Explanation of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido 11 Hakone
14.8km from Mishima to Hakone, 35°11’22″N 139°01’29″E
Hakone is the tenth station on the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.
It is currently Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Hakone-seki is a checkpoint located in Hakone.
It generally refers to the Hakone checkpoint on the Tokaido, which was established by the Edo Shogunate from 1619 to 1869 on the shores of Lake Ashi in Hakone, Ashigarashimo-gun, Sagami Province.
There were two wholesalers, six honjin, one wakihonjin, 36 hatogo, 197 houses, and a population of 844.
It was built at the request of feudal lords who were having difficulty with the steepness of the road over Hakone.
The shogunate considered establishing a post station in Motohakone, but because it was a temple town of Hakone Gongen, they decided to develop the area around Lake Ashi.
50 houses were relocated from Odawara-juku and Mishima-juku.
Located in western Kanagawa Prefecture, this town belongs to Ashigarashimo-gun. It is on the east side of Hakone Pass and is famous for Hakone Onsen, Lake Ashi, and Hakone Shrine.
There were six checkpoints in Hakone, including the Hakone Checkpoint, Nebukawa (Odawara City), Sengokuhara (Hakone Town), Yagurasawa (Minamiashigara City), Kawamura, and Tani-ga (both in Yamakita Town).
It was established in 1618 in the narrow area between Hakone Pass and Hakone Checkpoint on Mt. Hakone.
In contrast, the area from the checkpoint, where the old town of Hakone was located, towards Odawara-juku is called “Motohakone.”
The residents of Motohakone, dissatisfied with the establishment of the checkpoint, refused to be provided with a honjin , so an artificial town was quickly established near Mishima-juku.
Hakone Onsen is the collective name for the hot springs in the town, including Yumoto, Tonosawa, Ohiradai, Miyanoshita, and Kowakudani.
In the Edo period hot spring rankings, Hakone was ranked as a maegashira hot spring resort.
As of 1686, the Seven Hot Springs of Hakone had the following hot spring basins:
Yumoto: 4 hot spring basins
Tonosawa: 12 hot spring basins
Sokokura: 12 hot spring basins
Miyanoshita: 11 hot spring basins
Dogashima: 2 hot spring basins
Kiga: 4 hot spring basins
Ashi-no-yu: 2 hot spring basins
Total: 47 hot spring basins
It is likely that many people came to Hakone Hachiri from Edo to take a hot spring cure.
After the war, the battle was called the “Hakone Mountain War” between the Seibu/National Land Planning camp (Sunzu Railway → current Izu Hakone Railway, Izu Hakone Bus, etc.) and the Tokyu/Odakyu camp (Hakone Tozan Railway → current Odakyu Hakone, Hakone Tozan Bus, etc.).
The area developed rapidly due to an energetic competition to develop tourism, and is known as one of Japan’s leading hot spring tourist destinations.
The Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race) held on January 2nd and 3rd has a long history.
It is an annual New Year’s event that has produced many famous battles, and is the most lively event in Hakone.
① “Hoeido version”
It depicts a procession of people on their way to Edo for alternate attendance descending a mountain pass.
An extremely steep mountain is depicted in the center.
In contrast, Mount Fuji, covered in white snow, stands silently in the distance.
The figure of the feudal lord’s procession descending the slope represents the crossing of Hakone Pass, which was praised as “the steepest mountain in the world, the valley of a thousand fathoms.”
The expression of the varied rock faces of the mountains is powerful.
No other painting by Hiroshige uses such bold mountain depictions and colors.
② “Gyousyo version”
Hakone Pass is famous for its stone-paved roads.
The border between Izu and Sagami Provinces has an unexpected landscape of exposed stones and rocks.
We can see a traveler crossing the pass in a palanquin and two people climbing up carrying a pole.
③ “Reisho version”
It depicts crossing the pass at night by pine light.
The amount of smoke from the pine light is amazing.
④ “Hokusai version”
It depicts crossing the pass in a palanquin.
⑤ “Travel image”
This is a signboard for the historic Hakone Kaido.
⑥ “Stamp image”
This is a stamp from the Hakone Toge Roadside Station.
Hoeido version
Gyousyo version
Reisho version
Hokusai version
Travel image
Stamp image
