Hokkoku Kaidō
edo period highway in Japan
The Hokkoku Kaidō (北国街道, Hokkoku Kaidō) was a highway in Japan during the Edo period. It was a secondary route, ranked below the Edo Five Routes in importance. Because it was developed for travelers going to Zenkō-ji, it was also called Zenkō-ji Kaidō (善光寺街道). It stretched from the Nakasendō's Oiwake-juku to the Hokurikudō's Takada-shuku. Nowadays, the route is traced by Route 18, stretching between the town of Karuizawa and the city of Jōetsu.
Although it ranked below the five major routes, the Hokkoku Kaidō was an important link between the Kantō region and the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. It carried marine products and gold from the mines on Sado. The daimyō (regional ruler) from the Hokuriku region travelled it on their sankin kōtai journeys between their domains and Edo.
Stations of the Hokkoku Kaidō
Though there were 25 post stations along the Hokkoku Kaidō, some of the stations were paired stations (合宿, aijuku). Additionally, Nezumi-shuku and Shinonoi Oiwake-shuku were mid stations (ai no shuku (間宿), at which stayovers were not permitted, reducing the number where travellers could stay to 17.
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