Nakasendo
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The Nakasendō (中山道) was one of two Tokugawa-era roads connecting Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the coastal Tōkaidō;, the Nakasendō travelled inland, hence its name, which means "Road through the Central Mountains."
Creation of the Edo period road system
In the early years of the Edo period, many political, legal, cultural and intellectual changes took place. Among them was the rejuvenation of Japan's thousand year old highway system. Five roads were formally nominated as official routes for the use of the shogun and the other daimyo and to provide the Tokugawa shogunate with the communications network that it needed to stabilize and rule the country. One of these five roads was the Nakasendō stretching from Kyoto through the central mountain ranges of Honshū and on to Edo, from where the shogun wielded the real power.
The Nakasendō today
Although much of the Nakasendō no longer exists in its historic form, a few stretches remain and have been restored in recent decades. Perhaps the most famous section lies between Magome and Tsumago in the Kiso Valley, made famous by the 19th century writer Shimazaki Toson, who chronicled the effects of the Meiji Restoration on the valley in his landmark novel Yoake Mae ("Before the Dawn").
This section of the road can still be travelled along comfortably by foot, and both Tsumago and Magome have preserved their traditional architecture. It requires 2-3 hours to walk in either direction, with forests, restored paving in places, and fine views of waterfalls.
The poet Matsuo Bashō also travelled along the Nakasendō.
The route is now roughly followed by Route 8, Route 21, Route 19, Route 142, Route 18 and Route 17.
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