Shukuba
Encyclopedia
were post stations during the Edo period
in Japan
, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes
or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki (宿駅). These post stations (or "post towns") were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation. They were created based on policies for the transportation of goods by horseback that were developed during the Nara
and Heian
periods.
shortly after the end of the Battle of Sekigahara
. The first post stations were developed along the Tōkaidō
(followed by stations on the Nakasendō
and other routes). In 1601, the first of the Tōkaidō's fifty-three stations
were developed, stretching from Shinagawa-juku
in Edo
to Ōtsu-juku
in Ōmi Province
. Not all the post stations were built at the same time, however, as the last one was built in 1624.
The lodgings in the post stations were established for use by public officials and, when there were not enough lodgings, nearby towns were also put into use. The post station's toiyaba, honjin
and sub-honjin were all saved for the public officials. It was hard to receive a profit as the proprietor of these places, but the shogun
provided help in the form of various permits, rice
collection and simple money lending, making it possible for the establishments to stay open. The hatago
, retail stores, tea house
s, etc., which were designed for general travelers, were able to build a profit. Ai no shuku
were intermediate post stations; though they were unofficial resting spots, they had many of the same facilities.
Generally speaking, as the Meiji period
arrived and brought along the spread of rail transport
, the number of travelers visiting these post stations greatly declined, as did the prosperity of the post stations.
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes
Edo Five Routes
The were the five major roads that started at Edo during the Edo period, the most important of which was the Tōkaidō, which linked Edo and Kyoto...
or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki (宿駅). These post stations (or "post towns") were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation. They were created based on policies for the transportation of goods by horseback that were developed during the Nara
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
and Heian
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
periods.
History
These post stations were first established by Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
shortly after the end of the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
. The first post stations were developed along the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
(followed by stations on the Nakasendō
Nakasendo
The , also called the , was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo to Kyoto in Japan. There were 69 stations between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces...
and other routes). In 1601, the first of the Tōkaidō's fifty-three stations
53 Stations of the Tokaido
The are the rest areas along the Tōkaidō, which was a coastal route that ran from Nihonbashi in Edo to Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto.-Stations of the Tōkaidō:...
were developed, stretching from Shinagawa-juku
Shinagawa-juku
was the first of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is presently located in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. Along with Itabashi-shuku , Naitō Shinjuku and Senju-shuku , it was one of the Four Stations of Edo . It was located in the present-day Shinagawa Port area near Shinagawa Station....
in Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
to Ōtsu-juku
Otsu-juku
was the last of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the last of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It was from the previous post town, Kusatsu-juku, and was located in Ōmi Province...
in Ōmi Province
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
. Not all the post stations were built at the same time, however, as the last one was built in 1624.
The lodgings in the post stations were established for use by public officials and, when there were not enough lodgings, nearby towns were also put into use. The post station's toiyaba, honjin
Honjin
thumb|250px|The honjin at [[Inaba Kaidō]]'s [[Ōhara-shuku]]. is the Japanese word for an inn for government officials, generally located in post stations during the later part of the Edo period.-Evolution of Honjin:...
and sub-honjin were all saved for the public officials. It was hard to receive a profit as the proprietor of these places, but the shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
provided help in the form of various permits, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
collection and simple money lending, making it possible for the establishments to stay open. The hatago
Hatago
were Edo period lodgings for travelers at shukuba along the national highways, including the Edo Five Routes and the subroutes. In addition to a place to rest, hatago also offered meals and other foods to the travelers...
, retail stores, tea house
Tea house
A tea house or tearoom is a venue centered on drinking tea. Its function varies widely depending on the culture, and some cultures have a variety of distinct tea-centered houses or parlors that all qualify under the English language term "tea house" or "tea room."-Asia:In Central Asia this term...
s, etc., which were designed for general travelers, were able to build a profit. Ai no shuku
Ai no shuku
were unofficial post stations along historical routes in Japan. These post stations formed organically along routes when the distance between two places was too far or when there were difficult passes nearby. Because they were not officially designated rest areas, travelers along the roads were...
were intermediate post stations; though they were unofficial resting spots, they had many of the same facilities.
Generally speaking, as the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
arrived and brought along the spread of rail transport
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, the number of travelers visiting these post stations greatly declined, as did the prosperity of the post stations.
Post station facilities
- ToiyabaTonya (Japan), called toiya outside of Edo, were trade brokers in Japan, primarily wholesalers, warehouse managers, and shipment managers; the term applies equally to the traders themselves and to their shops or warehouses...
(問屋場): General offices that helped manage the post town. - HonjinHonjinthumb|250px|The honjin at [[Inaba Kaidō]]'s [[Ōhara-shuku]]. is the Japanese word for an inn for government officials, generally located in post stations during the later part of the Edo period.-Evolution of Honjin:...
(本陣): Rest areas and lodgings built for use by samuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
and court nobles. Honjin were not businesses; instead, large residences in the post towns were often designated as lodging for government officials. - Waki-honjin (脇本陣): These facilities were also for use by samurai and court nobles, but general travelers could also stay here if there were vacancies.
- HatagoHatagowere Edo period lodgings for travelers at shukuba along the national highways, including the Edo Five Routes and the subroutes. In addition to a place to rest, hatago also offered meals and other foods to the travelers...
