Explanation of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido 9 Oiso
15.7km from Odawara to Oiso, 35°18′32.4″N, 139°18′55.1″E
Oiso is the eighth of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.
It is currently Oiso-cho, Naka-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture.
When the post station relay system was established on the Tokaido, Oiso was one of the first post stations to be established, along with Kanagawa, Hodogaya, Fujisawa, Hiratsuka, and Odawara.
The distance between Hiratsuka, which is closer to Edo, is only 2.9km, but it is long at 15.7km from Odawara, with the Sakagawa River being crossed on foot.
The town is long and narrow, sandwiched between the sea to the south and the mountains to the north, and the post station is deserted.
The main reason for this is that travelers from Edo would travel to Odawara in preparation for crossing Hakone the next day.
People who came down from Hakone would stay the night in Odawara to rest before crossing the Sakagawa River.
The row of houses in the inn is 1.3 km long, and is made up of six towns along the road from the Edo side: Sanno-cho, Shinmei-cho, Kita-honmachi, Minami-honmachi, Chayamachi (Ishifune-cho), and Minamidai-cho.
In the late Edo period, the inn consisted of three honjin, six wakihonjin, and 66 hatago, for a population of 3,056 and a total of 676 houses.
Honjin and tabiryu were concentrated in Kita-honmachi, Minami-honmachi, and Chayamachi.
There was one wholesaler’s office each in Kita-honmachi and Minami-honmachi.
The street in front of Jifuku-ji Temple divides the inn into a north group and a south group.
Each inn had one wholesaler’s elder, four accountants, two footsitters, and two horsesitters, who took turns performing their duties.
The Edo-side mitsuke was between Keshozaka and Sannomachi, and the Kamigata mitsuke was located a short distance past Shigitatsuan.
After Shigeru Yoshida stepped down as Prime Minister, he lived in seclusion in Oiso.
Even in his later years, he maintained his influence in the political world, so “Oiso” was an alternative name (political term) for Shigeru Yoshida.
VIPs from Japan and abroad continued to visit the castle.
After Yoshida’s death, it was the venue for the Japan-US summit in 1979.
It was completely destroyed by fire in 2009, but was rebuilt with donations.
It was opened to the public as the Oiso Town Local History Museum Annex on April 1, 2017.
① “Hoeido version”
It depicts the entrance to Oiso-juku and a scene of rain falling on the Shonan sea.
The mountain you can see on the right is Mount Koma.
Mount Koma was the hermitage of Tora Gozen, who was in love with Soga Juro in “The Tale of Soga.”
“Tora-aga-ame” refers to the tears that Tora Gozen shed in memory of Juro.
It refers to the rain that fell on the 28th day of the fifth lunar month, the day Juro was killed in battle.
It is painted on the left and right.
The quiet Shonan sea is depicted in the distance on the left.
The shops of the post town lined up on top of each other on the right.
The row of curved trees depicts the scenery of the post town.
② “Gyosho version”
The Shonan sea can be seen behind the row of pine trees.
There are five samurai carrying bows and guns.
There are some walking and smoking, some talking, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
③ “Reisho version”
On the right, there is a traveler resting at a teahouse and another gazing at the Shonan sea.
④ “Hokusai version”
The Torako stone is depicted.
Torako stone is the name of the stone that was treasured by the prostitute Oiso no Tora, who appears in “The Tale of Soga.”
⑤ “Travel image”
Oiso Station.
⑥ “Stamp image”
This is a stamp from Oiso Station.
Hoeido version
Gyousyo version
Reisho version
Hokusai version
Travel image
Stamp image
