Otsu
- Japanese: 大津 (Ootsu)
Ôtsu is a city near Kyoto, located on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa. In the Edo period, Ôtsu was a post-station at the intersection of the Tôkaidô, Nakasendô, and Chôsenjin kaidô. It was home to one of the largest honjin in the realm, at 394.5 tsubo.[1]
The city served as imperial capital briefly from 667 to 672.
Just prior to the battle of Sekigahara, Ôtsu castle was held by Kyôgoku Takatsugu. It fell to a siege by forces loyal to Ishida Mitsunari, but late enough that those forces were kept from participating in the battle of Sekigahara itself.
During the Edo period, the granaries at Ôtsu were overseen by the Ôtsu kura bugyô.[2]
The Chosenjin kaido|Chôsenjin kaidô, an exclusive route used only by Korean embassies to Edo and the shogun himself, branched off from the Tôkaidô at Ôtsu.
In 1891, Tsar Nikolas II survived an assassination attempt at Ôtsu.
| Preceded by: Kusatsu-juku |
Stations of the Tôkaidô | Succeeded by: Kyoto |
| Preceded by: Kusatsu-juku |
Stations of the Nakasendô | Succeeded by: Kyoto |