Tokaido 57 Walk (3) Yodo-Iwashimizu Hachiman: Mar 29, 2025

I started today’s walking from Yodo shukuba station and proceeded to Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine.

It is said that a castle was first built in Yodo around the 15th century and many rulers used it as their base. At the end of the 16th century, it became the residence of Chacha (Yodo-dono), one of the wives of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the first half of the 17th century during the Edo period, a new Yodo Castle was built and existed until the Meiji period.

 

The castle ruins are now preserved as a park. Some stone walls remain.

A shrine has also been built on the site.

 

Part of the area where the shukuba station once stood is now the Kyoto Racecourse. It opened in 1925 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

It is one of Japan's leading racecourses.

It has huge studium seatings, betting booths, theater rooms, restaurants, shops and many other facilities in addition to a horserace course. It can accommodate more than 100,000 spectators.

 

There were no races today, but quite a few people gathered. Some of them were buying betting tickets for the horse races. Here, horse races from all over the country were broadcast in the form of a public view, and people enjoyed betting while watching.

Others were visiting with their children. Families were enjoying meals, while kids were running around on the grass. (See the 2nd photo)

Many early-blooming Kawachi cherry trees were planted near Yodo, and it is good time to see them. About 200 cherry trees were planted along the waterway, about a 10-minute walk from Keihan Electric Railway Yodo Station. (See also the 4th photo)

 

The Yodo River (Uji River) and two tributaries (Katsura River and Kizu River) flow close together in this area. The Tokaido road runs along the right bank of the Yodo River, sometimes through towns.

 

Then, it goes sometimes through fields.

 

Walking about 3 kilometers from Yodo shukuba, I crossed the Yodo River. 

Then, I arrived at an observation tower. From there, I could see the view of the Yodo River and the Kizu River merging. (See the top photo)

 

The Tokaido left Kyoto City (Fushimi Ward) and entered Yawata City when I crossed the Kizu River.

 

Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine here was built in the 9th century and is one of Japan's leading Hachiman shrines. It stands on Mt. Otokoyama, which is 143 meters above sea level. Many of its buildings are registered as national treasures. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

I went up the mountain in a cable car. The panoramic view of Kyoto City was impressive from the observation deck.