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

Some international cyclists might already know 長崎街道(Nagasaki Kaido highway) as the “Sugar Road”.  Nagasaki Kaido highway was a major route that connected northeast Kyushu with western parts of Kyushu island. It was considered as a Wakikaido, a sub-ranked highway. This just means that Tokugawa government did not directly involve in development and maintenance. This was true in very early stage of Edo period. Edo shogunate eventually took over management of major wakikaido routes. Nagasaki Kaido, along with San’yodo/Saigoku Kaido, were examples.  Historically, Nagasaki Kaido was one of the most important highways in Japan, because merchants used this route for international businesses in Nagasaki. In Edo period, especially during “Sakoku” national policy of isolation(1639-1854), Nagasaki was the only open port of international businesses and diplomacy with Dutch empire and Chinese dynasties.(Note that Nagasaki was not the only port of international businesses) Sugars were import...