Post Town Nakatsugawa-juku

Post Station Nakatsugawa-juku
Step back in time to the Edo period (1603–1867) with a walk through the historic townscape of Nakatsugawa-juku. This town was the 45th of 69 post stations on the Nakasendo highway. The Nakasendo, also known as the “Samurai Road,” was one of five major highways that connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto. Most of the original walking paths have been lost, but in some areas, such as Nakatsugawa, parts of the original road remain unchanged. 

In the past, Nakatsugawa prospered as a key junction close to the center of the country. Nakatsugawa-juku still has wooden buildings preserved from the Edo period, including the Soga House (formerly the village mayor’s house). Architectural features, like roofs with raised edges to stop fires from spreading, reflect its wealth and status as one of the premier towns in the Tono region (southeastern part of Gifu Prefecture). 

A walking tour through the backstreets and narrow alleys of Nakatsugawa-juku allows visitors to experience the sights of the original Nakasendo.

The walking tour also includes a visit to Hazama Shuzo, a local sake brewery, and a Japanese sweet shop that serves a local chestnut confection called kurikinton. Arrangements can also be made to visit other historical buildings in the area, such as the wakihonjin (an inn for high-ranking travelers).