長野県·特産品
Anzu no Sato (Apricot Village)
In spring, the gentle hills are dyed in a pale pink. Known as 'one glance, one hundred thousand blossoms,' this is the Apricot Village of Chikuma City. The Mori and Kurashina districts of Chikuma City are among Japan's leading apricot-producing regions. Legend has it that the cultivation began during the Genroku era of the Edo period, when a princess marrying into the Matsushiro Clan brought seeds from her hometown to remember her roots. Because the apricot kernel (kōnin) was highly valued as a traditional Chinese medicine for suppressing coughs, the Matsushiro Clan encouraged its cultivation, leading to the magnificent apricot village seen today. During the Apricot Festival in April, many people visit to see the flowers in full bloom. The sweet and sour fruits are used for jam, dried apricots, and syrup-preserved treats. Enjoying both the blossoms and the fruit is a true happiness of spring in Shinshu.
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