Shioya, an area of Ako City, has been involved in salt production since ancient times. For example, in the Heian period, Todai-ji Temple owned a manor in Shioya that had areas called “Shiohama” (parts of the shoreline used for salt production) and “Shioyama” (mountains where burnable materials used in salt production could be obtained). When the Edo period started, a 250-hectare irihama salt farm was developed in Nishihama, and Shioya came to be responsible for managing the salt farm and providing labor. Perhaps because settlements in this area were built around the natural geography of the coast, the town is divided up in a peculiar way by a complex network of narrow, winding streets, with the main road that leads to Bizen running through its center. Many places with names originating from salt farms still remain today, and one can sense the area’s deep connection to the history of salt production.