Walking in Old Japan: The Historical Gokaidō Routes (Ep. 165)
From Nihonbashi Bridge to Kyōto - Travel Secrets of Edo Japan
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Show Notes
In today's episode, I'll be taking you on a stroll along the walking routes of Old Edo. There were five main ones, called go-kaidō - the five Edo routes, or the five historical roads of Japan. All five started at the exact same point on the Nihonbashi Bridge in then-Edo, now Tōkyō. Today, let's learn specifically about the two longer ones that led travelers to the old capital of Kyōto, the Tōkaidō and the Nakasendō.
Starting from the Nihonbashi Bridge, there are two main routes to Kyōto: the popular coastal Tōkaidō and the mountainous Nakasendō. Tokugawa Ieyasu's political strategies come into focus, including the sankin kōtai system that controlled feudal lords and his deliberate choice not to build bridges over major rivers. Staging post stations (shukuba) provided rest and refuge, while river porters carried travelers across dangerous waters. Travel guides mixed practical information with supernatural stories, and there's a beautiful haiku from Matsuo Bashō that captures the weariness of long journeys.
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Credits
Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura
About SpectreVision Radio
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.
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