これから何度かに分けて「旧羽州街道・青森県内」について
ご案内したいと思います。今回は黒石市に入る所(浅瀬石・高賀野)
からスタートして黒石市山形町までのルートです。
江戸時代もそれ以前も津軽平野は現在のような豊かな穀倉地帯
ではありませんでした。ほとんどが沼と萢と川の流れで大鰐町
から弘前市を通って直線で青森へ通る道はありませんでした。
このため江戸時代以前から旧羽州街道は大鰐町から大きく平賀の
山裾に沿って道が開けていて明治初期、かの「イザベラバード」
もこの道を通って浅瀬石橋を渡り黒石に入ったと思われます。
また、当時は青森方面や十三湊方面へ向かう商人や旅人は皆
この道を通っていたので、黒石の街中は相当な賑わいだったと
思われます。商店はもちろん今でもその面影を残す旅館の跡が
その頃の賑わいを彷彿とさせます。
もっとも交通量の多かったのは山形町の界隈だったと思います。
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I would like to introduce the "Old Ushu-Kaido in Aomori
 Prefecture" in several parts. This time, 
I will start from the entrance to Kuroishi City 
 and go to Yamagata-machi in Kuroishi City.
During the Edo period and before, the Tsugaru-Plain 
was not the rich grain-producing region it is today.
 It was mostly swamps, vineyards, and rivers, 
and there was no straight road from Owani-machi to Aomori
 through Hirosaki-City.
Because of this, the Old Ushu-Kaido had a large road
 from Owani-town along the foot of Hiraka Mountains
 before the Edo period, and in the early Meiji period, 
it is believed that the famous "Mrs Isabella Lucy Bird" 
also took this road and crossed the Aseishi-Bridge 
to enter Kuroishi.
Also, at that time, all the merchants and travelers 
heading to Aomori and Tosaminato took this road, 
so the town of Kuroishi must have been quite lively. 
The shops, as well as the remains of the inn,
 which still retain their appearance, are reminiscent 
of the lively atmosphere of those days.
I think the area with the most traffic was
 around Yamagata-machi.