The Samurai Road 2: Magome – Old Free tea House | Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku | Nakasendo Trail

The Samurai Road 2: Magome – Old Free tea House | Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku | Nakasendo Trail

From Magomeuku to Tsumagojuku, Samurai Road Journey, 43 spots of interest to learn about Japan. This time I leave Mumi Juku and begins my journey over the mountain pass. There are many sites along the way that tell the story of Japanese history and culture. The free tea house, Ichokutoi Tatea Tea House, which is very popular with tourists, is a must. Do not miss. [Music] Magome Wakihonjin Museum. This museum is a restored part of the Wakihonjin of Magome Juku. Household items from the Edo period are displayed and the culture of Kisoji is introduced. When I asked at the tourist information center, I was told that it is closed during the winter. Old official bulletin board in Magome. Kosatsu were official bulletin boards with prohibitions written on them that the common people had to obey and they were hung in places where they could be seen by the common people called kosatsuba. There are kosatsuba in both maguku and sumagagojuku. We will explain what was written on the boards when we introduced the kosatsuba in sumagagojuku. Kami Jima lookout point. This is the place where Tokyo Tokugawa’s army set up camp when they attacked Mome Castle in 1584. It is now an observation deck with a great view and is a great photo spot overlooking Mount Anna and other mountains. You can also see toan shimazaki’s before the dawnstone monument. [Music] [Music] Nashinoi Zaka. The mountain trail is finally in full swing. There is Nashinoi Zaka where there is a rest area with a watermill. Nashi is a corruption of the word Narasu and indicates that the area is relatively flat and gentle. It may have been a place where travelers could rest since Edo era. If you walk a little further, there is a restaurant called Jury. So, if you haven’t eaten yet, please stop by. Japen Sha’s poem Monument. Japen Sha Ikus an ado period travel writer often traveled along the Nakasendo and apparently stopped at Magome Juku and Sumagago Juku. He wrote the following poem about Magome Juku which is inscribed on the stone monument here. [Music] It means that I didn’t see any urban women, but the kuryokcoa chestnut rice was quite delicious. Magome juku now attracts tourists from all over the world. You’ll be able to see a lot of beautiful urban women and you can also eat delicious kuria. [Music] Kuriocoa is sticky rice steamed with chestnuts. Enjoy the chewy texture and slightly sweet taste of chestnuts. Yeah. Nothing there. [Music] [Music] Togei Noakira monument. In the village where this stone monument is located, there were craftsmen called usshikarta who used oxen to transport goods. In 1856, a dispute arose with a wholesaler over the distribution of freight charges. This stone monument honors Jimbe Iay, the leader of the Ushikarta, who led the Ushikata to victory on that occasion. This is an episode that also appears in Tosson Shimazaki’s novel Before the Dawn. This is a monument that shows that the transportation business and its interests were great in the days when this road was the main road for people and goods to come and go. [Music] Imi residence. This is the house of the Imi family, the leader of the Ushikata. In front of the house is a large stone for tethering cows. The exterior of the house lined with lattis work retains the appearance of houses and villages from the Edo and Maji eras. Walking around this area gives us a very nostalgic feeling. Someone had left heart marks on the pile of snow. What the [Music] You got [Music] Kumano Shrine since ancient times. Every village in Japan has had its own shrines and temples where they were worshiped. Kumano Shrine is located in this area. Let’s stop by and pray for a safe trip. [Music] Elevation 777 m lucky point. The path over the pass gets steeper and harder on your legs, but you’re almost at the top of the pass. Next to the Beware of Bears sign, you will find the elevation 777 need M information board. Elevation 777 is a lucky number in Japan, too. When some people see this number, they shout fever with joy. 777. Congratulations. Almost at the top of the pass. It’s all downhill from here. Let’s rejoice. Fever. [Music] [Music] Prefectural border. Japan has 47 prefectures. Until 2005, both Magome Juku and Sumagujuku were in Nagano Prefecture. In 2005, Magome Juku, which was close to Gefu Prefecture, was incorporated into Gefu Prefecture. So, Magomejuku became part of Gefu Prefecture and Sumaguku became part of Nagano Prefecture. Then, the prefectural border was