{"id":3110,"date":"2025-03-17T11:09:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T02:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujieda-life-trip.com\/?post_type=toukaidou-shukuba&p=3110"},"modified":"2025-03-17T11:09:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T02:09:20","slug":"shimadajyuku","status":"publish","type":"toukaidou-shukuba","link":"https:\/\/fujieda-life-trip.com\/en\/toukaidou-shukuba\/shimadajyuku\/","title":{"rendered":"No.23 Shimada-juku"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This time, we visited Shimada-juku, which is said to be one of the most difficult stops on the old Tokaido Highway, with the Oigawa River so majestic that it was said, \u201cEven a horse can cross the eight villages of Hakone, but it is not possible to pass over the Oigawa River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shimada-juku<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is the 23rd stop on the Tokaido Highway and is located in present-day Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It seems to have developed as a place to collect timber cut from the upper reaches of the Oigawa River.
And the over-the-river inn to cross the majestic Oigawa River is a national historic site as \u201cShimada-juku Oigawa Kawagoe Ruins.
It had the atmosphere of a small Edo town, and it was as if we had gone back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shimada-juku Ichirizuka<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This Ichirizuka is the 52nd Ichirizuka counting from Edo. As explained several times in other articles, an ichirizuka is a mound built every 1 ri (about 4 km) on a highway. It seems to have been used as a guide or a resting place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ichirizuka<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(\u4e00\u91cc\u585a)\u00a0are historic Japanese distance markers akin to\u00a0milestones<\/a>. Comprising a pair of earthen mounds (tsuka<\/em>\u00a0or<\/a>\u00a0zuka<\/em>) covered in trees and flanking the road, they denoted the distance in\u00a0ri<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(3.927 kilometres (2.440\u00a0mi)) to\u00a0Nihonbashi<\/a>, the “Bridge of Japan”, erected in\u00a0Edo<\/a>\u00a0in 1603.[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Ichirizuka<\/em>\u00a0were encountered and described by\u00a0Engelbert Kaempfer<\/a>, c.1690: “serving as a milestone are two hills, facing each other, which are raised up on both sides of the road, and planted with one or more trees.”[4]<\/a>[note 1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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One ri is about 4 km, which means that Shimada is 208 km from Tokyo. Please check it out! It really shows 208km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

wholesale site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cwholesale store ruins,\u201d which are of course also found in other inns, are wholesale stores that were the central facilities of the inns. They were responsible for luggage transportation, communication, lodging arrangements, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monument in honor of swordsmith Shimada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shimada seems to have had a thriving sword smithy industry. During the Warring States period, it seems that swords were supplied to the Imagawa, Takeda, and Hojo families. Among them, the swordsmiths called \u201cShimada Sanketsu\u201d were Yoshisuke, Sukesune, and Hirosuke. A sword with the inscription \u201cMade by Yoshisuke\u201d is installed on this monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Shimada Kaji were a group of swordsmiths who lived in the area around Shimada-juku on the Tokaido Highway from the Muromachi Period to the Edo Period and continued to make swords for approximately 450 years. The monument was set up at the location where five Shimada blacksmith houses stood during the Edo period. The current location is a restored site; it was previously located on the site of the former Jusco. The monument was erected by Shimada City in 1986, removed in 2013 when the old Jusco was demolished, and restored to its current location after about four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Shimada City Tourism Association<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

There is also an information board with illustrations of the Shimada Inn next to the monument. It is very helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ruins of a daimyo’s main camp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the site of the main lodge of Shimada-juku, where the feudal lords and other high ranking people used to stay. Unfortunately, no trace of those days remains, but the street has been beautifully maintained and turned into a fashionable street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u30fb\u30fb\u30fb\u30fb fashionable street, I must be an old man from the Showa era lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ruins of a daimyo’s encampment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cGojinya Ruins\u201d are the remains of the residences and government offices of the feudal lords and deputy governors. It is located just north of the fashionable street of the headquarters ruins. It is now a parking lot with a stone monument and an explanatory board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gojinya Inari Shrine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This shrine is quietly located further north along the fashionable street of the ruins of the main camp and further ahead of the ruins of the Imperial Camp. Although small in size, it is a relatively solid shrine with a stream in front of it. Please take a break here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ruins of Muramatsu Family, Kami-Honjin, Shimada-juku<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the site of the Muramatsu House, which used to be the upper headquarters. Unfortunately, there are no remains of the Muramatsu family, only a stone monument, and now a hotel stands on the site.
And the stone monument is small. \u203c\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oi Shrine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Oi Shrine and Kawagoe Ruins were worth seeing on this walk around Shimada-juku.
I don’t mean to imply that the rest of the sites are not good, but this is my honest impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is strange to say that it is typical of Shimada-juku, but it seems to be a prestigious shrine with a history of more than 1,100 years, built in the hope that the Oi River would not flood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oigawa Kawagoe Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Oi Kawagoe Ruins, a National Historic Site, is located near the Oi River. Stepping into the street is like stepping back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was also impressed by the clear and well done restoration of the ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old Tokaido Oigawa River River meeting place<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This seems to have been the place to purchase river fuda to cross the Oi River.
Now and then, it is money to do anything – tears!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shimada City Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Proceeding toward the Oigawa River from the Kawagoe Site, you will see the Shimada City Museum. It is in a good location.
Near the museum you will also find the \u201cOi Chengdaichuan Monument\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And right next to it is the Oi River~!
This scenery was even featured in Hiroshige’s ukiyoe woodblock prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the Shimada Inn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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