The Nakasendō , also called the Kisokaidō (木曾街道), was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo to Kyoto in Japan. There were 69 stations (staging-posts) between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces. In addition to Tokyo and Kyoto, the Nakasendō runs through the modern-day prefectures of Saitama, Gunma, Nagano, Gifu and Shiga, with a total distance of about 534 km (332 mi).
Original ishidatami (stone paving) on the Nakasendō
Along the Nakasendō between Tsumago and Magome.
A modern-day guidepost for the Nakasendō near Takamiya-juku
Odaki waterfall west of Tsumago-juku
69 Stations of the Nakasendō
The 69 Stations of the Nakasendō are the rest areas along the Nakasendō, which ran from Nihonbashi in Edo to Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto. The route stretched approximately 534 km (332 mi) and was an alternate trade route to the Tōkaidō.
Original ishidatami (stone paving) on the Nakasendō
Nihonbashi's highway distance marker
Keisai Eisen's print of Kōnosu-shuku (The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kiso Kaidō)
Hiroshige's print of Annaka-shuku