established at the mountain pass. On the trail, you can experience a trip that crosses the profile border. There is this information board at theal border. Tea house on the mountain pass. Once you cross the prefectural border, there is a tea house. If you have enough time, let’s take a break. You can enjoy the famous Goh Mochi tea and coffee. From here, you will walk through the forest. There is no place to shop until you get close to Tsumagojuku. [Music] I [Music] Along the way, I saw stone monuments of Namu Amidabsu and Sankai Ban. Ray as well as Jizo Bosatsu. Namu Amidabutsu is a vow that says we entrust everything to the enlightened Buddha. We will wholeheartedly obey the enlightened Buddha. Sankai Ban is a monument dedicated to the spirits that exist in the three realms of Buddhism. The three worlds of Buddhism are the world of desire, the world of people with appetite and sexual desire, the world of color, the world of people who have no appetite but are bound to bodies and substances. And the world of colorlessness, the world of transcendent people who are not bound to bodies and substances. This stone monument shows that in the past the people of this surrounding village had a strong belief in Buddhism. [Music] Ichi Koko Tochi Tateba Tea House. This place, Ichi Koko Tochi, has been a resting place for travelers to cure their fatigue since ancient times. There used to be seven houses, but now there is only one, the house of the Machino family. Although this house has been slightly reduced in size, it is a valuable building that is still in the condition it was in during the late Edo period, 1800s. Currently, local volunteers are stationed there, offering free hot tea and candy to travelers. They also served tea in a friendly manner to foreigners who are visiting for the first time. There were boards that said, “Where are you from?” It was winter in December, but travelers from France, Canada, Italy, India, Switzerland, England, Australia, the Netherlands, and Indonesia visited the tea house. This is a very popular rest stop even for foreigners. [Music] Shirakiaratami Bansio and Coyasu Cannon. Next to the tea house are the ruins of Ichigokutoi, Shiraakiaratam Bansio and Coyasu Cannon. In the past, wood was an extremely valuable and highquality resource and a source of government revenue. For this reason, the government prohibited unauthorized harvesting and transportation and set up guardouses to monitor the unauthorized removal of wood. Shirkiaratame Bansio operated as a guard house at this location until 1869. It is said that permission stamps were burned into felled cypress trees and shipments including twigs were monitored. Before 1749, it was located in Kudaridani, but it seems that it was moved here because of a landslide called Januk. Compared to the soil on the Magomeuku side of the mountain, the soil on the Tsumagojuku side is less viscous, soft, and crumbles easily, making it an area where many landslides called Januk occur. The area around Tumagagojuku has been prone to landslides since ancient times. Please take a look at the difference in soil quality between the Magomejuku side and the Tsumagojuku side. There is also a legend that those who live around Ichigokui do not have difficult births. Coyasu Cannon is enshrined here to pray for safe child birth. This place was also destroyed by a Januka in 1865 and rebuilt. The weeping cherry tree on the side is a strong tree that survived two januk and is still standing today. The festival is held every year on April 15th. [Music] cameoi [Music] branch of God. This tree is called camoigi. It is the resting place of god. According to an old legend, the mountain god or Tangga is believed to sit on the lower branches of this tree which extend from the bottom to the top. It is said that if you cut or damage it, you will be cursed. It is said that somabito people who worked in forestry were even afraid to walk under the trees. [Music] [Music] Gongan Zawa Bridge. This is the bridge near the stairs leading down to Odaki and Medaki. Nearby is a bus stop called Odarudaki and there are four buses a day to Magomeuku. The last one going to Magomeuku is about 1650 as of December 2023. Please use it if you stop halfway along the trail. From here, you’ll have to go down some steep stairs, so be careful where you step and walk down slowly. From Magomeuku to Tsumagojuku Samurai Road Journey, 43 points of interest to learn about Japanese culture. Volume 3. Next time I cross the pass and go to Tsumago Juku Honjin and Wakihonjin where feudal lords and emperor had stayed since 400 years ago. Curiosity connects us all. If you love discovering real culture, please subscribe this channel.

