Shimosuwa-shuku explained

was the twenty-ninth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as being the ending location of the Kōshū Kaidō. It is located in the present-day town of Shimosuwa, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

History

First built around 1601, Shimosawa-shuku flourished as a post town because it was located between two difficult mountain passes, Wada Pass and Shiojiri Pass. The town's onsens made it a heavily used rest area.[1] It also served as the entrance to the Suwa Taisha.

Records show that in 1843, Shimosuwa-juku had 1,345 residents and 315 buildings. Among the building, there was one honjin, one sub-honjin, and 40 hatago.

Neighboring post towns

Nakasendō
  • Wada-shuku - Shimosuwa-shuku - Shiojiri-shuku
    Kōshū Kaidō
  • Kamisuwa-shuku - Shimosuwa-shuku (ending location)

    References

    1. http://aruki.suwa.ne.jp/020/ Shimosuwa-shuku Aruki-net

    36.0764°N 138.0905°W