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===(The "Five Highways")===
===(The "Five Highways")===
The following Five Highways 五街道 of the[[ Edo Period]] started at [[Nihon Bashi]] in [[Edo]] (modern Tokyo). Before the Edo Period, the starting (or ending point) was not so clear, but at least was in the [[Kanto|Kantô Plain]].
The following Five Highways 五街道 of the[[ Edo Period]] started at [[Nihonbashi]] in [[Edo]] (modern Tokyo). Before the Edo Period, the ending point was not so clear, but at least was in the [[Kanto|Kantô Plain]]; prior to the construction of Nihonbashi, the Tôkaidô began in Kyoto.
===[[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 was most famous of the highways, going from Edo to Kyoto, mostly along the Pacific coast, but cutting across the neck of the Izu Peninsula, where the famous Hakone check-point was located.
The Tôkaidô was most famous of the highways, going 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.
The most formidible natural barrier was just west of Nagoya, where many great rivers--Kiso, Ibi, Nagara, Hida, Neo, etc.--flow directly or indirectly into Ise Bay伊勢湾. The highway made no attempt to cross the rivers. Travellers would take a ship across the bay. After that, the highway goes west from Yokkaichi四日市 through Suzuka Pass 鈴鹿峠 . At Kusatsu草津 it is joined by the Nakasendô highway.
The most formidible natural barrier was just west of Nagoya, where many great rivers--Kiso, Ibi, Nagara, Hida, Neo, etc.--flow directly or indirectly into Ise Bay 伊勢湾. The highway made no attempt to cross the rivers. Travellers would take a ship across the bay. After that, the highway goes west from Yokkaichi 四日市 through Suzuka Pass 鈴鹿峠 . At Kusatsu 草津 it is joined by the Nakasendô highway.
The 57 stations of the Tôkaidô ended at the Sanjô Bridge over the [[Kamo River]] in Kyoto, but four additional stations were later added. This extension, known alternatively as the Ôsaka Kaidô, Kyôkaidô, or simply considered an extension of the Tôkaidô, ended at Kôraibashi in Osaka.
===[[Nakasendo|Nakasendô Highway]]中山道===
===[[Nakasendo|Nakasendô Highway]]中山道===