Abstract
This paper concerns the creation of a "Holy Space" in the mountain village of Wada,Nagano pref., central Japan. Wada has many traditional stone statues and steles related to gods and the Buddha, which were made at the end of Edo era and the beginning of Meiji era to guard the villagers from sickness and famine. During the period of higher economic growth from 1960, these monuments were of little interest to the villagers. However, nowadays these historical and traditional images are valued by middle-aged and older urban residents. It should be possible to review these monuments and to make this village a "Holy Space" for tourists from the cities. For this purpose, we investigated the monuments and compiled a data base map, as well as planning eight model courses to visit these historical sites. We proposed this project to the leaders of the chamber of commerce and industry of Wada district, if this project is implemented and publicized, Wada may become the center of a "Holy Space" and attract visitors who will develop and regenerate this village. As a result, leaders understood this project after three years, the chamber of commerce and industry decides to put fund to create this project by preparing the advanced committee. Leaflets and Maps were printed and boards explaining were stood each near statue of gods and Buddha, and standard courses to visit the statues of gods and Buddha were shown. This "Holy Space" was opened at March, 2008. At first, some small scale project to have some excursion to each statue of traditional gods and Buddha was prepared. Some mass media informed this project by newspapers. And nowadays, visitors come to this "Holy Space" regularly. This project is one of the tries to keep and develop the mountain villages which face to the difficulties of depopulation and sever economic problems.
