• 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

References

  1. Miyamoto Tsuneichi 宮本常一, Nihon no shuku 日本の宿, Tokyo: Shakai shisôsha (1965), 168-169.
  2. Plaques on-site at Nagaya-mon of the Old Suzuki Residence, Hikone.