Tokaido

• Japanese: 東海道 (Toukaidou)

The Tôkaidô (lit. "Eastern Sea Road") was one of the main arteries of the realm, connecting Kyoto in the west and the eastern provinces; the road came to particular prominence in the Edo period, as the busiest, most famous, and most important highway in Japan. Famed in both art and literature, the Tôkaidô carried massive daimyô entourages traveling to and from the shogunal capital on sankin kôtai journeys; individual travelers and pilgrims; shogunal, imperial, and other officials on official business; merchants shipping all sorts of goods; and foreign embassies; as well as messengers and the like.

Origins

The Tôkaidô was originally established in the 8th century as one of several highways officially built by the Nara Imperial Court. At that time, the eastern provinces (including Musashi province,