In 1597, Toyotomi Hideyoshi further developed the post station to be used for the shipment of goods by travelers on their way to Zenkō-ji In Shinano Province.

Ishibe-juku was a popular as the first night's stop for travelers en route from Kyoto to Edo.

It had one toiya, for the stabling of packhorses and warehousing of goods, and one kōsatsu for the display of official notifications.

The Ishibashuku-no-sato (石部宿場の里) is an open-air museum with a number of preserved and reconstructed farmhouses, tea houses and shops.

This shop was famous for its tokoroten, a gelatinous sweet made from agar, and kuromitsu, a black sugar syrup.