地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

The Sugar Road in Ureshino

The 228-kilometer Nagasaki Highway, nicknamed the “Sugar Road” for its role in the transport of sugar, connected the port of Nagasaki to the city of Kokura in northern Kyushu.

For most of the Edo period (1603–1867), the artificial island of Dejima in Nagasaki harbor was Japan’s only designated point of contact with the Western world. Sugar, a prominent commodity in Europe, was initially used as medicine in Japan before it became a sought-after product for making sweets. It was imported through Dejima and carried along the Nagasaki Highway to Kokura and thence to Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo (present-day Tokyo).

The road prospered as a major route for disseminating goods, technology, and culture from European countries to areas throughout Japan. Such imports greatly influenced the lifestyle of the wealthy and paved the way for the eventual modernization of the country.

Trade with Europe also made its mark on communities along the Sugar Road. The influence of Portuguese food culture can be seen in dishes that remain popular today, from bread to tempura. Confections such as caramel and castella cake were also introduced and became part of the Japanese vocabulary. In 1759, bulk imports of sugar began arriving at Dejima and were regularly seen being carried along the Sugar Road. The popularity of sugar led to annual imports equivalent to around US$20 million today.

As sugar became available along the Nagasaki Highway, people began to add it to local dishes, which became known for their sweetness. Western-style confections were adapted to Japanese tastes, and unique methods of producing sweets developed out of this fusion. Visitors to towns along the highway today will find shops selling sweets that were first developed during the eighteenth-century era of the sugar trade.

Shiotatsu

Shiotatsu was a popular post town on the Nagasaki Highway where travelers would stop and rest. Although informal lodgings became commonplace in Shiotatsu, they never appeared on maps made in those days. Nevertheless, the old name for the town was Shiotashuku, in which shuku means lodging or post town.

The Nishi family opened a sweets shop along the Sugar Road in Shiotatsu in the eighteenth century and produced ikkoko and kinkato, confections that have both become synonymous with sweets from the Ureshino area.

Ikkoko, a local specialty of Ureshino, looks like a large pancake with a crispy exterior and a soft, airy interior. The snack has a strong, sweet aroma. Kinkato is a colorful, decorative sweet made from sugar that enjoyed great popularity in Japan during the Edo period. To make kinkato, sugar was pressed into wooden molds to form a variety of distinctive shapes. It was a popular gift for weddings and other celebrations.

嬉野的「砂糖之路」

全長228公里的長崎街道連接長崎港和北九州的小倉市，因為是運輸砂糖的主幹道，故又被暱稱為「砂糖之路」。

在江戶時代（1603-1867）的絕大多數時間裡，長崎港的人工島嶼「出島」是日本與西方世界溝通往來的唯一官方指定門戶。砂糖作為歐洲主要商品，最初在日本被當作藥物使用，後來才因為被用於製作糖果糕點而廣受追捧。砂糖經由出島，沿著長崎街道被送到小倉，然後轉往京都、大阪和江戶（今東京）。

歐洲各國物資、科技和文化經由這條驛道流傳至日本各地，驛道沿線隨之漸漸繁榮起來。外來的一切大幅影響了富人階層的生活方式，為這個國家最終實現現代化鋪平了道路。

砂糖之路沿線的市鎮村落都留下了歐洲貿易的印記，從麵包到天婦羅，至今廣受大眾歡迎的飲食中依然可以窺見葡萄牙飲食文化的影子。焦糖奶糖和蜂蜜蛋糕等「菓子」（糕點糖果）都是早已融入日語詞彙的舶來品。1759年，大量的進口砂糖被運送到出島，隨後砂糖之路沿線也開始常常能見到其身影。砂糖的熱賣替當時的日本帶來了相當於今天約2000萬美元的年進口額。

隨著砂糖在長崎街道沿線的普及，當地人們開始用砂糖煮菜調味，故形成了當地料理甜口味的特色。西式糖果同樣入鄉隨俗，融合日式口味，發展出了獨特的甜品製作方法。如今遊客還能在這條驛道沿線各地找到誕生於18世紀砂糖貿易時代的菓子店。

鹽田津

長崎街道沿線的鹽田津是個熱門的宿場町，旅行者常常在這裡留宿休息。由於非正式的驛站在那個時代的鹽田津司空見慣，所以從來沒能出現在當時的地圖上。不過，這座小鎮的古名「鹽田宿」裡就明明白白地表達了「住宿」或「驛鎮」的含義。

18世紀，西家在鹽田津的砂糖之路邊開了一家菓子店，出產的「逸口香」和「金華糖」兩種糖果後來成為了嬉野地區菓子的代名詞。

身為嬉野本地特產的逸口香，看上去就像一塊大糕餅，外表酥脆內裡蓬鬆柔軟，這種甜點散發著濃烈的香甜。而金華糖是一種色彩繽紛的裝飾性糖果，以砂糖製成，在江戶時代曾風行整個日本。製作金華糖需要使用木頭模具，將砂糖壓製成各種獨特的形狀，這是婚禮和其他典禮儀式上很受歡迎的伴手禮。

嬉野的“砂糖之路”

全长228公里的“长崎街道”连接长崎港和北九州的小仓市，因为它是运输砂糖的主干道，所以又被昵称为“砂糖之路”。

几乎整个江户时代(1603-1867)里，长崎港的人工岛屿“出岛”都是日本与西方世界沟通往来的唯一官方指定门户。砂糖是欧洲的主要商品，它在日本最初被作为药物使用，后来才因为在糖果糕点中的应用而广受追捧。它们经出岛入境，沿着长崎街道被送到小仓，然后转往京都、大阪和江户（今东京）。

欧洲各国物资、科技和文化同样经由这条公路流传至日本各地，公路沿线随之渐渐繁荣起来。外来的一切极大地影响了富裕阶层的生活方式，为这个国家最终实现现代化铺平了道路。

砂糖之路沿线的市镇村落都留下了欧洲贸易的印记。从面包到天妇罗，至今广受大众欢迎的餐食中依然可以窥见葡萄牙饮食文化的影子。焦糖奶糖和蜂蜜蛋糕等“菓子”（糕点零食）都是早已融入日语词汇表的舶来品。1759年，大量的进口砂糖被运送到出岛，随后，砂糖之路沿线也开始常常能见到它们的身影。砂糖的热销，为当时的日本带来了相当于今天约2000万美元价值的年进口额。

随着砂糖在长崎街道沿线的普及，当地人们开始用它烧菜，遂形成了本地料理偏甜的口味特色。西式糖果同样入乡随俗，融合日本口味，发展出了独特的甜品制作方法。如今，来访者还能在这条公路沿线各地找到诞生于18世纪砂糖贸易时代的菓子店。

盐田津

长崎街道沿线的盐田津是个热门的宿场町，旅行者常常在这里停留休整。由于非正式的民宿在那个时代的盐田津司空见惯，所以它们并没被标注在当时的地图上。然而，这座小镇的古名“盐田宿”，明确表达了“住宿”或“驿镇”的含义。

18世纪，西家在盐田津的砂糖之路边开了一家菓子店，出品的“逸口香”和“金华糖”两种糖果后来成为了嬉野地区菓子的代名词。

身为嬉野本地特产的逸口香，看上去就像一块大糕饼，外表酥脆，内里蓬松柔软。这种小食散发着浓烈的甜香。而金华糖是一种色彩缤纷的装饰性糖果，用砂糖制成，在江户时代曾风靡整个日本。制作金华糖，需要用木头模具将砂糖压制成各种独特的形状，它是婚礼和其他典礼仪式上很受欢迎的礼物。