Edo Five Routes

The Gokaidō (Japanese五 街道) were the five main roads ( Kaidō ) of the Edo period. It all began in Edo, now Tokyo. The most important of the five was the Tōkaidō, the Edo association with Kyoto. Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601 prompted the construction of the Gokaidō to increase its control over the country. But it was Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate and great-grandchildren Ieyasu, who raised the streets to main streets. At the routes were many shukuba, post offices, located, which offered the traveler accommodation and the ability to replenish their supplies.

The five main roads

Each of the five roads began in Nihonbashi in Edo and joined the capital with another part of the country.

Other roads

In addition to the Gokaidō there were other smaller or less often frequented roads that sometimes ran as an alternative to the main routes. They were known colloquially as Kaidō hime ( Princess Street) or onna Kaidō ( Women's Street ). Also the Nakasendō was sometimes referred to as hime Kaidō because he was considered less dangerous than the Tōkaidō, which had the same start and end points.

  • Chichibu Okan
  • Hokkoku Kaidō
  • Hokurikudō
  • Kawagoe Kaidō
  • Kawagoe Kodama Kaidō
  • Kamakura Kaidō
  • Kōya Kaidō
  • Kyōkaidō
  • Matsumaedō
  • Mikuni Kaidō
  • Minoji
  • Mito Kaidō
  • Nagasaki Kaidō
  • Nikko Onari Kaidō
  • Nikko Reiheishi Kaidō
  • Nikko Wakiōkan
  • Ōyama Kaidō
  • Saigoku Kaidō
  • Sendaidō
  • Shio no Michi
  • Togane Onari Kaidō
  • Tosa Kaidō
  • Ushu Kaidō
  • Yamato no Kodo
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