Fuji River crossing: a big river to cross.

Tokugawa shogunate did not build bridges in big rivers on purpose. It’s way of defense so that riots and enemies will have hard time reaching Edo. Some of famous examples are river Oi and river Tenryu. Fuji river(富士川) is one of them. But it had boat rides to connect shores.(FYI Oi river onTokaido did not even have a boat ride. It was prohibited by Tokugawa shogunate I will touch this subject on Shimada Tokaido inn town later)

Here is the overview of Fuji river crossing route of Tokaido highway. 


On the left, there is a small pile of rocks with a monument. This is where the emperor Meiji stopped and rested. Of course, there was a building. 
I circled two sites, but I was not able to figure out 玉垣記念碑(Tamagaki memorial monument). Even pictures I saw online could not tell me much about what the monument is for. 
The circle on top of the map is a monument of Fuji river crossing boats. So the port of Fuji river crossing would have been nearby. Although not on the picture, there is Mizu(water) shrine which was built in 1646, wishing to calm down the Fuji river and protection from floodings and accidents related to the river. 
After crossing the river, the route is going uphill. Then take a left curve. 
Going uphill. I wonder when this stonewall was built.
Google map street view shows a beautiful view of Mt.Fuji. 
I didn’t realize this area was Iwabuchi Ainoshuku, an unofficial inn town. The old house on the picture is Toluca family residence, which played the role as the honjin of this unofficial inn town. 
You can take a look at inside the house, but you cannot walk inside the house. Its website says the house is open on weekends and holidays, and reservation is required for weekdays at Mt.Fuji and Princess Kaguya Miseum(富士山かぐや姫ミュージアム). 
This Iwabuchi unofficial inn town used to be located by the river shore, but was destroyed many times, due to floodings by Fuji river and earthquakes. Iwabuchi is also the crossroad of Tokaido and Minobudo route, which goes northward to Mt.Minobu and Nirasaki, Yamanashi prefecture. 

To get to Tokiwa family residence, it’s 20 minutes walk from JR Fujikawa station. To the eastern shore side of Tokaido by Fuji river, JR Minobu line Yunoki station is closer. 

References: 

Fuji River Once Upon A Time. Fuji City.(originally title in Japanese: 富士川そのむかし　富士市) https://www.city.fuji.shizuoka.jp/sp/img14/fm126.pdf (Accessed in 5/13/2025)

Introduction of Iwamatsu area. Fuji City.(originally in Japanese: 岩松地区の紹介　富士市) https://www.city.fuji.shizuoka.jp/sp/machi/c0701/rn2ola00000421mt.html(accessed in 5/13/2025)

Kokyu-Honjin Tokiwa Family Residence. Mt.Fuji and Princess Kaguya Museum.(original in Japanese: 小休本陣常盤家住宅　富士山かぐや姫ミュージアム) https://museum.city.fuji.shizuoka.jp/annex/tokiwa (Accessed in 5/13/2025)





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