Landscape Conservation Process in the Area of Yamanobe-no-michi and its Current Ideas

Abstract

“Yamanobe-no-michi” is known as one of oldest routes in Japan and a popular hiking route, which is rich in nature and cultural assets. This paper aims to clarify a development process of scenic evaluations and landscape conservation in the area of Yamanobe-no-michi, and to examine current ideas of conserving the landscape. The route Yamanobe-no-michi, which was rediscovered and indicated in 1941 for the first time, had come to stay as a hiking route, and lots of scenic representation had been made in the area along the route. The area has been conserved since 1960s, and the route of Yamanobe-no-michi has been ranked as a symbol and a nucleus. When the area was designated as a Historic Landscape Preservation District, a historical landscape council attached great importance to “mental landscape” composed of images formed by ancient literature. The area was designated as a quasi-national park, and a trail was established as a part of Tokai Nature Trail. This paper showed a rediscovery and indication of the ancient route afforded an opportunity to develop its peculiar area image and to conserve landscapes of its surrounding area. The route has become a substantial ancient route in the end.