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==The "Five Highways"==

==The "Five Highways"==

The chief roadways of the [[Edo period]] were the so-called ''Gokaidô'' 五街道, or "Five Highways." These included four major highways which started at [[Nihonbashi]] in [[Edo]] (modern Tokyo), one more which branched off of these, and eight auxiliary roads. Even where highways ran through a ''daimyô's'' domain, they fell under the jurisdiction of the shogunate.<ref>Luke Roberts, ''Mercantilism in a Japanese Domain: The Merchant Origins of Economic Nationalism in 18th-Century Tosa'', Cambridge University Press (1998), 17n37.</ref>

The chief roadways of the [[Edo period]] were the so-called ''Gokaidô'' 五街道, or "Five Highways." These included four major highways which started at [[Nihonbashi]] in [[Edo]] (modern Tokyo), one more which branched off of these, and eight auxiliary roads. Even where highways ran through a ''daimyô's'' domain, they fell under the jurisdiction of the shogunate;<ref>Luke Roberts, ''Mercantilism in a Japanese Domain: The Merchant Origins of Economic Nationalism in 18th-Century Tosa'', Cambridge University Press (1998), 17n37.</ref> the shogunate also effected and paid for the maintenance of the highways.<ref name=hoso197>''Hosokawa-ke monjo: ezu, chizu, sashizu hen II'', Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (2013), 197.</ref>

Some records indicate that many sections of the road were quite well-maintained. Ditches running along the sides of the roads were maintained to help drain off water, sand was spread over the roads when they were wet, and in hot, dusty weather, water sprayed to settle the dust. In certain sections in the mountains, stones were carefully placed to help increase traction and prevent mudslides, while also providing for effective drainage. In other sections, rows of trees (often [[cryptomeria]], aka ''sugi'') were planted, providing shade for travelers and helping to prevent erosion. Distance markers were placed one ''[[Japanese measurements|ri]]'' apart along the road, and other markers or signs indicated major junctions. The roads were also commonly swept and cleaned when an important party, such as a daimyô's ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' procession, or a foreign embassy, was expected to be passing along that section of road.<ref name=gokaido>Constantine Vaporis, "Linking the Realm: The Gokaidô Highway Network in Early Modern Japan," in Susan Alcock et al (eds.) ''Highways Byways and Road Systems in the Pre-Modern World'', Wiley-Blackwell (2012), 90-105.</ref>

Some records indicate that many sections of the road were quite well-maintained. Ditches running along the sides of the roads were maintained to help drain off water, sand was spread over the roads when they were wet, and in hot, dusty weather, water sprayed to settle the dust. In certain sections in the mountains, stones were carefully placed to help increase traction and prevent mudslides, while also providing for effective drainage. In other sections, rows of trees (often [[cryptomeria]], aka ''sugi'') were planted, providing shade for travelers and helping to prevent erosion. Distance markers were placed one ''[[Japanese measurements|ri]]'' apart along the road, and other markers or signs indicated major junctions. The roads were also commonly swept and cleaned when an important party, such as a daimyô's ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' procession, or a foreign embassy, was expected to be passing along that section of road.<ref name=gokaido>Constantine Vaporis, "Linking the Realm: The Gokaidô Highway Network in Early Modern Japan," in Susan Alcock et al (eds.) ''Highways Byways and Road Systems in the Pre-Modern World'', Wiley-Blackwell (2012), 90-105.</ref>

===[[Tokaido|Tôkaidô Highway]]東海道===

===[[Tokaido|Tôkaidô Highway]]東海道===

(From Tokyo to Okazaki [east of Nagoya] the Tomei Expressway; for the whole route, basically NR 1)  

(From Tokyo to Okazaki [east of Nagoya] the Tomei Expressway; for the whole route, basically NR 1)  

The Tôkaidô (lit. "Eastern Sea Road") was most famous of the highways, running roughly 300 miles<ref name=gokaido/> from Edo (Nihonbashi) to Kyoto ([[Sanjo Ohashi|Sanjô-Ôhashi]]), mostly along the Pacific coast, but cutting across the neck of the Izu Peninsula, where the famous [[Hakone]] check-point was located. Prior to the construction of Nihonbashi in [[1603]], the Tôkaidô was considered to begin in Kyoto, and to end, vaguely, somewhere in the [[Kanto|Kantô Plain]]; following the construction of Nihonbashi, the conceptual direction was reversed, with Edo (Nihonbashi) becoming the beginning point of the road, and Kyoto the end point.

