Getting out of Tokyo: 川崎宿(Kawasaki inn town)

 As I was looking at street views of Tokaido Kawasaki inn town, I have to say that, shopping malls and buildings occupy both sides of the street. 

There are temples and shrines that tell us old days of Kawasaki inn town: Inage shrine, Sousanji temple(est. in around 1180-early 1200s), Kawasaki Inari shrine, Ichigyoji temple(est. in 1631) and so on. 

Let’s look for something else that tells us about old Tokaido Kawasaki inn town. 

Tokaido Kawasakishuku Koryukan is a museum that tells us the history and culture of Edo-time Kawasaki. 

The street view above is at the corner of Sousanji temple, built some time between late 12th century and early 13th century. 

There are vending machines, information boards, signs that create atmosphere of old Tokaido inn town. 

The following guide maps help you figure out where Honjin was, where the popular Edo-time ryokans was etc. Especially, Kawasaki Tokaido Tourist Guide Map is detailed. I have posted useful links at the end.  

At the end of the inn town, you will see Basho monument. 

This is where Haiku master Basho Matsuo(1644-1694) wrote a farewell poem to his disciples from Edo. He lived in Edo in his late life. As he decided to move back to Iga, his hometown, his disciples followed and saw him off right here: 

麦の穂をたよりにつかむ別れかな

Like ears of wheat around us,

I am frail but wish to continue journey, 

Farewell to you all. 

(Translated by me: please share your translations!)

He arrived at Iga. But in November of the same year, he was in Osaka where he became ill and passed away. 

If you want to visit Kawasaki inn town, choose the dates of local festivals. Kawasaki Sanno festival in August, Tokaido Kawasaki inn town festival in October, and Nominoichi market etc. 

Reference: 

Basho Matsuo. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsuo_Bash%C5%8D (Accessed in 2/4/2025) 

川崎市「かわさき区の宝物シート」(Treasure sheet of Kawasaki Ward. The City of Kawasaki. https://www.city.kawasaki.jp/kawasaki/cmsfiles/contents/0000025/25449/1matome.pdf (Accessed in 2/3/2025) 

Kawasaki Tokaido Tourist Guide Map. http://kawasakishuku.jp/asset/00032/inboundmap.pdf (Accessed in 2/4/2025) 






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