Chikuma District

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Chikuma District was a district located in Shinano Province.

The district was centered at the current city of Matsumoto, then capital of Shinano, but on January 14, 1879, the district split off into Higashichikuma and Nishichikuma Districts (Nishichikuma District was later renamed to Kiso District). Until Meiji Era, the district was known as "Tsukama" but they repronounced to "Chikuma" because "Tsukama" was very hard to pronounce. But people in Matsumoto still pronounces as "Tsukama" as in Tsukama Elementary School (筑摩小学校-つかましょうがっこう).

Currently, the cities of Matsumoto (excluding parts of Nagawa, Azusagawa and Azumi areas), Shiojiri, the areas of Tazawa, Hikari, and Kawate from Azumino, Higashichikuma District, Kiso District, and the areas of Yamaguchi, Magome, and Kamisaka areas in the city of Nakatsugawa in Gifu Prefecture are the areas of Chikuma District.

The district acquired the Kiso Region from Ena District in Mino during Kamakura Period. But the district still has the Maseki area once located in Sarashina District. The district seat is unknown but the city of Matsumoto is one of the possible district seat.