Izumo Kaido MAIN

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Izumo Kaido, The Old Trade Road of Izumo
出雲街道



　“出雲路”　と　縁結び


The Old Road of Izumo, connecting Himeji in Sanyoo 山陽 (former Harima 播磨 province) at the Inland Sea with Matsue and further to Izumo in San-In 山陰 at the Sea of Japan. This old trade road had 21 stations and was about 220 km long.


Izumo is the site of the famous shrine of olden times, Izumo Taisha 出雲大社. Nearby, in Hi no Misaki, the gods used to fish the Japanese islands out of the sea. A pilgrimage to Izumo was very popular in the Edo period.

And the Feudal Lords with their large entourage used this road on their yearly obligatory visits to the capital of Edo. At the distance of one RI ( 2.44 miles) ther was a special stone marker (distance marker, milestsone, ichiri zuka, ichirizuka 一里塚).

The area around Izumo had a lot of metal, silver and iron, which was transported along parts of this road for further distribution in Japan.
The old records of Izumo, Izumo Fudoki are quite famous for portraying the area.
Izumo Fudoki (Izumo Fuudoki 出雲風土記)


Some parts of this old postal road are very close to my home.
I will tell you about the various postal station towns and things on the way, as I find time to visit them.


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Himeji 姫路

Himeji Castle 姫路城



Daruma Dolls from Himeji

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飾西宿


觜崎宿


輪袈裟の清水、新宮の道標

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Senbon 千本宿

The official lodging at this postal station. Honjin 千本宿本陣




相坂峠

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Mikazuki Han Jinya 三日月藩陣屋
Hyogo Prefecture

The official lodging house of Mikazuki Town



The bridge leading to the compound 通用御門橋

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Sayo and Hirafuku

Sayoo 佐用宿　



平福宿 Hirafuku




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Mimasaka, Doi Juku 美作市土居宿

Crossing the pass of Man no Tawa, the traveller reaches Doi.

The postal station town of Doi is trying to revive the rather dull village.
Here is an extra report about my visit on December 2006.


Read my detailed story here !




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The Pass Sugisaka 杉坂峠

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Mimasaka, Temple Buppo-Ji (buppoo ji) 仏法寺

This temple is famous for its huge gingko tree.
It also features a Kannon preventing from Alzheimer and a Jizo who cares for children lost before birth.




Read my detailed story here !

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Emi 江見宿


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Katsumata 勝間田宿


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Mimasaka, Kasagake no Mori [美作市] 笠掛の森
Kasakake no Mori ( かさかけのもり )



The legend of this old tree goes back to the year 1331 and the famous Emperor Go-Daigo.

笠掛の森




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Tsuyama Town 津山市

Eastern Castle Compound 城東地区

Western Castle Compound 城西地区


Daruma from Tsuyama

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In no Shoo 院庄宿

Takano Shrine, Takano Jinja 高野神社

Sakura Jinja 作楽神社

Nirami-ai no Matsu にらみ合いの松

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Tsuboi 坪井宿


Hirai 坪井宿

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Kuse　久世宿




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Katsuyama 勝山宿
fomer Takada, Takata 高田宿



Read my article HERE !

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Mikamo 美甘宿

MIKAMO


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Shinjo 新庄宿と四十曲峠

SHINJO

Shinjo is now famous for its cherry blossoms along the old road.

From Shinjo, the road crosses a steep pass and into Tottori Prefecture.

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Itaibara 板井原宿

ITAIBARA

Now almost deserted, with a steep brook.


A bit further down is the famous shrine of
KAMOCHI 金持 （かもち）


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Ne-U Machi, Neumachi 根雨宿

NEU, NE-U


Famous for dealing in iron. Now a rather modern town.




Daruma Museum:
Metal Manufacturing in the Izumo region

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Nibu, Sanbu 二部宿､三部宿

Famous for its iron trade.


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Mizoguchi 溝口宿

From here you have a beautiful view to Mt. Daizen, the Fuji of Tottori prefecture.


Yonago Castle Town 米子城下町

Situated at the Sea of Japan

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Yasugi 安来宿

The mile stone at this town.




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Matsue Castle Town 松江城下


Fujieda Daruma :
Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yagumo) and Matsue

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............................... FINALLY

Izumo 出雲郷宿

Click HERE to look at the Great Shrine of Izumo, 出雲大社, goal of the road


The tenth lunar month (now November) was known for the great migration of the Japanese gods. They would all go to celebrate at the great shrine of Izumo, so the rest of Japan was "without gods, kami no rusu".

Month without Gods and HAIKU

Izumo Fudoki (Izumo Fuudoki 出雲風土記) Records of Ancient Izumo, 733


Kannabi, a special place for GODS ... My Introduction
神奈備(かむなび)

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The deity Daikoku of the Izumo Grand Shrine

Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo External LINK


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Reference

Names of the Old Provinces of Japan


My Japanese Reference

出雲街道 Pumpkin, vol 1 and following

　西国街道: 廿日市から大野浦まで　

Old Towns of All of Japan 町並みリスト


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Alphabetical Index of the Daruma Museum

Worldkigo Database