Koshu Kaido Walk (13)Isawa-Kofu: Nov. 26, 2023

 

I had the 2^nd day of my late-autumn Koshu Kaido walk. Today’s walked was from Isawa, the 38th shukuba station, to Kofu.

Isawa, a part of Fuefuki City, is famous for its hot spring. It attracts many tourists. But the history of its hot spring is not long. They first found the natural blessings in 1961.

In addition to many hot-spring inns, there are several public facilities. I found people enjoying foot bathing in a public square in front of the railway station.

 

Isawa area is also famous for its agricultural products such as grape. The agriculture in this area (Fuefuki City, Yamanaashi City including Kurihara, and Koshu City including Katsunuma) is registered as “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems” by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

 

There were many waterflood disasters taking place in Isawa area as Fuefuki River meets with Hikawa River in the area.

Fuefuki River used to flow in the town, but the route moved south by hundreds of meters after serious waterfloods in 1907 and 1911. Now, a smaller Byodo River flows the place where Fuefuki River used to be. (See also the top photo. The river's name Fuefuki came from a flute player boy. The statue is standing on a bridge of Byodo River)

 

A bus station is places at a place where a main inn of Isawa shukuba station stood in the Edo era. The bus in the photo was for Shinjuku in Tokyo.

 

Koshu Kaido goes into Kofu City soon after I passed Isawa (Fuefuki City). I walked westwards.

The Southern Alps mountains lie ahead.

 

Walking about 6 kilo meters, I arrived at Kofu Yanagicho shukuba station. The main inn was here. There are few monuments of Koshu Kaido there.

The area is now a commercial and entertainment area.

I will write the information of Kofu in another post.