Discover Minamijo

Explore Minamijo through the history of the Hokkoku Kaidō, the former settlement of Nezumijuku, and miso production at Nitta Jozo. At Nitta Jozo, you can tour a miso brewery and taste miso. This gives you several different ways to plan your trip: local and border history, a visit focused on miso, or a specific event date.

The Hokkoku Kaidō and the Landscape

The settlements along the Hokkoku Kaidō, from Nezumi in Minamijo to Sakaki, were located on a river terrace, which made them relatively safe from flooding. A river terrace is higher ground beside a river channel. This section brings together two aspects of the same landscape: the Hokkoku Kaidō refers to the historic road, while the terrace describes the location of the settlements and their relative protection from flooding. For travelers who want to understand local history through the landscape as well, this connection offers a concrete way to explore Minamijo.

Nezumijuku as a Border Settlement

During the Edo period, Nezumijuku was a settlement in Minamijo. Because of its importance as a border with the Ueda Domain and Shimo-Shiojiri, a checkpoint was established there. The town’s history thus connects the settlement itself with a specific border function. Those interested in former border regions will find a clear historical focus here: Nezumijuku was significant not only as a settlement, but also as a border town.

Nitta Jozo: Visits and Miso

At Nitta Jozo, you can tour a miso brewery and taste miso. The company’s address is in Sakaki, Minamijo. In addition to miso, the Nitta Jozo shop sells the company’s own products, including miso senbei, miso soft-serve ice cream, miso pudding, and miso muffins. You can get to know different aspects of the company during your visit: the brewery tour, the tasting, and the shop’s product range.

Nitta Jozo’s history dates back to Nezumijuku in Minamijo. According to oral tradition, the business began during the Edo period, though the exact year is unknown. A visit to Nitta Jozo today and its history as passed down orally belong to different periods: visitor activities are the focus of the visit, while the company’s beginnings are broadly dated to the Edo period.

The Danchi Festival as an Event

The Danchi Festival, organized by the Techno-Sakaki Industrial Park Association, was a regular community event. The 24th edition was held in the plaza in front of Techno-Sakaki Station. A festival calls for a different approach to trip planning than local history or a company visit: the date of each edition is what matters. If you want to plan your accommodation around an event, check the date of the edition you intend to attend.

Choose the Reason for Your Trip Before Searching for Hotels

When looking for a hotel in Minamijo, it helps to distinguish between local history, a specific brewery visit, and a festival held on a particular date. The Hokkoku Kaidō and Nezumijuku offer landscape and border history, while Nitta Jozo offers a tour, tasting, and its own miso products. First decide what you want your stay to center on; if you are traveling for an event, include the date of the edition you wish to attend in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Kitaazumi District, Hakuba, Shimosuwa, Nagawa, Kiso, Komagane, Komoro, Matsumoto

For the broader travel overview: Nagano Prefecture.