゆ)いの流れをくむ水引(みずひき)のような伝統産業もある。自然景観では、天竜峡、鵞流(がりゅう)峡、万古(まんご)渓谷、南宮峡などの峡谷美や、萱野(かやの)、駒ヶ根、親田(おやた)、茶臼山(ちゃうすやま)高原もある。また、高遠の高遠城跡（サクラの名所）や絵島の墓、駒ヶ根の光前寺(こうぜんじ)、飯田の元善光寺(もとぜんこうじ)も有名。

［小林寛義］

『岩島淳著『伊那谷百年の歩み』（1967・月刊信州社）』

[参照項目] | 伊那盆地

天竜峡

雪祭（新野の雪まつり）
阿南町新野の伊豆神社で行われる豊作予祝の祭り。1月14・15日に行われる。田楽や舞楽、大松明点火、広庭の祭事などが夜を徹して繰り広げられる。写真は、庭の舞の最初に登場する「さいほう」で、歳神（年神）を表現したもの。国指定重要無形民俗文化財　長野県下伊那郡阿南町©信州・長野県観光協会">

雪祭（新野の雪まつり）

遠山祭（遠山の霜月祭）
長野県南部の遠山地方に伝承される湯立神楽。霜月祭、押し祭ともよばれる。毎年12月上旬から各集落で順次行われる。湯釜で湯を沸かして神々に献湯、参集者にも湯をかけて清めをする。写真は南信濃地区遠山天満宮の湯立。国指定重要無形民俗文化財　長野県飯田市©信州・長野県観光協会">

遠山祭（遠山の霜月祭）

光前寺庭園

水引細工

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