I think Tokugawa Ieyasu favored his allies, or perhaps he never forgot his favors, but at any rate, I found such traces.
Fukuroi-juku
I left the Family Lodge Hatagoya, Fukuroi a little after 5:00.
It took me about 15 minutes to get back to Tokaido because the hotel was located far away.
Kihara Ichirizuka
About 50 minutes after departure, I found the 61st ri, Kihara Ichirizuka!
Reading the description, it was a restored Ichirizuka. The original mound was about 60 meters to the east. However, for those of us who are walking along the road, I am glad that there is a magnificent ichirizuka.
木原畷の古戦場
Next, there was the old battlefield of Kihara-nawate. This is the place where there was a prelude to the “Battle of Mikatagahara” where Takeda Shingen defeated Ieyasu. I thought that Shingen’s power was only in Yamanashi, but I didn’t know that he had attacked such a place.
Mitsuke-juku
Pine trees
Pine trees line the street in many places. It is a true taste of the highway. They provide shade, which is very helpful on such a sunny day. Ichirizuka is a great example of the wisdom of the people of the past.
Around 7:00 a.m., more and more people started to walk to school. Unlike in Tokyo, school children greeted me. I returned the greeting properly.
Oiwake signpost of Hime-kaido
I found the Oiwake signpost of Hime-kaido. It seems that this road was mainly used by women who did not want to pass the Imagire Ferry on Lake Hamana. The road meets the Tokaido again at Goyu-juku.
This is where you can see Mt. Fuji for the first time when coming from Kyoto. I felt a little sad that I would not be able to see Mt. Fuji from now on, but I had not seen it since the Left Fuji in Yoshiwara.
Player’s handprint of Jubilo-Iwata
This is the home of Jubilo Iwata, and there are handprints and signs embedded in the paving stones.
Miyanoishiki Ichirizuka
At around 8:30, I found the 63rd Miyanoishiki Ichirizuka. It is rare to find an Ichirizuka with stairs.
Long wisteria of Yuya
The manhole design cover of Iwata City is Yuya’s long wisteria.
I once saw a Noh named Yuya, and I couldn’t help but feel sleepy. However, now that I know that there is a wisteria associated with Yuya in Iwata, it’s a different story. Next time I see Yuya, I’m sure I’ll be able to admire it with my eyes shining brightly.
By the way, the word “Fuji” is hidden in the cover of this manhole. Is it to prevent counterfeiting?
It would have been natural to cross the Tokaido Highway near the Tenryu River at the Tenryu River Bridge or the New Tenryu River Bridge, but for some reason, we had to go north about 1.5 km and cross at a place called Ikeda. There must be some reason for this. If I walked 1.5 km back and forth between the left bank and the right bank, I would have to walk an extra 6 km, but I had no choice but to go.
There were three different ferry ports in Ikeda.
Usually, the most downstream was used, the middle one when the current became a little faster, and the upstream one when the current became swift.
Ikeda Ferry History and Scenery Museum
Near the ferry upstream, I found the Ikeda Ferry History and Scenery Museum. The materials at the museum cleared up my doubts.
In fact, the people of Ikeda had helped the Tokugawa in the battle between the Tokugawa and Takeda. For this reason, Ieyasu guaranteed Ikeda the right to ferry people from 1573 through the Edo period.
View from the left bank of the Tenryu River
On the return trip, I walked along the bank of the Tenryu River. It was a beautiful day.
Hamamatsu-juku
Tenryugawa Bridge without sidewalks
We crossed the New Tenryugawa Bridge and entered Hamamatsu. The Tenryugawa Bridge and its predecessor, the New Tenryugawa Bridge, had no sidewalks, making it dangerous and one of the most difficult sections of the modern Tokaido Highway. 2008 saw the construction of sidewalks on the New Tenryugawa Bridge, so it is now safe to cross.
On the Hamamatsu side, I also went north up the river to check out the remnants of the old Tokaido, but there were no signs or road markers. There were no signs or signposts. I felt that the road had cooled down compared to the Ikeda side, which was favored.
Remains of Magome Ichirizuka
In the early afternoon, we found the remains of Magome Ichirizuka (65 ri)! In terms of distance, this area is the halfway point of the Tokaido Highway.
Maisaka-juku
In Hamamatsu, I had planned to eat gyoza, but I passed by before I could find a reasonable restaurant.
Mitsuke’s stone wall
I found the stone wall of Maisaka Juku. The coloration is unique. Is it a stone from the nearby area?
Kita Gange
I arrived at Kita Gange before 5:00 pm.In the old days, people used to take a boat from here to the Arai barrier. The white part of the stone wall was repaired after it collapsed during a typhoon in 1953.。
Benten Island
I walked along the shore of Lake Hamana for a long time. Benten Island on the way is a resort area, with palm trees and other plants growing thickly. The wind is strong and the water surface is rough.
Arai-juku
Family Lodge Hatagoya Hamanako
Today’s lodging is Hatagoya, as it was yesterday. The Hamanako branch faces the Tokaido Highway, so I didn’t have to walk any extra distance. The people at the inn were surprised that I had walked 40 kilometers.
Since it is close to the sea, I asked where to evacuate to in case of a tsunami, and was told the Shinkansen overpass 200 meters to the west.
Walking data
Course: Fukuroi-juku → Mitsuke-juku → Hamamatsu-juku → Maisaka-juku → Arai-juku
Distance: 45.8km
Time: 12h23m
