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Nakasendo at Narai Juku - The Gokaido highways were established by the Tokugawa shogunate as official routes for daimyo feudal lords and their retainers to travel from Kyoto to the capital Edo - now Tokyo. This system of paths and roads facilitated information, troops and dispatches from the government. The passage of people and goods along these roads were checked at various barrier stations along the routes. The Tokaido Road along the Pacific Coast, was the busiest route as it was the most direct and was mostly flat. However, due to the number of river crossings involved along the Tokaido, it was considered dangerous, and many lords sent their wives and children on the longer, but safer inland highway, the Nakasendo. The Nakasendo or the "highway through the eastern mountains” stretched 534 km fromKyoto to Tokyo over mountainous terrain. Important post towns along the Nakasendo included Kusatsu, Maibara, Ochiai, Miyanokoshi, Yabuhara, Shiojiri, Karuizawa, Maebashi and Kawaguchi. These post-towns provided accommodation and lodging for travelers and officials on the old highway. The Nakasendo trails are well marked and attract a growing number of hikers who wish to seek out rural and an older Japan.

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Nakasendo at Narai Juku - The Gokaido highways were established by the Tokugawa shogunate as official routes for daimyo feudal lords and their retainers to travel from Kyoto to the capital Edo - now Tokyo. This system of paths and roads facilitated information, troops and dispatches from the government. The passage of people and goods along these roads were checked at various barrier stations along the routes. The Tokaido Road along the Pacific Coast, was the busiest route as it was the most direct and was mostly flat. However, due to the number of river crossings involved along the Tokaido, it was considered dangerous, and many lords sent their wives and children on the longer, but safer inland highway, the Nakasendo. The Nakasendo or the "highway through the eastern mountains” stretched 534 km fromKyoto to Tokyo over mountainous terrain. Important post towns along the Nakasendo included Kusatsu, Maibara, Ochiai, Miyanokoshi, Yabuhara, Shiojiri, Karuizawa, Maebashi and Kawaguchi. These post-towns provided accommodation and lodging for travelers and officials on the old highway. The Nakasendo trails are well marked and attract a growing number of hikers who wish to seek out rural and an older Japan.