[Kamiyama City, Yamagata Prefecture] Ushu Kaido Nara boarding house used by 13 feudal lords during the Edo period

Nara boarding houseteeth,Ushu KaidoIt is a post town. Ushu Kaido is One of the five roads of Edo, which connects Edo and Mutsu Province (Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture), divides from Koori-shuku (Fukushima Prefecture) on the Oshu Kaido, and connects Edo and Mutsu Province (Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture). It was an important road leading to Akita Prefecture, Akita Prefecture), and Nara Shigejuku was a post town located in the country's borders with Mutsu Province.

This is the last authentic post town before crossing the mountain pass and is very crowded.

The Ushu Highway passes through Mutsu Province (Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture) for a while from Kuwaori-juku, then crosses Kaneyama Pass and enters Dewa Province. There was Kanayama-juku at Kanayama Pass, but it was a simple post. The main shrine, where the feudal lords could stay, was located in the Naraha boarding house.Daimyo heading to Edo for Sankintatai almost always stop by Narakashuku.There were 13 domains located on the Sea of ​​Japan side, and it seems that Tsugaru domain in Mutsu Province also used them.

Narasha-juku had 23 inns, a honjin (honjin), a waki-honjin (honjin), and a ticket office (a place where messages from the shogunate and feudal lords were posted), and it is said to have been very crowded.

A townscape that retains traces of the past, such as old thatched houses and stone bridges

The current Narashita is KatsuThe Shioya Saito family, which was the headquarters of theMany buildings have been lost, such asTakizawaya (Tanno family residence) which was WakihonjinApproximately 10 buildings still remain as they were back then, and the townscape reminds us of the time as a post town. Masu. Of these Daikokuya, Yamadaya, Shonaiya, the former Takeda family, and Takizawaya have been repaired and restored and are now open to tourists.

two stone arch bridges,Shinbashi and Nozoki BridgeIt was built in the early Meiji period and is still an active road bridge. These are all Tangible cultural assets of Kaminoyama Citydesignated and carefully preserved.

Furthermore, the ancient road that passes through Kanayama Pass retains many traces of the past, with stone Buddhas and other remains remaining.It has been designated as a national historic site along with the Naraya Boarding House Ruins as ``Ushu Kaido Naraya Boarding House/Kanayamagoe''.

Takizawaya (former Tanno family residence), which was the Wakihonjin, has a “history museum” attached.

The Tanno family is a family that served as a headman during the Edo period, and the name of the shop is ``Takizawaya.'' It was originally a sake brewery, and the parlor was used as the Wakimoto Honjin for lodging and rest for feudal lords and senior samurai. The construction date of the building is not clear, but it is estimated that it has been over 250 years since it was built. Currently, it has been relocated a little further away from the former post town, restored to its original appearance as Wakihonjin, and is now a ``historical museum'' that displays historical materials of Naraha boarding house.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Takizawaya
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:45
• Admission fee: General 210 yen, student 160 yen, child 50 yen
• Closed: Mondays, December 28th - January 3rd　

A restaurant has also been opened. Daikokuya, an old folk house with a thatched roof

Daikokuya is located in the center of the post town, south of Motowakihonjin Takizawaya, and is a historic family business. There are ancient documents that show that the building was built in 1808. It is an old folk house with a thatched roof that remains, and with a width of 10.1m and a depth of 17.5m, it was large for its time, and the shape of the partitions has been well preserved. The building was relocated across the street. The tour is free.

Narashita's traditional cuisine, "Omotenashi Gozen" handmade by grandma

At Daikokuya, you can sit around the hearth and enjoy local cuisine prepared by the "Nara Boarding House Grandma's Club."

The ``Omotenashi Gozen'', which uses seasonal ingredients such as wild vegetables, mushrooms, chestnuts, potatoes, and ginkgo nuts, will impress you with its simple yet deep flavor cultivated through tradition. In winter, you can also try the famous natto aburimochi, which is grilled on bamboo skewers and roasted over a hearth. Reservations for Grandma's Cooking must be made at least 5 days in advance for groups of 5 or more with the Kaminoyama City Tourism and Products Association (023-672-0839).

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Daikokuya
• Business period: All year round
• Closed: Wednesdays, early June to early July, year-end and New Year holidays
• Price: “Hospitality Gozen” 2,000 yen
• Application: 5 or more people, reservation at least 5 days in advance
• Reservation reception: Kaminoyama City Tourism and Products Association
• Phone number: 023-672-0839
• URL: Granny's Club's hospitality meal

"Yamada-ya" was rebuilt in the Meiji era

The Yamadaya building was rebuilt after a fire in 1868 (first year of the Meiji era), and now has a tiled roof. Located at the foot of the Nozobashi Bridge, the scenery combined with the old arch bridge is one of the places that exudes a nostalgic atmosphere that is representative of Narakashuku. The tour is free.

Shonai-ya, an official inn of the Shonai clan that still retains gifts received from the feudal lord.

Shonai-ya was the Wakihonjin and was the official inn of the Shonai clan. The status is said to be quasi-honjin level, and the inn tags from when other clans also used it remain. The building is a one-story building with a thatched roof and has four guest rooms. It is one of the oldest remaining private houses in Narashita, with tobacco trays and gifts from the Shonai feudal lord left behind. The building is estimated to date from the mid-1700s. The tour is free.

``Old Takeda House'', a valuable building whose construction date can be accurately determined

The former Takeda family was a one-story building with a thatched roof, and the 1758 map of the mansion clearly states that it was an inn. Additionally, there is ink writing on the kitchen pillar that says it was renovated in 1758, making it a valuable building that can be used to accurately date the building. The tour is free.

Megane Bridge is a two arch bridge. Shinbashi and Nozomi Bridge

Shinbashi was completed in 1880 (Meiji 13) and has a total length of 14.7m and a width of 4.4m. When building this bridge, the prefecture's subsidy of 300 yen was not enough, and the remaining 700 yen was paid by the local community, so bridge money was collected from people passing by, rickshaws, and carts. Nowadays, toll bridges can be found everywhere, but back then they were very rare. The bridge is still in use today, and cars (less than 4 tons) can pass through it.

Nozomi Bridge was built in 1882 (Meiji 15), two years after the new bridge upstream was completed, and has a total length of 10.8 m and a width of 3.5 m. It is still in use today and has a weight limit of 4 tons.

Shinbashi and Nozobashi are called “Meganebashi”. When we think of Megane Bridge, most of the bridges we see in places like Nagasaki have two arches. It is called Megane Bridge because its reflection on the river surface looks like glasses, but Narashita Shinbashi and Nozomi Bridge each have only one arch. The Megane Bridge in Narashita is made up of two bridges that look like glasses.

Kanayama-goe is now safe to walk through conservation activities

Kanayama Pass, located on the border between Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures, is not very high at 623m, making it an easy pass to walk. Ruins such as the Bato Pagoda, Mt. Yudono Monument, and curbstones still remain on the old road that the feudal lord procession walked during the Edo period, giving us a glimpse of the past. Thanks to conservation efforts by local people, it has been kept in its original condition and is now safe to walk on.

Nara boarding house INFORMATON

• Nara boarding house
• Location: Narashita, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-672-1111 (Kamiyama City Board of Education, Lifelong Learning Division)
• access:
• Railway/About 20 minutes from JR Ou Main Line Kaminoyama Onsen Station
• Car: Approximately 20 minutes from Tohoku Chuo Expressway Yamagata Kaminoyama IC
• URL: Yamagata Prefecture official tourism website “Nara Shigejuku”

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