Hiraya [village] - Hiraya

Japanese: 平谷[村] - ひらや

A village in Shimoina County, in the southwestern tip of Nagano Prefecture. Population 660 (1995). It is located in the upper reaches of the Kamimura River, a tributary of the Yahagi River, and borders Gifu Prefecture to the west. The Sanshu Kaido (currently National Route 153), which connects Shinshu and Mikawa, runs north to south through the center of the town, and it was a bustling post town until the opening of the Japanese National Railways (currently JR) Iida Line. Located in the southeastern Kiso Mountains, the area is almost entirely covered by forests and wilderness, and in the past it was the birthplace of Kiso horses. Agriculture and forestry are the main industries, and in addition to cultivating rice and shiitake mushrooms, corn and spinach are also grown, taking advantage of the characteristics of the highland climate.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

長野県南西端，下伊那郡の村。人口660(1995)。矢作（やはぎ）川支流の上村川上流域にあたり，西は岐阜県に接する。信州と三河を結ぶ三州街道(現，国道153号線)が中央部を南北に通り，国鉄(現，JR)飯田線の開通まで宿場町としてにぎわった。木曾山脈南東部にあってほぼ全域が山林･原野で，古くは木曾馬の産地であった。農林業を主とし，米作，シイタケ栽培のほか，高冷地の特性を生かして，トウモロコシ，ホウレンソウの栽培が行われる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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