The 22nd inn counting from Shinagawa is Fujieda-juku. The above Ukiyoe by Hiroshige depicts the transfer of luggage in front of a wholesale store at Fujieda-juku. In those days, people and luggage were relayed from inn to inn in this manner. This was called “jinba tsuritate.
In the Edo period, there were 2 main inns and 37 inns with a population of 4,425, and the length of the inn was approximately 980 meters.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Fujieda-juku (藤枝宿, Fujieda-juku) was the twenty-second of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in what is now part of the city of Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Tanaka Castle
A distinctive feature of Fujieda-juku is the presence of Tanaka Castle, which Ieyasu Tokugawa often visited for falconry. Although an elementary school has been built on the ruins of the castle’s main castle, the “Historic Site of Tanaka Castle” is located on the site of the castle lord’s villa, where buildings and gardens related to Tanaka Castle have been reconstructed.
Ruins of Wholesale Stores, Fujieda-juku
Here is the location depicted in the ukiyoe.
It is now a police box, but there is a signboard.
I wonder if something like Hiroshige’s painting was done here.
This wholesale store site is located in the Kamidenma district of Fujieda-juku. There are also ruins of a main camp in Kamidemba. It must have been right in the center of the area. There is nothing left of the main camp now 💦.
Kachikusa Bridge and Shida Ichirizuka
Kachikusa Bridge is located to the west of Fujieda Inn. Kachikusa Bridge was first built in 1875, and was replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge in 1932. It is a little symbol of Fujieda City.
Shida Ichirizuka” is located right next to the Katsusa Bridge. Ichirizuka” refers to the mounds that were built every 4 km starting from Nihonbashi in Edo (present-day Tokyo). This Ichirizuka is the 50th one. In other words, it is 500 km from Tokyo.
Old Tokaido Highway, Fujieda-juku Marker Pole
Kachikusa Bridge is on the west side, but this is the “Tokaido Fujieda-juku Marker Pole” on the east side of Fujieda-juku.
Just across the street is Shingo-ji Temple, a directly connected temple of Narita-san.
Origin of the name of Shirako-cho, Fujieda City
Now, there is still a district called Shirakomachi in Fujieda-juku. In fact, the name is said to have originated with Tokugawa Ieyasu. There is a large sign in the shopping street of Shirako that explains this.
There is also a stone monument in front of the Ogawa Ophthalmology Clinic, which is owned by the grandson of Magozo Ogawa, who is mentioned in the theory!
Interesting, isn’t it?
Temples and Shrines around Fujieda-juku
Fujieda City has many shrines and temples, and there are also many shrines and temples in the Fujieda-juku area.
