Exploring the Post Town of Wada-juku
The Nakasendo is a historic highway running through the heart of Japan, utilized during the Edo Period (1603-1868) to travel between the former, imperial capital of Kyoto and the Tokugawa shogunate's newly installed seat of power in Edo (Tokyo). It spanned a distance of more than 530 kilometers and passed through a total of 69 post towns offering lodging and supplies. Though much of the route has been lost to modernization, some sections of restored trail, as well as a number of preserved post towns, still remain, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience Japan as it looked and felt centuries ago.
One such spot is central Nagano's Wada-juku post town and the splendid trek on the original trail over the mountain pass of the same name—the longest section of the Nakasendo. Combining this excellent walk with a trip to the nearby post town of Shimosuwa for some fantastic sightseeing is the perfect way to maximize your time and Nakasendo experience. The hike itself can be done in a day, but you’ll want to budget two days if including Shimosuwa.
Wada-juku was the 28th post town on the Nakasendo when traveling in the direction of Kyoto. Today it's a charming countryside settlement that, upon first glance, seems rather unassuming. Yet, a walk down its quiet streets reveals plenty of clues pointing to its extraordinary history; particularly the wonderful wooden structures dating back 150 or more years that served travelers on their weeks-long journey from one end of the country to the other.
Wada was an especially important waypoint for two reasons. It's said that almost all travelers on the Nakasendo would spend a night here due to its location at the foot of a difficult mountain pass, and because of the great span separating it from the neighboring post town of Shimosuwa. The 69 stations of the Nakasendo were situated at an average of 8 kilometers apart, but nearly triple that distance (22 kilometers) stood between Wada and Shimosuwa.
It was a vibrant, expansive settlement with more than 100 lodges and 70 tea houses hugging both sides of the street in a continuous row that extended for nearly one kilometer, once the largest of Nagano's 26 post towns. Amongst these was a single honjin inn, a luxury guesthouse reserved for the exclusive use of the highest-ranking daimyo and dignitaries, which now serves as a museum and is Wada's top attraction.
One such spot is central Nagano's Wada-juku post town and the splendid trek on the original trail over the mountain pass of the same name—the longest section of the Nakasendo. Combining this excellent walk with a trip to the nearby post town of Shimosuwa for some fantastic sightseeing is the perfect way to maximize your time and Nakasendo experience. The hike itself can be done in a day, but you’ll want to budget two days if including Shimosuwa.
Wada-juku was the 28th post town on the Nakasendo when traveling in the direction of Kyoto. Today it's a charming countryside settlement that, upon first glance, seems rather unassuming. Yet, a walk down its quiet streets reveals plenty of clues pointing to its extraordinary history; particularly the wonderful wooden structures dating back 150 or more years that served travelers on their weeks-long journey from one end of the country to the other.
Wada was an especially important waypoint for two reasons. It's said that almost all travelers on the Nakasendo would spend a night here due to its location at the foot of a difficult mountain pass, and because of the great span separating it from the neighboring post town of Shimosuwa. The 69 stations of the Nakasendo were situated at an average of 8 kilometers apart, but nearly triple that distance (22 kilometers) stood between Wada and Shimosuwa.
It was a vibrant, expansive settlement with more than 100 lodges and 70 tea houses hugging both sides of the street in a continuous row that extended for nearly one kilometer, once the largest of Nagano's 26 post towns. Amongst these was a single honjin inn, a luxury guesthouse reserved for the exclusive use of the highest-ranking daimyo and dignitaries, which now serves as a museum and is Wada's top attraction.
