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*''Japanese'': 北国街道 ''(hokkoku kaidô)''
The ''Hokkoku kaidô'', or "Northern Provinces Highway," was a major [[Edo period]] [[highway]] linking [[Edo]] and the [[Sea of Japan]] (Jôetsu) region. It followed the [[Chikuma River]] for much of the highway's length, running chiefly through [[Shinano province]].
The Hokkoku Kaidô started at Oiwake 追分 (near [[Karuizawa]]), where it split off from the [[Nakasendo|Nakasendô]]. It then followed the Chikuma River 千曲川 west, downstream, passing through [[Komoro castle|Komoro]] 小諸, [[Unno-juku]] 海野宿, and [[Ueda castle|Ueda]] 上田, and entering the region known as [[Kawanakajima]]. The highway then split off from the Chikuma River at Toyono 豊野, and followed the Torii 鳥居River upstream, eventually going through the 666 m. Nojiri-zaka Pass 野尻坂峠 into [[Echigo province]]. From there it went north down the valley to Naoetsu 直江津 (Jôetsu) on the coast, where it joined the [[Hokurikudo|Hokurikudô]] ("Hokuriku Road").
Today, National Route 18, i.e. the Jôshinetsu 上信越 [Kôzuke-Shinano-Echigo] Expressway, largely follows the path of the former Hokkoku Kaidô. This modern highway was built a quarter mile east of the historic Hokkoku Kaidô, allowing many sections of historic buildings and streets to be preserved.
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==References==
*William Coaldrake, "Unno: Edo Period Post Town of the Central Japan Alps," ''Asian Art'' 5 (Spring 1992), 9-29.
[[Category:Edo Period]]
[[Category:Geographic Locations]]