Abstract
Shinano is the most typical mountainous district and inland region in Japan. Therefore, it is of great interest as the object of investigation on geography of communication in the inland of Japan. This thesis is a report of my research work with special emphasis on the following three points: duration of the traffic route, modernization of communication, and commercial intercourse of Shinano with the outside world.
(1) Durability of the Traffic Route. The traffic route undergoes a change meeting the needs of the times. It is in order to adapt itself more rationally to the conditions of nature. On the other hand, regardless of the partial transition of the times, it has a tendency to continue its original course of the route extending over a long period of time. This is clearly observed in Shinano as well as in other mountainous districts and countries in the world. Today, transportation by railroad and automobile has been facilitated along the routes of the principal highways before the fudal age, including Tokaido and Nakasendo wick were the main roads of communication of ancient Japan.
(2) Modernization of Communication Although it is an inland shut in by mountains, Shinano was the essential place of the inland communication of old Japan. This fact went far towards enabling Shinano to lay railways upon the coming of the railway age. They were laid from north to south. The modern transportation facilities brought about a sudden change to the sphere of commercial activities in the cities and to the industry generally. The development of the silk-reeling industry at Suwa, which holds the first rank in the world, is closely related with the gradualoperation of the railroads. In this way, the shipment of Kiso-timber and import of marine prodncts became faciI, and transportation of new kind came to de opened to traffic.
(3) Commercial Intercourse of Shinano with the Outsidé world According to the statistics of railway freight immediately before the war, research work was carried out from the viewpoint of quantity on the subject that what kinds of goods were transported between what parts of Shinano and the outside world. The result was arranged in order as is shown in the lists 2-8. These lists not only make us understand the economical relation between Shinano and its neighbouring coastal districts, but throw light on the territorial structure of production and consumption in Shinano.
