The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido refers to the 53 post towns along the Tokaido , one of the five main roads of the Edo period. The route is approximately 492 km long, starting from Nihonbashi (Chuo-ku, Tokyo), passing through Shinagawa and Kawasaki, before ending at Sanjo Ohashi (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture). During the Edo period, the route was bustling with travelers, including those traveling in processions of feudal lords on their way to Edo for alternate attendance, and those making pilgrimages to Ise, and the post towns also developed as exchange points for goods and culture. The name of the route became particularly well-known through the series " The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido ," a masterpiece by ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige .

The creation of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido

• In 1601, Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tenma system and established post stations along the Tokaido road.
• Initially, there were 53 inns and two checkpoints between Shinagawa and Otsu.
• After that, the highway was extended, and post stations were added and abolished.
• In 1619, the Kyo-kaido road linking Osaka and Kyoto was constructed, and Koraibashi, the Osaka terminus, became one of the five main roads.
• In the second half of the 17th century, traffic on the Tokaido road increased, and post towns developed economically and culturally.

Overview of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido

Many people passed along the Tokaido, including travelers on official business for the Edo Shogunate, processions of feudal lords on their alternate attendance tours, and ordinary people making pilgrimages to Ise Shrine or Mount Fuji. Post towns contained accommodation facilities such as honjin (Japanese inns) , wakihonjin (Japanese -style inns), and inns, as well as wholesalers and teahouses, which supported the transport of travelers and goods. The Tokaido was not just a transportation route; it also played a major role in the transmission of culture and information. Products and cultures from various regions spread along the Tokaido, influencing the formation of Edo culture. In particular, the Tokaido was a stage for the development of ordinary people's culture, such as ukiyo-e and haiku poetry.

Hiroshige Utagawa's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido"

Among the artworks based on the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, the most famous is the series " Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido " by ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige . Hiroshige created several "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido," including a series of 55 sheets known as the Hoeido edition. His works portray the scenery of post towns and famous places with a rich poetic feeling, inspiring people at the time to travel. In particular, "Snow in the Night at Kambara" and "White Rain at Shono" are highly praised for their skillful use of meteorological phenomena such as snow and rain to evoke feelings of travel. Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" is still loved around the world today as one of Japan's most representative landscape prints.

The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Today

Even today, buildings and historical sites that retain the atmosphere of those days remain on the former sites of Tokaido post towns. In addition, parts of the old Tokaido have been developed as hiking trails, allowing you to enjoy historical walks. The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido are extremely important in understanding Japanese history, culture, and art, and their appeal has not faded even today. Keywords such as " The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido ," " Utagawa Hiroshige ," " Ukiyo- e," " Post Towns ," and " Tokaido " are important elements in understanding the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido. By actually walking along the historic roads, you will be able to get a deeper sense of what travel was like in the Edo period and how people lived at that time.