About 800 years ago, during the early times of the Kamakura Period, local Japanese paper came to be made in a place called Kawai (now part of Hida City). People called this paper “Sanchu” which means “in the mountain” because this village is deep in the mountains. The most distinctive feature of Sanchu Washi is that the paper mulberry is laid out on the snow and bleached naturally before the paper making process begins. Sanchu Washi is used in the making of vintage-looking postcards, and as shoji paper for sliding doors. Formerly, it was used to package “Gero-ko” (a salve made in Gero).