Oi-juku

Ando Hiroshige's locally famous woodblock print of Oi-juku from his "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido."
Click here for a color version, and here to see an extensive collection of his works, with explanations.

It's no touristy Magome or Tsumago these days, but my city was also a stop on the Nakasendo, mukashi mukashi. With all my free time these days, I took the camera out the other day to warm up the new lens and have some pictures from my own town.

Start of the central Oi-juku section of the Nakasendo.

Outside a home.

Part of the wall surrounding the Oi Honjin, an inn for nobles travelling the Nakasendo.

Detail of the roof of the entrance gate to Oi Honjin.

Although the actual inn burned down in 1947 and the current honjin was subsequently rebuilt, the entrance gate to Oi Honjin survived. According to the sign in front, at around 400 hundred years old, it is said to be the most beautiful of all the honjin gates of the Nakasendo

All conjoined pandas should stop and look both ways before crossing the street.

Protective barrier in front of a home.

Because of the thin walls and lack of glass in traditional homes, it was difficult not to be overheard. Often seen today in the geisha districts of Kyoto, these bamboo barriers served to keep potential eavesdroppers at a distance.

Dog

Two Japans
A traditional storehouse (kura) for family valuables or rice, and an example of Japan's love and dependence on konbinis.

Part of a storehouse once used to safeguard a family's valuables.
You can still find these all over.

Kousatsuba


The kousatsuba was, during the Edo period, an information station set up at each of the post towns along the road. Strategically located along the road, it prominently displayed the shogun's orders to the public.

Historical Road
Nakasendo
Honjin 380m