Kitauonuma

Northern Uonuma's roads joined the Uono River corridor to the mountains of Aizu. At Horinouchi the Aizu road branched from the Mikuni highway, followed the Aburuma upstream, and crossed the Rokujūri-goe pass towards Tadami. Used for military movement in the medieval period, the route carried everyday goods and cotton cloth in early modern times. Ramie grown in Oku-Aizu crossed the pass to Koide and Horinouchi, supplying the makers of Echigo chijimi cloth.

Horinouchi prospered as a post station during the Keichō era, 1596–1615. The Mikuni road's improvement accompanied the shogunate's development of the Sado gold mines, while transport on the Uono encouraged local commerce. Horinouchi held chijimi cloth markets alongside the better-known centres of Tokamachi and Ojiya. In 1624–1643 a route was cut over Tochihara Pass between Horinouchi and Urasa. It shortened the journey and avoided a crossing of the Uono, giving merchants and travellers a practical alternative along this busy mountain corridor.