Kanaya-juku

In this article we will address the topic of Kanaya-juku, which has been the subject of interest and debate in multiple areas. Kanaya-juku has captured the attention of experts, professionals and the general public due to its relevance and impact in different areas of daily life. Throughout history, Kanaya-juku has played a determining role in the evolution of society, culture and technology, significantly influencing the way we perceive the world around us. In the following lines, we will explore in detail the most relevant aspects of Kanaya-juku, with the aim of providing a comprehensive and enriching vision of this very important topic.

Kanaya-juku in the 1830s, as depicted by Hiroshige in The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō
Hokusai

34°49′11″N 138°7′49″E / 34.81972°N 138.13028°E / 34.81972; 138.13028Kanaya-juku (金谷宿, Kanaya-juku) was the twenty-fourth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in what is now part of Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. During the Edo period, it was the easternmost post station of Tōtōmi Province.

History

Kanaya-juku was built up on the right bank of the Ōi River across from Shimada-juku. There were over 1,000 buildings in the post town, including three honjin, one sub-honjin and 51 hatago.[1] Travelers had an easy travel to Nissaka-shuku, which was about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) away.[1] However, whenever the river's banks overflowed, travelers were not able to pass through Kanaya and on to Shimada-juku, as the Tokugawa shogunate had expressly forbidden the construction of any bridge on the Ōi River.

The classic ukiyo-e print by Andō Hiroshige (Hōeido edition) from 1831–1834 depicts a daimyō procession on sankin-kōtai crossing the river. The daimyō is riding in a kago, held above the water by a makeshift platform carried by numerous porters. His retainers are attempting to wade across the river. In the background, a small village is shown in the foothills.

Neighboring post towns

Tōkaidō
Shimada-juku - Kanaya-juku - Nissaka-shuku

Further reading

  • Carey, Patrick. Rediscovering the Old Tokaido:In the Footsteps of Hiroshige. Global Books UK (2000). ISBN 1-901903-10-9
  • Chiba, Reiko. Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry. Tuttle. (1982) ISBN 0-8048-0246-7
  • Taganau, Jilly. The Tokaido Road: Travelling and Representation in Edo and Meiji Japan. RoutledgeCurzon (2004). ISBN 0-415-31091-1

References

Media related to Kanaya-juku at Wikimedia Commons

  1. ^ a b Ochakaidō: History of Kanaya-juku. Ochakaidō Cultural Association. November 29, 2007.