This research investigated the relationships between people and landscape elements in the Japanese late medieval era. “Masamotoko Tabihikitsuke”, the diary of a noble, was analyzed as a historical document. Compared to now, people in agricultural communities had keen relationships with landscape elements. Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, gardens of shrines and temples, animals and plants all had meanings in their lives. Certain actions, such as prayer, seeking refuge from paying heavy taxes, performing rituals for summoning rain, dancing and art changed the meaning of spaces and landscape elements. Masamotoko’s songs also show that he classified various landscape elements in the rural town into groups.