The Tôkaidô (lit. "Eastern Sea Road") was most famous of the highways, running roughly 300 miles<ref name=gokaido/> from Edo (Nihonbashi) to Kyoto ([[Sanjo Ohashi|Sanjô-Ôhashi]]), mostly along the Pacific coast, but cutting across the neck of the Izu Peninsula, where the famous [[Hakone]] check-point was located. Prior to the construction of Nihonbashi in [[1603]], the Tôkaidô was considered to begin in Kyoto, and to end, vaguely, somewhere in the [[Kanto|Kantô Plain]]; following the construction of Nihonbashi, the conceptual direction was reversed, with Edo (Nihonbashi) becoming the beginning point of the road, and Kyoto the end point. Though already existing previously in some form, the Edo period Tôkaidô is considered to have been completed in [[1624]].<ref name=hoso197/> It typically took about 13 days to walk the Tôkaidô on foot.<ref>Plaques at the Odawara post station.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/8396933861/sizes/l]</ref>

The most formidable natural barrier along the Tôkaidô lay just west of [[Nagoya]], where many great rivers - the [[Kiso River|Kiso]], [[Ibi River|Ibi]], [[Nagara River|Nagara]], [[Hida River|Hida]], among others - flow directly or indirectly into [[Ise Bay]] 伊勢湾. Beyond this point, the highway went west from [[Yokkaichi]] 四日市 through the Suzuka Pass 鈴鹿峠, and was joined at [[Kusatsu]] 草津 by the [[Nakasendo|Nakasendô highway]].

The most formidable natural barrier along the Tôkaidô lay just west of [[Nagoya]], where many great rivers - the [[Kiso River|Kiso]], [[Ibi River|Ibi]], [[Nagara River|Nagara]], [[Hida River|Hida]], among others - flow directly or indirectly into [[Ise Bay]] 伊勢湾. Beyond this point, the highway went west from [[Yokkaichi]] 四日市 through the Suzuka Pass 鈴鹿峠, and was joined at [[Kusatsu]] 草津 by the [[Nakasendo|Nakasendô highway]].

===[[Nakasendo|Nakasendô Highway]]中山道===

===[[Nakasendo|Nakasendô Highway]]中山道===

The Nakasendô (lit. "Central Mountain Road"), also known as the Tôsandô or Tôsendô (東山道), ran from Edo to Kyoto through the interior. Major points included Takasaki (to the northwest of Edo), the Usui Pass 碓氷峠, [[Lake Suwa]] 諏訪湖, the Kiso River 木曽川 valley, and the [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] Pass 関ヶ原峠.

The Nakasendô (lit. "Central Mountain Road"), also known as the Tôsandô or Tôsendô (東山道) and as the Kisô Kaidô (木曽街道), ran from Edo to Kyoto through the interior. Major points included Takasaki (to the northwest of Edo), the Usui Pass 碓氷峠, [[Lake Suwa]] 諏訪湖, the Kiso River 木曽川 valley, and the [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] Pass 関ヶ原峠. The road is considered to have been completed by [[1694]].<ref name=hoso197/>

(Kan-etsu [Kantô-Echigo] 関越 Expressway to Fujioka Jct., then to Saku佐久 via the Jôshinetsu 上信越[ [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke]]-[[Shinano province|Shinano]]-[[Echigo province|Echigo]]] Expressway, then SW to Lake Suwa 諏訪湖 by NR 142, then Chûô 中央 Expressway to north of Nagoya, where it enters the Meishin [Nagoya-Kôbe] 名神 Expressway, and from there to Kyoto.)

