Nakasendo Walk(28)Kano(53/69)-Godo(54/69)-Mieji(55/69)-Akasaka(56/69): May 5, 2018

Today's walk started at Kano, the 53th shukuba station.　It is quite near from JR Gifu Station.

Old buildings related to Nakasendo have disappeared hear. Residential and commercial areas spread along the street. The JR Tokaido Line runs along Nakasendo.

Today’s Gifu is famous for Oda Nobunaga, one of most popular heroes in Japanese history, and Gifu Castle. See also the top photo)

A golden statue of Oda Nobunaga stands in front of JR Gifu station.

(See Gifu and Ogaki: May 4, 2018)

I had about an hour walk and arrived in Nagara River.

It took a few minutes to cross the river and I entered into Godo shukuba, the 54^th station from Nihonbashi. The station lies at the side of a huge river bank of Nagara River.

There have been many flood disasters in the area. People built special banks which surrounded the residential areas to protect themselves from the floods. The areas were called waju.

The buildings of shukuba station were destroyed after the Meiji Revolution and were rebuilt. Some monuments remain.

I walked westward and entered into Mizuho City. The signboard said that it was a city of persimmons and flowers.

I found many greenhouses of cactuses along the street. Mizuho City is one of the biggest cactus producing areas in Japan. (See also the 3rd photo from the top)

I moved forward and arrived in Mieji shukuba station, the 55^th from Nihonbashi. It was a small station. The area lies between Nagara River and Ibi River.

The Mie Shrine locates in the center of the area.

I found many persimmon trees around here. 

The water was calm and beautiful today.

The situation should quite different when there is a flood. I found a signboard places at the side of a rice field. It showed how high the water flood reached in 1976.

I moved westward and crossed the Ibi River. 

Old housed remain in the western side of the river or Roku area.  Many houses here are built on the lands lifted with stone walls. It tells the history of the battle with water flood.

Nakasendo goes through Godo Town with about 1000 people and entered into Ogaki City.

There is a pond where small fish hariyo, one of endangered species are alive at the side of the street.

It is not far away from Akaasaka, the 56th station.