Ohira Pass - Ohira Pass

A pass that crosses the southern part of the Kiso Mountains from east to west in southwestern Nagano Prefecture. It is also called Kiso Pass. It is 1,358 meters above sea level. It is a pass on the so-called Ohira Kaido road that connects Iida City with Tsumago, a post town in Nagisomachi, in the southern part of the Kiso Valley. Since the early modern period, it has been a transportation route for goods that crossed the Kiso Mountains after transferring cargo at Tsumago, a post town on the Nakasendo road. Many horses used to transport goods, and it was actively used even after the Chuo Main Line and Iida Line were opened. In 1919 (Taisho 8), a regular bus service was even operated. However, from the early 1960s, the traffic volume rapidly decreased, and not only was the bus service discontinued, but all the houses in Ohira village, which was a post station on the Ohira Kaido road to the east of the pass, and the village was abandoned in 1970 (Showa 45). In recent years, there has been a movement to preserve the Ohira settlement. There is still a teahouse along the road, the view from the pass is good, and the road sign remains.

[Hiroyoshi Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長野県南西部、木曽山脈(きそさんみゃく)の南部を東西に横断する峠。木曽峠ともいう。標高1358メートル。飯田市(いいだし)と木曽谷南部の南木曽町(なぎそまち)妻籠(つまご)を結ぶ通称大平街道の峠で、近世初期以来、中山道(なかせんどう)の宿場(しゅくば)妻籠で荷を積み換え木曽山脈を横断した物資の輸送路で、多くの物資運送の馬が通り、中央本線や飯田線が開通したのちも盛んに利用された。1919年（大正8）には定期バスも運行されたほどである。しかし、昭和40年代初めからは急速に交通量が少なくなり、バス運行が廃止されただけでなく、峠の東にある大平街道の宿駅であった大平集落28戸も1970年（昭和45）には全戸離村し廃村になった。近年大平集落の保存運動がおきている。街道には茶屋がいまなおあり、峠からの眺めはよく、道標も残されている。

［小林寛義］

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