The Bitter End

Art of the Edo Period

The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido

24. Kanaya-juku (Shimada)

Kanaya-juku

Kanaya-juku was the twenty-fourth of the fifty-three stations of the Tokaido. It is located in what is now part of Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. During the Edo period, it was the easternmost post station of Totomi Province.

History

Kanaya-juku was built up on the right bank of the Oi River across from Shimada-juku. There were over 1,000 buildings in the post town, including three honjin, one sub-honjin and 51 hatago. Travelers had an easy travel to Nissaka-shuku, which was about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) away. However, whenever the river's banks overflowed, travelers were not able to pass through Kanaya and on to Shimada-juku, as the Tokugawa shogunate had expressly forbidden the construction of any bridge on the Oi River.

The classic ukiyoe print by Ando Hiroshige (Hoeido edition) from 1831–1834 depicts a daimyo procession on sankin kotai crossing the river. The daimyo is riding in a kago, held about the water by a makeshift platform carried by numerous porters. His retainers are attempting to wade across the river. In the background, a small village is shown in the foothills.