The Tokaido’s 37th Stop, Fujikawa-Juku

The Tokaido. The name alone conjures up romantic images of Old Japan and the samurai period. It was one of the strategically most important highways of old Japan, running between Edo and the Capital, Kyoto. 53 stations (Juku) along the Tokaido serviced it’s many passengers, most of whom traveled by foot.
The 37th stop along the old route was Fujikawa-Juku, located in the present day city of Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture.

At it’s peak, Fujikawa-Juku had a population of 1,200 and boasted some 302 buildings. There was one Honjin, being lodgings for daimyo, high-ranking samurai and government officials, also one sub-Honjin, also being reserved for daimyo, high-ranking samurai and government officials, but could also be used by wealthy commoners, providing there were no daimyo or officials due to stay at that time. The rest of the traveling population were serviced by the 36 Hatago, places of lodging for commoners, as well as places for meals and rest.