(Kan-etsu [Kantô-Echigo] 関越 Expressway to Fujioka Jct., then to Saku佐久 via the Jôshinetsu 上信越[ [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke]]-[[Shinano province|Shinano]]-[[Echigo province|Echigo]]] Expressway, then SW to Lake Suwa 諏訪湖 by NR 142, then Chûô 中央 Expressway to north of Nagoya, where it enters the Meishin [Nagoya-Kôbe] 名神 Expressway, and from there to Kyoto.)

The 67 stations of the Nakasendô were spaced an average of 5.2 km apart, and in 1843 each had an average of 1,165 residents and 27 ''hatagoya''.<ref name=gokaido/>

The 67 stations of the Nakasendô were spaced an average of 5.2 km apart, and in 1843 each had an average of 1,165 residents and 27 ''hatagoya''.<ref name=gokaido/>

===[[Oshukaido|Ôshûkaidô Highway]]奥州街道===

===[[Oshu kaido|Ôshû kaidô Highway]]奥州街道===

(Tohoku東北 Expressway; NR 4) The Ôshû-kaidô ran north from Edo, to Shirakawa 白河, in the northern province of [[Mutsu province|Mutsu]] (also known as Ôshû).

(Tohoku東北 Expressway; NR 4) The Ôshû-kaidô ran north from Edo, to Shirakawa 白河, in the northern province of [[Mutsu province|Mutsu]] (also known as Ôshû).

===[[Nikko Kaido|Nikkô Kaidô]]日光街道===

===[[Nikko Kaido|Nikkô Kaidô]]日光街道===

(NR4, NR 119) The Nikkô-kaidô, also known as the Nikkô Dôchû 日光道中, ran from Edo to [[Nikko|Nikkô]], where [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] was enshrined. It separated from the Ôshû-kaidô in [[Utsunomiya]] 宇都宮.

(NR4, NR 119) The Nikkô-kaidô, also known as the Nikkô Dôchû 日光道中,<ref name=dochu>The alternate names of several highways as ''dôchû'' instead of ''kaidô'' stems from an effort by Confucian scholar [[Arai Hakuseki]] in the 1710s to "[[rectification of names|rectify the names]]" of these highways, which do not run by the sea, and thus he felt should not be called "sea roads" (海道, ''kaidô''). Watanabe Hiroshi, ''A History of Japanese Political Thought, 1600-1901'', International House of Japan (2012), 148.</ref> ran from Edo to [[Nikko|Nikkô]], where [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] was enshrined. It separated from the Ôshû-kaidô in [[Utsunomiya]] 宇都宮.

Its 21 stations included Utsunomiya, Shimo-, Naka- and Kami-Tokujira (徳次郎), Ôzawa, Imaichi, Hatsuishi（鉢石), and Nikkô bôchû 坊中. These were located roughly five kilometers apart, and in 1843 each station had an average of 2,264 residents and 39 ''hatagoya''.<ref name=gokaido/>

Its 21 stations included Utsunomiya, Shimo-, Naka- and Kami-Tokujira (徳次郎), Ôzawa, Imaichi, Hatsuishi（鉢石), and Nikkô bôchû 坊中. These were located roughly five kilometers apart, and in 1843 each station had an average of 2,264 residents and 39 ''hatagoya''.<ref name=gokaido/>

===[[Koshu Kaido|Kôshû Kaidô]]甲州街道===

===[[Koshu Kaido|Kôshû Kaidô]]甲州街道===

(Chûô 中央 Expressway; NR 20) The Kôshû-kaidô ran from Edo to Lake Suwa 諏訪湖, where it joined the Nakasendô, passing through [[Kai province]], which was also called Kôshû. The modern NR 20 passes south of [[Mt. Takao]] 高尾山 in Tokyo, but this is a route developed for automobiles. The original route went north of Mt. Takao through the Kobotoke Pass 小仏峠, parallel to the route today of the Chûô train line 中央線.

