In 1601, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu renovated the road connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto and built 53 shukuba (posting stations). In Japan more and more people are enjoying walking along the old roads such as the Old Tokaido Road. The charms of old roads like the Old Tokaido Road are dramatic events created by the people passed up and down and cultures developed by the people lived there. Attractions are alive on the Old Tokaido Road in Shizuoka Prefecture.
This map gives you not only attractive places but also situation of the roads and rest places such as benches so that you can walk safely. You are able to know and become familiar with the localities through walking. Please walk along the Old Tokaido Road and enjoy every bit of Shizuoka Prefecture and have your fill of Japan.
- What’s Tokaido?
Tokaido is the name of the road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto, about 490 kilometers long. In the 17th century, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu renovated the Tokaido Road and road system. As well as it eased traveling, information transmission and moving of supplies it also served for military use. Shukuba is one of those systems.
There were 53 shukuba in the Old Tokaido. Letters and goods were carried by relays from shukuba to shukuba. People exchanged information and acquired knowledge and culture flourished in shukuba then they spread out from there. - What’s Shukuba?
In Japan, official letters and goods were transported by relays from starting point to destination but not by the same laborer or horse so each shukuba prepared new relays of laborers and horses. One hundred laborers and horses were prepared at each shukuba on the Old Tokaido Road. Also, shukuba provided with accommodations and rest places for travelers. Each shukuba was numbered: Number 1 was Shinagawa (in Tokyo Metropolitan) and Number 53 was Otsu (in Shiga Prefecture). From number 11 to 22, 22 shukuba in total are in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Mishima-Numazu-Hara-Yoshiwara-Kambara-Yui-Okitsu-Ejiri-Fuchu-Mariko-Okabe-Fujieda-Shimada-Kanaya-Nissaka-Kakegawa-Fukuroi-Mitsuke-Hamamatsu-Maisaka-Arai-Shirasuka
