Tokaido

The “Tokaido” () (like theTohoku) is one of Japan’s five oldest roads. Its name comes from the fact that the road travelled the sea coast of Edo (now Tokyo) in Kyoto. And its traditional name is inherited from “Tokaido Shinkansen” which is called “National Road 1” or “Tokaido” nowadays. Part of the old Tokaido (especially on the Tokyo and Kanagawa sides) has been tarred and turned into a national road 1, but part of it is still the modest path of origins. The part of Hakone in Mishima is best preserved on this road.

History of Tokaido

Tokaido ( It refers to the most important of the five old roads in Japan built under the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1603-1605). Ieyasu wanted to strengthen his grip on the country after having united the daimyo (feudal war teachers). An intelligent politician, Ieyasu established a policy known as sankin-kotai, which forced daimyo to alternate between their domain and a permanent residence in Edo every two years. Indeed, Ieyasu had held the daimyo families hostage in Edo in order to prevent future conflicts. The five roads were built to facilitate movement.

Today, Tōkaidō represents the main artery of the huge megalopolis of the same nameTōkaidō megaroporisu, which has more than 50 million inhabitants and includes Tokyo, Japan’s first city and capital, Yokohama, the second, and Nagoya, the fourth. The Tōkaidō axis then extends to Kyoto and then to Osaka, Japan’s third most populous city.

The route is taken by the main line Tōkaidō of the Japan Railways, which connects Tokyo to Kobe via Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya, as well as the Shinkansen Tōkaidō line.

The main stages of Tokaido

Hakone

Hakone is a vast area composed of 7 villages. These villages each have their own history, environment and atmosphere. Hakone extends over a vast mountainous area from low river valleys to a mountain lake with views of Mount Fuji.

Mishima

During the Edo period (1603-1868), Mishima flourished as an inn town on the old road of Tokaido, a gateway to Mount Fuji, Hakone and the Izu Peninsula. Mishima is now an important railway and road crossing, serving as a gateway to many spas on the Izu peninsula, such as Nagaoka and Shuzenji. Dairy cattle are raised in the vicinity and there are several dairy processing plants in the city. The abundance of groundwater supplied by Mount Fuji has attracted many other artisans to the city, including the paper, machinery, textiles and rubber industry. Today, Mishima has a great tourist interest thanks to its temple, Rakujuen park or even its very recent Skywalk.

Shizuoka, Fujieda

Fujieda, southern prefecture cityShizuokais located in the delta plain of the River I, just inside the land of the Pacific Ocean coast, and extends into the mountainous region to the north. It was created by the merger of the cities of Fujieda and Aoshima and four small hamlets. There you can discover Rengejiike Park, Tanaka Castle or the Kashiwaya Historical Museum.

Okazaki

Located just 30 minutes from Nagoya, Okazaki is a hidden gem with breathtaking natural landscapes, convenient transport and comfortable accommodation. The city preserves many historical treasures, including its castle, erected by Ieyasu, located in Okazaki Park, and its many temples.

District of Mariko

Located west of Shizuoka, the Mariko district is a very quiet and green place, where you can walk and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. One of the main attractions here is Togeppo Saioku-ji, a charming little Buddhist temple surrounded by bamboo, with an impeccably maintained garden as well as the Sumpu Takumi Shuku, a craft centre where you can see exhibitions of traditional local handicrafts.

In culture

Tokaido’s 53 stations

Ando Tokutaro, known as dHiroshige, born in 1797 in Edo. Born into a family of samurai, he turned from childhood to drawing, and in 1811, upon the death of his parents, joined the workshop of Toyohiro Utagawa. He is considered by many as the last great artist of the ukiyo-e, a Japanese artistic movement where the dominant themes were those appreciated by the bourgeoisie of the time, such as kabuki theatre scenes or courtesan performances.

Hiroshige has created a series of prints about the road to Tōkaidō, called the 53 stations of Tokaido whose representations vary from Nihonbashi to Hakone-juku via Sanjo Ohashi and representing all stages on the road to Tokaido.

On foot on Tokaido

Written in 1802, “On foot on the Tokaidō”, the most famous Japanese novel of the Edo period, is a burlesque guide, from the main road of the Tokaidō, from Edo toOsakaby Kyôto, a picaresque travel story, a scabrous and picturesque adventure novel. On the way, the 53 stations of the Tōkaidô (illustrated by the painter Hiroshige) parade with their burgeoning population of innkeepers, samurai, girls, travelers…

Today, Tōkaidō is Japan’s busiest transport corridor, connecting Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. The Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka road is followed by the main line JR Tōkaidō and Tōkaidō Shinkansen, as well as the Tōmei and Meishin motorways. Even if this path is less likely to be travelled on foot since it is very well served, there is much to bet that you will take it.

Si cet article vous a apporté des informations utiles et peut aider d’autres voyageurs à préparer leur séjour, un avis Google en cliquant sur l’image suivante sera toujours apprécié.