It
is the Golden Week holiday season. I walked Nakasendo.
Today’s
course was from Takasaki, the 13th shukuba station from Nihonbashi, Tokyo, through Itahana to Annaka.
Takasaki
is one of important transportation hubs in the eastern Japan. It is the railway
junction of Hokuriku and Joetsu bullet train (shinkansen) lines. It is also a junction of highways.
Takasaki
is known as a city of music as it has a local orchestra. The ruin of the castle
is now used as a park and cultural centers including a music hall. Open-air
music performances were played there.
The
city is also known for its Bodhidharma dolls. About 80% of the dolls in Japan
are produced in Takasaki. There are tens of factories and shops of the dolls along
Nakasendo. I visited some of them. (see also the top photo)
I
walked about 8 kilometers and enter into Itahana shukuba station. A part of the main guest house, or honjun, is preserved. Kazunomiya, a royal
family member and one of the heroines at the end of the Edo era, stayed here
when she moved to Edo (Tokyo) from Kyoto to marry to Tokugawa shogun. It is one
of well-known historical episodes in Japan.
Public
water is running along Nakasendo. It was made in the Edo era. Historical
memories exist in the town.
The
country’s oldest church built by a Japanese person remains in Annaka. It is
Annaka Church. Niijima Jo, a famous priest and one of leaders of the country’s
education at the beginning of the Meiji period, opened the church.
Annaka
is also famous as a birth place of Japan’s marathon. The landlord ordered his
men to have long-distance runs for exercise in the Edo era.
A
marathon race is held every year to commemorate the historical event. Flags and
illustrations of the historical event are displayed in many places.
I
also visited Isobe, a town of hot spring, near Annaka shukuba station. The place is where the design of hot spring was
first used in the Edo era. It is now used nationwide. (see the photo 3rd from thr top)
The
town offers public footbath service. I enjoyed it.
No comments:
Post a Comment