“The Samurai Road” – That’s what a visiting tourist once called it.

From Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku, Samurai Road Journey, 43 spots of interest to learn about Japan.
This time I leave Magome-juku and begins my journey over the mountain pass.
There are many sights along the way that tell the story of Japanese history and culture.
The free teahouse “Ichikokutochi Tateba Tea House”‘, which is very popular with tourists, is a must.
Do not miss.

Nakasendo was traveled by feudal lords and samurai from the Edo period 400 years ago. As a resting place during the journey, post towns called “XYZ-juku” were established for each distance that could be traveled in a day.
With the development of railroads and national roads, many post towns ceased to serve their purpose, but Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku, two neighboring post towns, remain and still attract many people as tourist destinations that retain the atmosphere of the Edo period.
In particular, the “Nakasendo trail”, a one-day trip along the mountain pass connecting these two post towns, is very popular among foreign tourists.

“There are mountains, rivers, roads, old houses and fields. Only there is no sea. It’s like a nation.”
These are the words of a foreign tourist.

Beautiful Japanese nature and ancient Japanese culture. Local people are friendly to both foreigners and Japanese.
　
Through this video, we hope that tourists who come there can understand and enjoy it more deeply.
We try to introduce tourist sites and Japanese culture in a way that is as easy to understand as possible for both foreigners and Japanese.

■Map & Index
Tour Map　https://www.vtourmap.com/static/h/sansaaan/vtourmap_sights_en.html#13/35.5481/137.5842
Spot Index　https://www.vtourmap.com/static/index/MagomeTsumagoTour_en.html

🔹 Episode Vol.2 includes:
– 08. Magome Waki-Honjin Museum
– 09. Old Official Bulletin Board in Magome
– 10. Kami-Jimba Lookout point
– 11. Nashinoki-zaka
– 12. Jippensha Ikku’s Poem Monument
– 13. Touge no Okashira Monument
– 14. Imai Residence
– 15. Kumano Shrine
– 16. Elevation 777m Lucky point
– 17. Prefectural border
– 18. Tea House on the mountain pass
– 19. Ichikokutochi Tateba Free Tea House
– 20. Shirakiaratame Bansyo / Koyasu Kannon
– 21. Kamoigi – Branch of God
– 22. Gongenzawa bridge

🎥 Full Video Series:
– Vol.1: Magome-juku – Magome Signpost → Toson Museum

– Vol.2: Free tea house – Waki-Honjin Museum → Gongenzawa Bridge

– Vol.3: Water Falls – Medaki & Odaki Waterfalls → Nagiso Historical Museum
(To be released at a later date)
– Vol.4: Tsumago-juku – Ryokan FUJIOTO → Carp Rock
(To be released at a later date)

👍 If you enjoyed the journey, don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share this video!
🧭 For more guided tours of Japan’s hidden gems, check out the rest of the vTourMap Global series.
🔔 Enable notifications to never miss a cultural adventure.

■ vTourMap Link
・Magome-juku
　https://www.vtourmap.com/static/h/loc/en/japantour/Magome-juku_japantour_en.html
・Tsumago-juku
　https://www.vtourmap.com/static/h/loc/en/japantour/Tsumago-juku_japantour_en.html
・vTourMap
　https://www.vtourmap.com/

■ BGM
　・BGM: 桜色に染めて-Duo-/Dye Me In our memories By Yoshinori Tanaka – CC BY 3.0
　　https://soundcloud.com/yoshinori-tanaka-guitar/duo-dye-me-in-our-memories?in=yoshinori-tanaka-guitar/sets/songs-style

　CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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#Takafudajo #Wakihonjin #Jippensha_Ikku #Elevation777 #Ichikokutochi #Kamoigi
#高札場 #馬籠脇本陣 #十返舎一九 #標高777 #一石栃立場茶屋 #神居木