There are rare places where tree-lined streets are left along old highways.
In Tsuchiura-juku on the Mito Highway, there is also a magnificent row of pine trees.
Points for completing the Mito Kaido
All of a sudden, I think the key to completing the Mito Kaido lies in the strategy from Ishioka to Mito. This is because the Joban Line forms a semicircle from Ishioka to Mito, and the Mito Kaido runs in the direction of that diameter. Ishioka Station and Mito Station are 26.6 km long in a straight line. If you walk along the street, you will have to walk more than 30 km.
When it comes to strategy, the difference is between walking this 30km in one day and taking two days.
To do it in two days, you need to check the bus routes and timetables in advance.
I wanted to walk it in one day because of the hassle of researching, not wanting to wait for the bus for a long time, and economic considerations.
However, it takes 8 to 10 hours to walk about 30km in a day. I would like to stay in Ishioka and start walking early in the morning if possible.
I would also like to stay in Ishioka and start walking early in the morning, and if I do, I would like to spend the day before walking along the streets to get my feet wet. This is what I had in mind when I walked to Tsuchiura on May 2, three years ago (just like today!).
This time, on the occasion of the 10 consecutive holidays in Japan, I felt like completing the Mito Kaido, so I made a walking plan to walk from Tsuchiura to Ishioka today, and from Ishioka to Mito tomorrow.
Tsuchiura-juku (Tsuchiura City)
Near the ticket gate of Tsuchiura Station
Tsuchiura Station is a large and beautiful station. There were carp streamers hanging near the ticket gates for the season. A new store had opened and there were many garlands of flowers.
Tsuchiura Station East Exit
Tsuchiura station and Kasumigaura are very close together. Today’s itinerary was not very long, so I decided to go to the east exit and take a look at Kasumigaura before setting off.
The east exit is much calmer than the west exit.
Near the mouth of the Sakuragawa River
I had planned to go to Tsuchiura Port, but it seems that I ended up at Sakuragawa. I could see what looked like Kasumigaura in the distance, so I decided to go for Mito Kaido.
Chuo 1-chome intersection
I passed through the downtown area and came to the intersection of Chuo 1-chome. This is my starting point.
The weather was cloudy and not too hot, just right for walking.
Banner of Takayasu-zeki
Takayasu was from Tsuchiura, wasn’t he? I have seen his name everywhere in Tsuchiura.
A sugar store building that could be a historical landmark
The store is a magnificent stone structure that looks like it could be a historical building. It is said to be a sugar store.
RIGHT ANGLE？
The road bends into an S-shape. This must be a RIGHT ANGLE (a defensive measure during the street).
Pillar explaining the ruins of Tsuchiura Castle’s north gate
When I turned the corner, there was a pillar to explain that it was not the right angle.
It was the remains of the north gate of Tsuchiura Castle, which was a defensive measure for the entrance and exit of the castle. It was built twice, once in 1603 and again in 1686, thus creating an S-shape that is unique in Japan.
The gate of Ibaraki Prefectural Tsuchiura Daiichi High School
At the top of the hill, I found the magnificent gate of Tsuchiura Daiichi High School.
I heard that the school’s old main building is also a nationally designated important cultural property. It is open to the public on the second Saturday of every month.
A group walking along Mito Kaido
I spotted a group of seven or eight people walking from the other side! They seemed to be people walking along Mito Kaido toward Tokyo. I wondered where they were coming from. It’s not very practical, since it’s about 3 kilometers just to get to the Mito Kaido from Kandatsu or Takahama. If it was from Ishioka, would you have left around 6:30? If so, I’m pretty enthusiastic about it. As we passed each other, we greeted each other.
A row of pine trees along Mito Kaido
I turned right at the traffic light just before the Wakamatsu-cho intersection, and just past the sign for Hitachi Metals Neo-Materials, I found a row of pine trees on the Mito Kaido Road! It’s quite a magnificent row of pine trees, and I think there are only one or two places left on the Tokaido or Koshu Kaido that have pine trees as large as these.
I recommend this place, but it is difficult to get there without a car.