(旅籠): Facilities that offered accommodations to general travelers and also served food. - Kichin-yado (木賃宿): Facilities that offered accommodations to general travelers, but did not serve food.
- ChayaChayaCnidoscolus aconitifolius, commonly known as Chaya or Tree Spinach, is a large, fast growing leafy perennial shrub that is believed to have originated in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. The specific epithet, "aconitifolius", refers to its Aconitum-like leaves. It has succulent stems which exude a...
(茶屋): Rest areas that sold tea, food and alcohol to travelers. - Shops: General shops built to sell wares to travelers.
- Kōsatsu (高札): Signboards on which the shōgunShogunA was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
's proclamations were posted.
Preserved and rebuilt post stations
- Nationally-designated Architectural Preservation Sites
- Aizu Nishi Kaidō's Ōuchi-jukuOuchi-jukuwas a small post station in Japan's Edo period and part of the Aizu Nishi Kaidō. It is now located in the town of Shimogō in Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture, and is famous for the numerous traditional thatched buildings from the Edo Period that line its main street.-History:Ōuchi-juku was...
(Shimogō, Minamiaizu DistrictMinamiaizu District, Fukushimais a district located in Fukushima, Japan. It makes up the southern third of the Aizu region in western Fukushima Prefecture.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 33,533 and a density of 14.32 persons per km². The total area is 2,341.64 km²...
, Fukushima PrefectureFukushima Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
) - Hokkoku KaidōHokkoku KaidoThe was a highway in Japan during the Edo period. It was a secondary route, ranked below the Edo Five Routes in importance. Because it was developed for travelers going to Zenkō-ji, it was also called Zenkō-ji Kaidō . It stretched from the Nakasendō's Oiwake-juku to the Hokurikudō's Takada-shuku...
's Unno-juku (TōmiTomi, Naganois a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 2004, when the village of Kitamimaki from Kitasaku District and the town of Tōbu from Chiisagata District merged to form a new city....
, Nagano PrefectureNagano Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
) - NakasendōNakasendoThe , also called the , was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo to Kyoto in Japan. There were 69 stations between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces...
's Narai-jukuNarai-jukuwas the thirty-fourth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the second of eleven stations along the Kisoji. It is located in the present-day city of Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
(ShiojiriShiojiri, Naganois a city located in Nagano, Japan. Its name literally means "the end of salt".-History:Municipal Area Changes* April 1, 1927-The village of Shiojiri gained town status....
, Nagano Prefecture) - Nakasendō's Tsumago-juku (NagisoNagiso, Naganois a town located in Kiso District, Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,458 and a density of 25.27 persons per km². The total area is ....
, Nagano Prefecture) - TōkaidōTokaido (road)The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
's Seki-jukuSeki-juku (Tokaido)was the forty-seventh of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Kameyama, in Mie Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
(KameyamaKameyama, Mieis a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan.As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 48,902 and the density of 256.15 persons per km². The total area is 190.91 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1954....
, Mie PrefectureMie Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
) - Saba Kaidō's Kumagawa-shuku (WakasaWakasa, Fukuiis a town located in Mikatakaminaka District, Fukui, Japan.Wakasa was formed on March 31, 2005 by the merger of the former towns of Mikata, from Mikata District, and Kaminaka, from Onyū District....
, Mikatakaminaka DistrictMikatakaminaka District, FukuiMikatakaminaka is a district located in Fukui, Japan. The district was formed on March 31, 2005 at the same time as the merger of Mikata and Kaminaka forming the town of Wakasa....
, Fukui PrefectureFukui Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
)
- Aizu Nishi Kaidō's Ōuchi-juku
- Inaba KaidōInaba KaidoThe was a route built during the Edo period in Japan. It started in Himeji, Harima Province , and stretched to Tottori, Inaba Province...
's Hirafuku-shuku (SayōSayo, Hyogois a town located in Sayō District, Hyōgo, Japan.-Population:As of March 31, 2008, the town has an estimated population of 20,939. The total area is 307.51 km².-Merge:...
, Sayō DistrictSayo District, Hyogois a district located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 21,614 and a density of 70.29 persons per km². The total area is 307.51 km².-Merger:...
, Hyōgo PrefectureHyogo Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
) - Inaba Kaidō's Ōhara-shuku (MimasakaMimasaka, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.It is the result of a merger involving the former town of the same name. The merger took place on March 31, 2005 when the town of Katsuta from Katsuta District, the towns of Aida, Ōhara and Sakutō, and the village Higashiawakura, all from Aida District, were...
, Okayama PrefectureOkayama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
) - Inaba Kaidō's Chizu-shuku (Chizu, TottoriChizu, Tottoriis a town located in Yazu District, Tottori, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 9,009 and a density of 40.11 persons per km². The total area is 224.61 km².- External links :*...
, Yazu DistrictYazu District, TottoriYazu is a district located in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 48,540 and a density of 55.43 persons per km²...
, Tottori PrefectureTottori Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.- History :Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba...
) - Tōkaidō's Ishibe-jukuIshibe-jukuwas the fifty-first of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the downtown area of the present-day city of Konan, Shiga Prefecture, Japan...
(KonanKonan, Shigais a city located in the southern part of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 2004 by the merger of the towns of Kōsei and Ishibe, both from Kōka District. The total area is 70.49 km²....
, Shiga PrefectureShiga Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
)