Located along an important access route through narrow mountain passes, the town of Sakaki has enjoyed a lively history. It has been an vital agricultural valley for over one thousand years. During the Edo period it was an important stop along the road to Edo (modern-day Tokyo). During the twentieth century it flourished into an industrial miracle, sprouting over 400 small companies in a town of only 16,000 inhabitants. Recently the town is undergoing a sort of renaissance whereby industry, small shops and agriculture are achieving a new and lively fusion.