The Samurai Road 3: Pass-Tsumago | 43 Highlights from 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 will introduce you to the Medaki and Odaki Falls which have been sites on the samurai road since ancient times and the legend of Kurashina Sama associated with the waterfalls. I also go to the beautiful Tumaguku where the Ido townscape has been preserved. A mustsea is Tumagjuku Wakihonjin. A great photo spot. Do not miss it. [Music] Medaki Odaki waterfalls. As you go down the stairs, you will hear the powerful sound of the waterfall and then two waterfalls will appear right in front of you. The one on the right is the Medaki Fall and the one on the left is the Odaki fall. This place has been a popular tourist spot and resting place for travelers since the road was built. [Music] Although the height of the waterfall and the depth of the basin have decreased due to changes in the topography by such as Januk, it still retains the splendor of the abundant water flow. It is romantic to think that many feudal lords, samurai, and travelers rested here while looking at the same waterfall. The waterfall was depicted as an illustration for the introduction of Magome in the 1805 Hisoji Famous Places Book Volume 3. This waterfall is also depicted in the 1837 Ukioa woodblock print of the 69 stations of the Kisokaido entitled Kisokkaido Magome Notoge Pass and Distant Views. It is also the setting for the novel Miiamoto Mousashi by Ag Yoshiawa. The legend of Kurashin Sama is told about this waterfall. When Toyotomy Hidoshi came to power in 1586, the lord of Matsumoto Castle in Nagano gave his vassel Kurasha Tomori a rare golden chicken and ordered a journey to present it to Hiroshi. However, this information was leaked to the bandits. The Kurasha family stays at Sumagujuku, but the bandits gave the inkeeper a large sum of money. The inkeeper deceived the Kurusha family to leave before dawn. Then the Kurusha family was attacked by bandits in Odaki, Madaki, and lost their lives. At that moment, the golden chicken jumped into the basin of the Madaki waterfall and disappeared. After that, the cries of chickens could be heard coming from the waterfall. And after hearing the cries, disasters such as landslides began to occur repeatedly. The people of Tumagujuku realized that it was the curse of the Kurasha. It is said that when the people of Tumagujuku built the nearby Kurashina Sorata Shrine in mourning, they could no longer hear the chickens cries and disasters ceased to occur. [Music] [Music] Hello. [Music] Kurashina Soresia. This is a shrine dedicated to the Kurusha which was attacked by bandits and is mentioned in the Kurasha sama legend of Odaki and Midaki. It is said that about 30 people lost their lives in the attack on March 4th, 1586. The Kurusha superiors, the Aasawara clan, and the Kiso clan, which ruled this area, often fought wars, and it is speculated that this attack may have been due to the conflict. [Music] Guu cannon. Since the early modern period, domestic distribution has become more active and horses are increasingly used as a means of transportation and to carry goods. As a result, a twoc cannon was enshrined at the roadside of the old road where the horse suddenly died and it is left as a memorial stone for the animal. What you will see here is unusual because it is a memorial stone for black cattle, not horses. The Ushikata were in charge of transporting goods with black cattles and the leader of the group was the Imi family we introduced earlier. The faces of cannon statues usually have a kind face, but the faces of Batu Cannon and Guutan are characterized by their angry faces. It is believed that the intensity of anger crushes suffering and evil and removes disasters. [Music] Koshin stone monument. It was believed that on the night of Koshin day, which came once every 60 days, neighborhoods should gather at a house and spend all over the night. It is said that when a person sleeps on that night, an insect called sanchi will come out of his body and go to report his daily sins to the emperor in heaven. Therefore, this custom arose from the teaching that it is better to gather without sleeping on that day. The stone monument of this Koshian belief remains here. The late vigil on Koshim day held once every 60 days seems to have started out as a solemn time of worship. But since it was a time when entertainment was scarce, it became a fun party held once every 2 months. This information board says that the koshin belief was introduced from China. You can also find koshin stone monuments in Momejuku and on the road near Odaki. Otsumago and Fujiwara residents. Otsumago is a small village near Tumago Juku. There are several small inns and the old townscape has been preserved. If you go up the hill, you will also find the Fujiwara family residence, a very old private house built in the mid78th century. [Music] stone signpost. If you cross the river by walking on the bridge, you can see a large stone marker about 3 m high inside a private house area. In the past, this place prospered as a junction between Nacasendo and roads. This stone marker was placed at the fork in the road when the new road was opened in 1881. It is now buried among private houses, showing that the road environment has changed over time. [Music] [Music] Omata Bridge. This is a bridge over the Araragi River which flows next to Tsumagojuku. The river joins the Great Kiso River 1.6 km to the north. Omata Bridge has a bridge for cars and a bridge for pedestrians. The pedestrian bridge has wooden railings. There are warnings on the wooden signs. The street below the temple. This is where the movement to preserve the Edo era streetscape of Tsumojuku began. 