Ome Kaido Walk (1) Shinjuku-Ogikubo: May 28, 2018

Major five roads of the Edo period – Tokaido, Nakasendo, KOshu Kaido, Nikko Kaido and Oshu Kaido -- are widely known, but there were other important roads in pre-modern Japan. Some of them were called waki-kaido, or secondly major roads.

Many roads have been converted into important national and local roads.

I had a walk along Ome Kaido, which connected Shinjuku and Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, through Ome City, western Tokyo. It had nine shukuba stations.

Today’s walk was from Shinjuku to Ogikubo.

Shinjuku is always busy. JR as well as private lines and subway lines use Shinjuku as their terminals. It is the busiest station in Japan. Many skyscrapers stand in the west of the stations.

There are many construction sites.

I found historical photos of Shinjuku on the protection walls of a construction site.

Ome Kaido cross Kanda River and enters into Nakano Ward (City) from Shinjuku Ward.　The bridge is called Yodobashi。

Current Ome Kaido is crowded with cars. There are shops, restaurants and apartment houses at the sides of the road. Subway Marunouchi Line runs under Ome Kaido between Shinjuku and Ogikubo.

I passed Nakano Sakaue station.　The shukuba station of Nakano existed here. There is no historical buildings or monuments remain.

Then, I passed Nabeya Yokocho near subway Shin-Nakano station.

Sanshi-no-mori park was developed in the place where they have had a research center of silk worms.

I moved westward to Asagaya area.

There are lines of gingko trees at the sides of the road around here.

Ome Kaido meets JR Chuo line at Ogikubo.

Today’s walk was about 8 kilometers. There are eight subway stations between Shinjuku and Ogikubo.