(Chûô 中央 Expressway; NR 20) The Kôshû-kaidô or Kôshû-dôchû<ref name=dochu/> ran from Edo to Lake Suwa 諏訪湖, where it joined the Nakasendô, passing through [[Kai province]], which was also called Kôshû. The modern NR 20 passes south of [[Mt. Takao]] 高尾山 in Tokyo, but this is a route developed for automobiles. The original route went north of Mt. Takao through the Kobotoke Pass 小仏峠, parallel to the route today of the Chûô train line 中央線.

Kai had come under Ieyasu's control in [[1582]], and during the Edo period the Kôshû Highway was considered a militarily sensitive escape route. Only a few daimyo were allowed to use it; most had to take the longer route of the Nakasendô highway.  

Kai had come under Ieyasu's control in [[1582]], and during the Edo period the Kôshû Highway was considered a militarily sensitive escape route. Only a few daimyo were allowed to use it; most had to take the longer route of the Nakasendô highway.  

(Jôshinetsu 上信越[ [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke]]-[[Shinano province|Shinano]]-Echigo] Expressway from Saku佐久 to Jôetsu上越; NR 18)

(Jôshinetsu 上信越[ [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke]]-[[Shinano province|Shinano]]-Echigo] Expressway from Saku佐久 to Jôetsu上越; NR 18)

The Hokkoku Kaidô starts at Oiwake 追分 (in Karuizawa) on the Nakasendô, shortly after the Nakasendô climbs out of the Kantô Plain via Usui Pass 碓氷峠 and enters [[Shinano province]]. It follows the Chikuma River 千曲川 west, downstream, passing through [[Komoro castle|Komoro]]　小諸, Unno-juku 海野宿 (which preserves many Edo-period buildings), and [[Ueda castle|Ueda]]上田.  After the Chikuma River turns sharply to the north and the Sai River enters, the region is called Kawanakajima 川中島; it was the scene of several famous battles, especially the [[Second Battle of Kawanakajima| second]] and [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima|fourth battles of Kawanakajima]]. The castle of [[Kaizu castle|Kaizu]], later [[Matsushiro han|Matsushiro]]　松代, was near here. At Toyono 豊野 the highway leaves the Chikuma River and follows the Torii 鳥居River upstream, eventually going through the 666 m. Nojiri Saka Pass 野尻坂峠　into Echigo. From there it goes north down the valley to Naoetsu 直江津 (Jôetsu) on the coast, where it joins the Hokurikudô.

The Hokkoku Kaidô starts at Oiwake 追分 (in Karuizawa) on the Nakasendô, shortly after the Nakasendô climbs out of the Kantô Plain via Usui Pass 碓氷峠 and enters [[Shinano province]]. It follows the Chikuma River 千曲川 west, downstream, passing through [[Komoro castle|Komoro]]　小諸, [[Unno-juku]] 海野宿 (which preserves many Edo-period buildings), and [[Ueda castle|Ueda]]上田.  After the Chikuma River turns sharply to the north and the Sai River enters, the region is called Kawanakajima 川中島; it was the scene of several famous battles, especially the [[Second Battle of Kawanakajima| second]] and [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima|fourth battles of Kawanakajima]]. The castle of [[Kaizu castle|Kaizu]], later [[Matsushiro han|Matsushiro]]　松代, was near here. At Toyono 豊野 the highway leaves the Chikuma River and follows the Torii 鳥居River upstream, eventually going through the 666 m. Nojiri Saka Pass 野尻坂峠　into Echigo. From there it goes north down the valley to Naoetsu 直江津 (Jôetsu) on the coast, where it joins the Hokurikudô.

====[[Mikuni Kaido]]三国街道====

====[[Mikuni Kaido]]三国街道====