Walk the old Tokaido from Kakegawa to Hamamatsu
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March 24, 2014 - Walk the old Tokaido from Kakegawa to Hamamatsu
About 15 km walk from Kakegawa (|, 25 minutes east by JR Tokaido line local train from Hamamatsu station), to the next postal town Fukuroi (܈), then the 2nd next Mitsuke () is not easy for me to describe how recommended (or not) in appropriate English.
Over 80% of Kakegawa to Fukuroi part (9.5km) deviates from National Route 1 and is mostly traced by Prefectural Road 253 that is free from traffic jam. Basically this area is not too modernized, but calm and walkable. Just onlycboring.
In some occasion you see pine tree line and abandoned temple. Each things has its own atmosphere but all looks resemble what you saw before en this route.
When strating at Kakegawa, I recommend to take riverside pedestrian path for the first 2-3 km from the main entrance of Kakegawa castle instead of Prefectural Road 253.
The castle itself is reconstructed one just only 20 minutes ago.
Riverside path ends at the bridge from where you can see the small delta in the river and picturesque Nishi-Kakegawa station (|w) of gTenryu-Hamanakoh (Vl) railway company.
After passing under the viaduct just beside above station, you get back to the old Tokaido, then soon find Renyu-Tmple (@S)
Just after crossing over National Route 1, Zenko-Temple (P) is waiting for you there. The same pronunciation and letter as the famous one in Nagano city. Both temples has no relationship and the one here in Kakegawa is almost abandoned.
From Zenko-Temple lined pine trees can be seen.
Fukuroi (܈) is the 26th postal town, just lies in the midst of 53 postal towns along the old Tokaido.
Now Fukuroi city introduces itself as gDoman-naka no Machih (gDoman-nakah means gin the very middle ofh, gMachih does gtownh) as the part of revitalizing project of this small city.
One of its outcome is gDoman-naka Chayah(ǐ^). gChayah means tea shop. While just passing beside it, travelers is invited and welcomed by the old volunteers and served Japanese tea of course for free.
They are a little bit outspoken but quite kind, and have lots of information about the old Tokaido. Unfortunately they seemed not to understand Englishc
In Mistuke (), 6km west from Fukuroi, you can visit the oldest western-style building for elementary school in existence in Japan. Admission fee is free here, too.
Mitsuke postal town now becomes a main part of Iwata (֓c) city, Shizuoka.
16km long trail from Mistuke to Hamamatsu (l) is no doubt the worst part of the old Tokaido abreast of Okitsu-Shizuoka at this stage.
Most part here is filled with hard asphalt to be reborn as heavy traffic road. This area is not only ugly but dangerous. The highlight is crossing over Tenryu river (V), one of the largest river in Japan, where you have to change the path from prefectural highway to sidewalk of National route 1 with putting your life in danger.
Even after you manage to cross the big river, the guidance pointing at the old Tokaido is not visible and only in Japanese even if you find it.
If you are lucky, you can get back to the old 2-3km long trail with calm and good atmosphere. If you are not, you have to continue to walk to Hamamatsu along heavy traffic National route 1.
Because JR Tokaido line does not deviate so much from the old Tokaido during this area, you can take a train here from Iwata station to the second stop Tenryugawa station (Vw), around where some old buildings remain, then again a local train to Hamamatsu, the 1st stop, as alternative.
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List of Posts:
2014/07/04 - Where Heda? 2014/03/24 - Walk the old Tokaido from Kakegawa to Hamamatsu 2014/03/21 - Walk the old Tokaido from Fujieda to Kanaya 2014/03/21 - Walk the old Tokaido from Kanaya to Kakegawa 2014/03/20 - Walk the old Tokaido from Shizuoka to Fujieda 2014/03/19 - Walk the old Tokaido from Okitsu to Shizuoka 2014/01/30 - Matsuzaki, an old fashioned small port town 2014/01/20 - Walk the old Tokaido from kanbara to Okitsu 2014/01/14 - Walk the old Tokaido from Mishima to Yoshihara 2013/12/16 - Walk along the old Tokaido from Hakone to Mishima |