I missed the Itaya Iturizuka on the way.
Nakanuki-juku (Tsuchiura City)
I crossed Route 6 and entered the Nakanuki-juku area.
Nakanuki-juku headquarters
This mansion, with its magnificent gate, is the headquarters of the Nakanuki-juku. It was burned down by the Tengu party in 1964, but was quickly rebuilt. It is a building from the end of the Edo period, only four years before the Meiji era.
It seems that only Toride, Nakanuki, and Inayoshi are left on the Mito Highway, making it a valuable house. It is said to be used as a residence now.
Incidentally, when I walked around Toride, I didn’t notice the existence of the headquarter at all. I would have liked a little more appeal.
Inayoshi-juku (Kasumigaura City)
freight car
I found a freight car on the premises of a company. It was shiny and new. I wonder if they are used for storage. I did some research and found out that you can buy a car for less than one million yen, so I thought it was unexpectedly cheap.
Shimoinayoshi Ichirizuka
Today, for the first time, I found an ichirizuka (remains)!
It is said to be the Ichirizuka of Shimoinayoshi, but was this raised area of soil an Ichirizuka? There is no explanation board, and the details are unknown.
Gate and fence of the Inatomi-juku Headquarters.
I found the Inatomi-juku’s headquarters, featured in Nakanuki’s Honjin!
Inatomi-juku Headquarters
I took this photo of the view from the gate. The shape of the roof tiles seems special. Are the white walls dirty because they were painted inconspicuously during the war?
Pedestrian bridge beside the Chiyoda Town Hall in Kasumigaura City
When I came to the side of the Kasumigaura City Chiyoda Building, I found a strange pedestrian bridge! Is there a need for a pedestrian bridge when there is so little traffic on this road? There seems to be a parking lot by the stairs on the right.
After reviewing the area, I found that this Mito Kaido road seems to be a cut-through. Was it already built in the Edo period? I think it was quite a large civil engineering work.
Points where information boards are needed
I am now approaching the Chiyoda-Ishioka IC. The direction I want to go is to the right after crossing this Route 6.
I couldn’t decide if I should continue along the sidewalk along the national highway, or if I should take the side road on the left. Just when I thought I needed a sign, I saw a letter carrier coming out of the tunnel under the national highway, and I could choose the side road on the left.
Near Chiyoda Ishioka IC
I think IC is a complicated configuration just for car routes. But the people who design ICs even think about the people who walk them. Where do they start to design it?
Wisteria flower
At this time of year, wisteria flowers are beautiful everywhere. Speaking of everywhere, I can hear the pheasants singing everywhere.
Primula
Primula was also in full bloom.
In front of the Koise-gawa River, there is the Koise-bashi Road Park, where some of the pillars and parapets of the old Koise-bashi Bridge, which was completed in 1931 and used for 70 years, were left. The bridge was completed in 1931 and was in use for 70 years. It was built during the financial depression and the Great Depression, so it must have had a modest design.
Fuchu-juku (Ishioka City)
Tsukuba Mountains seen from Koise Bridge
Crossing the Koise River at the Koise Bridge, I enter Ishioka City.
Mt. Tsukuba, with its two peaks, can be seen to the west. Mt. Kinoko, Mt. Ashio, Mt. Maru, and Mt. Kabasan (the tallest mountain on the right of the steel tower) to the north.
The weather cleared up before I knew it.
Retro-looking shopping street in Ishioka
As I entered Ishioka City, I found a retro-style shopping street. However, it was sparsely populated and a bit lonely. I looked for a place to eat and get some food for tomorrow morning, but I couldn’t find any affordable stores.
Izumi-machi intersection
I passed the Ishioka station once and turned east, making the intersection at Izumicho my last stop for the day.
Hotel Grand Mariage
I turned back to Ishioka Station, bought some food at a convenience store, and arrived at Hotel Grand Marriage, my lodging for the day.
Since it was GW, I had booked the accommodation in advance.
Walking data
Course: Mito Kaido Tsuchiura-juku – Mito Kaido Fuchu-juku
Distance: 24.4km
Time: 7h20m
