Shinano Province

or is an old province of Japan in the area of Nagano Prefecture on the island of Honshū. Shinano bordered on Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. 
The ancient capital city of the province was near Matsumoto. 
History.
The boundaries of Mutsu were formally established during the reigns of Empress Genshō and Empress Kōken.
In 713, the road between Mino Province and Shinano Province was widened. There were increasing numbers of travelers on this road.
In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. Maps of Japan and Shinano Province weres reformed in the 1870s.
The World War II–era Japanese aircraft carrier "Shinano" was named after this old province.
Shrines and Temples.
"Suwa taisha" was the chief Shinto shrine ("ichinomiya") of Shinano.