Nagano Basin

A basin located in the northeastern part of Nagano Prefecture, downstream of the Chikuma River. It is 300 to 400 meters above sea level. It is spindle-shaped with the Chikuma River flowing from southwest to northeast as its long axis. The foothills around the basin are filled with alluvial fans formed by the Sai River, Susobana River, Matsukawa River, Torii River, and other tributaries of the Chikuma River. The northern half of the basin has a Sea of ​​Japan climate with a lot of snow, while the southern part has an inland climate. In addition to Nagano City, there are the cities of Chikuma, Suzaka, and Nakano, and the population density is the highest in the prefecture, at about 700 people per square kilometer. Apples, a representative fruit of Shinshu, were first cultivated in this basin in the early Meiji period, and even today they account for 70% of the cultivated area in the prefecture. Other profitable agricultural products include peaches, Kyoho grapes, and vegetables. On the other hand, industrialization has progressed in the electrical machinery industry and printing industry, and the industrial production value is one of the highest in the prefecture. The transportation network is dense, centered on Nagano City, and includes the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen, Shinetsu Main Line, Shinonoi Line, Iiyama Line, Nagano Electric Railway, Shinano Railway, National Routes 18, 19, and 403, and the Joshinetsu Expressway. Tourist attractions include Kawanakajima, the battlefield of the Takeda and Uesugi clans, Matsushiro, the castle town of the Sanada clan with a fief of 100,000 koku, Obasuteyama, known for its harvest moon in early autumn, hot spring resorts such as Togurakamiyamada and Yudanakashibu, and Zenkoji Temple, a famous temple known since early times, and the entire basin was also called Zenkoji Plain after the temple.

[Hiroyoshi Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長野県北東部、千曲川(ちくまがわ)の下流にある盆地。標高300～400メートル。南西から北東に流れる千曲川を長軸とする紡錘(ぼうすい)形をなす。盆地周辺の山麓(さんろく)部には千曲川の支流の犀(さい)川、裾花(すそばな)川、松川、鳥居川などのつくる扇状地が多い。気候は、盆地の北半は日本海式気候で雪が多く、南部は内陸性気候である。長野市のほか、千曲、須坂(すざか)、中野の各市があり、人口密度は県下でもっとも高く、1平方キロメートル当り約700人。信州の代表的果樹のリンゴは明治初年この盆地で初めて栽培され、現在も県下の栽培面積の70％を占める。このほか、モモ、巨峰(きょほう)ブドウ、野菜など収益の高い農作物を産する。一方、電気機械工業をはじめ印刷工業など工業化が進み、工業生産額も県下屈指である。長野市を中心に交通網も密で、JR北陸新幹線・信越本線・篠ノ井(しののい)線・飯山(いいやま)線、長野電鉄、しなの鉄道、国道18号、19号、403号、上信越自動車道などが走る。観光地としては、武田・上杉両氏の合戦場である川中島、真田(さなだ)氏10万石の城下町松代(まつしろ)、初秋の名月で知られる姨捨(おばすて)山、戸倉上山田(とぐらかみやまだ)、湯田中渋(ゆだなかしぶ)などの温泉郷があり、善光寺は早くから知られた名刹(めいさつ)で、この寺の名をとって、盆地一帯を善光寺平(だいら)ともよんだ。

［小林寛義］

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