Explanation of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido 14 Hara
11.8km from Yoshiwara-juku to Hara-juku 35°7’31.9″N 138°47’50.4″E
Harajuku is the 13th post station of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.
It is currently Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Before it was developed as a post station, it was called Ukishimagahara.
It was known for the large-scale horse parade held by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who was coming to Kyoto to subjugate Kiso Yoshinaka.
The post station consists of Otsuka-cho, Higashi-cho, and Nishi-cho from the Edo side.
In 1838, the waki-honjin burned down.
As of 1841, there was one honjin, one waki-honjin, 387 houses, and a population of 1,777.
As of 1843, there was one honjin and 25 inns.
There were two wholesale offices in Higashi-cho and Nishi-cho, which were used on a semi-monthly basis.
The wholesale office in Higashi-cho was eventually burned down.
It is the most modest post station among the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.
It was mostly used as a resting place near Numazu-shuku.
The old National Route 1 that runs along Senbon Matsubara was a salt road that formed spontaneously when Takeda Shingen, who had advanced into Suruga, transported salt made in Suruga Bay, and was called the Koshu Kaido.
At one time, the Koshu Kaido was called the Tokaido.
Harajuku is located on a long, narrow island between Suruga Bay and Ukishima Numa to the north.
It is blessed with a beautiful pine grove and views of Mt. Fuji that can be seen from anywhere, and has a warm climate and scenic beauty.
Ukishima Numa is the general name for the group of swamps that existed in the wetlands.
The lowlands to the southeast are the former wetlands of Ukishimagahara.
Large and small swamps are dotted in the wetlands that extend from the Suzu district of Fuji City to the Ukishima district and the Hara district of Numazu City.
These are collectively called Ukishima-numa.
They were also called Kashiwara-numa, Suzu-numa, Fuji-numa, Onuma, Hiro-numa, and others.
Surrounding the swamp is Ukishima-ga-hara, a low marshland covered with wet rice fields, reeds, and wild rice.
Nowadays, flood control projects have made it into a normal rice field.
Over the years, the area has been developed into residential, commercial, and industrial sites.
The number of rice fields is gradually decreasing.
Due to the fragile ground, the Tokaido Shinkansen and Tomei Expressway were built at the foot of Mount Aitaka, avoiding Ukishima-numa.
① “Hoeido version”
The majestic figure of Mt. Fuji is depicted in the center around Ukishima-ga-hara.
The subtitle is “Mt. Fuji in the Morning.”
Mt. Fuji breaks through the frame of the picture and is depicted on the margins.
The white snow is dyed crimson in the morning sun, and the sky in the far west is clear and indigo blue.
Two women and their male companion.
The two women stop in their tracks, fascinated by its grandeur.
Two egrets are pecking at food in a winter-dead rice field.
The egrets are perched on the marshes near the road in the chilly morning, making the viewer feel the cold.
②”Gyousyo version”
Mt. Fuji is neatly drawn near Ukishimagahara.
As with the Hoeido version, Mt. Fuji is drawn outside the frame of the picture.
③ “Reisho version”
Mt. Fuji is placed in the center, and the mountain ridge is straight, emphasizing the wideness of the base.
As expected, this time Mt. Fuji does not extend beyond the margin.
④ “Hokusai version”
A strange group of foreigners is depicted in the scenery around Ukishimagahara.
⑤ “Travel image”
JR Hara Station.
⑥ “Stamp image”
A stamp from JR Hara Station.
Hoeido version
Gyousyo version
Reisho version
Hokusai version
Travel image
Stamp image
