About Aoki Village

Aoki Village is a picturesque farming village surrounded by beautiful mountains. Located approximately 12 km west of Ueda City in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture, it spans about 8 km from east to west and approximately 10.4 km from north to south, covering an area of 57.10 square kilometers.

To the south stands Mount Osukedake (1,250m), to the north is Mount Kodaneminedake (1,223m), and to the west rises Mount Jokanyama (1,284m). These three mountains, known as the “Aoki Sanzan,” have been cherished by the villagers as symbols of the village for centuries.

Pure rivers flow through the village, with the Urano River running eastward through the central part of the village, joining various tributaries such as Atorikawa, Tazawagawa, Yukawa, and Kutsukakegawa before emptying into the Chikumagawa River.

The village is characterized by a complex topography, with 12 districts scattered across river valleys, plains, and fan-shaped terrains. The elevations range from approximately 500 to 850 meters, with many terraced slopes and few flatlands.

About 80% of the village’s land is covered by forests, while agricultural land accounts for about 10%. Agriculture is the primary industry, focusing on rice, mushrooms, fruit trees, and flowers. However, the commercial and industrial sectors have experienced somewhat stagnant growth.

The climate is characterized by an inland climate with very little precipitation. There is a significant temperature difference, with summer temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures dropping below -10 degrees Celsius, resulting in a temperature difference of more than 40 degrees Celsius between summer and winter.

Archaeological sites from the Jomon period have been unearthed in the village, indicating human settlement since ancient times, showcasing its historical significance.

Furthermore, Aoki Village has a history of social uprisings, with five peasant uprisings occurring from the Edo period to the Meiji era. As one of the villages with the highest frequency of uprisings in Japan, Aoki Village takes pride in its ancestors who, without concern for their own lives, stood up for the common people, established the Gyomin Taiko (Drum of Righteousness), and commemorates the spirit of righteousness and the martyrs village-wide.