Old Routes of Japan: Tracking down Japan off the beaten path from the eyes of a Japanese native

I’ve never heard about 原川(Haragawa) unofficial inn town until I’ve done this research.  After my research, I have to say that, there are only three things that remind us of old-day Haragawa; pine tree street, temple and a little park by a river.  The most iconic part of Haragawa is Tokaido pine tree street. However, throughout the entire Tokaido trail, we’ve already encountered pine tree trails, and we will be encountering more later.  The most prosperous time of Haragawa unofficial inn town had 46 establishments including sake brewery.  Konsaiji temple has been the center of community.  However, there are very few things to see here.  There are very few few information boards and signs about Haragawa unofficial inn town.  Most likely, this is the end.  Across Harakawa River, there was a 立場(Tateba). Tate a is a food or tea stand. A little further west of thus point, there is another pine tree street.  To get to Haragawa, it’s about 25 minutes...

掛川宿(Kakegawa inn town) is the 26th inn town of Tokaido. It means that we have covered a half of Tokaido inn towns. Kakegawa is one of starting points of 秋葉街道(Akiha Kaido) pilgrimage roads. Also, it is a castle town of Kakegawa castle, which has been rebuilt with woods with combination of modern and traditional technologies for the first time in Japan.  Today, Kakegawa inn town does not have much hints of Edo-time inn town. Unlike Tokyo or Shizuoka, Kakegawa was not severely bombed by air raids during WWII. The current landscape of the town is due to modernization of the town since WWII.  Starting around the Edo-side gate. Today, most of things we will find about old Tokaido in this town are structures of roads. From here, 東海道七曲り(Tokaido Nanamagari), a series of seven turns. It is a structure to slow down enemies of Tokugawa shogunate from the west of Japan.  The tall building on the right side of the image with 杉町区(Sugimachiku) is a storage for 山車(dashi) traditional festi...

I found out that, apparently some hikers love Kanaya-Kikugawa-Nissaka part of old Tokaido trail. I found several blogs about it, so I am posting one of links on the reference section.  Now we are in Kakegawa city. 日坂宿(Nissaka inn town) is literally on a hill(坂).   Entering where Edo-side gate used to be.  I noticed that many houses display 屋号(Yagou: names of houses or stage name). This one shows 伊勢屋(Iseya), and the whole town explains locations of which family of what businesses used to live in.  Here is 東屋(Azumaya).  The town doesn’t have huge things to show so far, but let’s wait and see further down. It is a small rural community.  This Joyato light was built probably in order to guide pilgrims for Akiha shrine in northwest of today’s Hamamatsu city. It is called 秋葉常夜灯(Akiha joyato). 掛川宿(Kakegawa inn town) is the starting point of one of 秋葉街道(Akiha Kaido) pilgrimage roads. Also locals of Nissaka inn town wished protections from fire as well, as the god o...