Japan: A stretch of the old Nakasendo, showing the original ishidatami stone paving surviving in a state of disrepair, 2003

The Nakasendō was one of the Five Routes constructed under Tokugawa Ieyasu, a series of roads linking the historical capitol of Edo with the rest of Japan.

The Nakasendō connected Edo with the then-capital of Kyoto. It was an alternate route to the Tōkaidō and travelled through the central part of Honshū, thus giving rise to its name, which means 'Central Mountain Road'. Along this road, there were sixty-nine different post stations (-shuku or -juku), which provided stables, food, and lodging for travelers.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Howard Banwell

Credit:

Pictures From History