Nakasendo Walk (30) Sekigahara(58/69)-Imasu(59)-Kashiwabara(60)-Samegai(61): May 3, 2019

I resumed my Nakasendo walk after a year’s pause. Today’s walk was from Sekigahara, the 58^th shukuba station from Nihonbashi, to Samegai, the 61th station.

Before starting my Nakasendo walk from Sekigawhara, I moved around the historic place. The Battle of Sekigahara, one of most famous and important battles in Japanese history, took place here in 1600. The photos and an essay are found here.

Only the memories of a main inn (honjin), lower-level inns (waki-honjin and hatago) and other facilities remain along Nakasendo here.

Walking westwards about 10 minutes, I found a ruin of the checkpoint (barrier) of Fuwa. It was built in 673 by the Tenmu Emperor. It was one of the three biggest checkpoints in the ancient history of Japan (other two were checkpoints of Suzuka and Arachi)

The Jinshin War in 672, the biggest war in Japan’s ancient history, took place around here. The photos and information are dound here.

I then found a tomb of Tokiwa, the mother of Minamoto Yoshitsune, one of most popular heroes in Japanese history.

I climbed the Imasu Pass.

Then, I arrived in Imasu, the 59^th shukuba station. It is the last of the 16 stations in Mino area (now Gifu Prefecture). Only the memories of old facilities remain here from the Edo era.

Moving westward, I arrived at the border of Mino (now Gifu Prefecture) and Omi (Shiga). The place was called “a village of sleeping story.” It was because the travelers could exchange sleeping stories between two inns which stood different areas. (See also the top photo)

Nakasendo goes along JR Tokaido Line and the Meishin moter highway.

There is a line of maple trees along the street.

I reached Kashiwabara, the 60^th shukuba startion.　It was a ling station of 1.4 km.

The station stood at the foot of Mr. Ibuki.

They produce good moxa, which is used for moxibustion to relax human body, from Japanese mugwort grown in Mr Ibuki.

There still remain moxa shops. One of them remained traditional style. (See the 3rd photo from the top)

Walking about 6km, I arrived in Samegai, the 61th shukuba station.

Samegai is famous for its clean water. Rich clean water flow throughout the town. (See also the 2nd photo)

There grow groups of water grass called “baikamo” in the creeks. The grass can grow only in very clean water.

There live small fish called hariyo. It is an endangered spiece.

There are several springs in the shukuba station. This photo is called Saigyo spring.

There is a local-product shop next to JR Samegai station. It emphasized clean water.

There are various shops, restaurants and coffee shops in the shukuba station. This coffee shop uses an old house of more than 100 years.

I ate a asset of eel dinner in a restaurant. They keep the eel in the creek for a while to refresh and clean it.

I found many funs in Samegai.