300 years ago during the Edo period, host towns looked like this. When Tsumojuku gets dark in the evening, each house is lit with lanterns. The lack of other lights and the light of the lanterns give the town a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere. Inme Jizo bunka 10th year 1813 while a villager was fishing in the Araragi river he climbed up a stone was thrown off and fell into the river. When he looked at the stone to see what had happened the sleeping figure of Jizo, a Buddha appeared on the stone. It was said that there was a great commotion in the town. So they pulled it out of the river and held a memorial service here. Every year a festival is held on April 23rd and 24. And it is said that at this time water oozes out of the body like sweat. And it is said that the body takes on the hardships of other people. It is also known as asakaki jizo meaning sweaty jizo and is loved by local people. [Music] Masugata. There was one in Magomejuku, but there was also a Masugata in Tumagagojuku, which served to protect the post town where the feudal lords resided from rebel forces. The Masugata insumjuku is located between Terashittita, the street below the temple, and Kamimachi, where the honen is located. [Music] Post Office Museum. You can see materials such as the history of Japan’s postal system, old mailboxes, and old stamps. An old postman dressed in black and red. He looks like a ninja. Host towns in the Edo period also had the role of messengers. So they were a key point for transmitting information from long ago. [Music] Tourist information center. If you borrowed a bearbell from Magumuku, return it here. You can also get a stamp for your certificate of completion. It is not paper. It is made of thin cyprress wood. As expected, this is a place where forestry has been practiced. If you want to take the bus back to Momejuku, you can buy your bus ticket herein. [Music] [Music] This is the hon used by feudal lords to stay at Sumojuku. It is also the birthplace of Tosson Shimazaki’s mother. Honjins, which were located in post towns all over the country and whose main customers were feudal lords, became unprofitable as a business when the Sankin Kotai finished in the Maji period and fell into disrepair. The hon in Sumagu also came to an end in the 1890s when Tosson Shimazaki’s older brother finished his role as the last head of it and went to work in Tokyo and it was demolished. The current honen is a restored building based on the layout of the late Edo period hon. [Music] There is a jin baka show at the entrance to the honin. This was where officials worked and their job was to provide transportation services with men and horses for passengers. It is said to have been the busiest place in the post town. [Music] Tumagjuku Waki Honjin Okuya Waki Honjin was prepared as a backup in case Honjin could not be used when feudal lords stayed overnight. This was run by the Hayashi family. The name of the accommodation is Okuya. The current building was built entirely of Cyprus in 1877 after the Ado period’s ban on deforestation called Kiso Goboku was lifted. Since Wakihonjin was a temporary facility used by the Sankin Katai, it was not possible to establish a business on one’s own and many of them had side jobs. The Hayashi family ran a suare Japanese rice wine brewing business along with the management of Waki Honjin. [Music] For this reason, even after the end of the sankin Kotai, the building did not suddenly become abandoned, unlike Hongjin and could be maintained. If you light a fire in a hearth in a house without a chimney, black soot will remain on the floor and pillars of the house. This seems to have been useful as an insect repellent. Emperor Magi stayed in the back room. At that time, it was necessary to prepare a high desk in the western style, but this was unusual at that time, and the craftsman did not know the shape, so the lower leg supports were placed on four sides instead of three. Apparently, the desk ended up being a bit difficult to use. When the weather is good, the sun shines through Wakihon Jin like a spotlight, making it a popular photo spot for its mystical scenery. [Music] Nagiso Historical Museum. If you walk through the back of Wii Honjin, you will find the history museum. The history of Tsumago Juku and the Kiso region from ancient times to modern times is explained through antiques, videos, and models. Exhibits include matchlock rifles used for hunting and defense during the Ado period, short sword wakis owned by government officials, saws used to cut down trees, and firefighting suits used during fires. Some exhibits have explanations in English, but many exhibits have explanations only in Japanese. So, we recommend that foreigners use Google Lens [Music] from Magomeuku to Tsumojuku Samurai Road Journey. 43 points of interest to learn about Japanese culture. Volume four. Next time I leave, go to Karp Rock in Sumagago Juku, the final destination of our day trip while experiencing the warmth of people and art. [Music] Curiosity connects us all. If you love discovering real culture, please subscribe this channel.
Vol.3 Medaki, Odaki Waterfalls ～ Nagiso Historical Museum
From Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku, Samurai Road Journey, 43 spots of interest to learn about Japan.
This time I introduce you to the Medaki and Odaki Falls, which have been sights on the Samurai Road since ancient times, and the legend of Kurashina-sama associated with the waterfalls.
I also go to the beautiful Tsumago-juku, where the Edo townscape has been preserved.
A must-see is Tsumago-juku Wakihonjin, a great photo spot.
Do not miss it.
– Series “Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku”
“The Samurai Road”
This is what a foreign tourist called it.
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.3 includes:
– 23. Medaki, Odaki Waterfalls
– 24. Kurashina Soreisya
– 25. Gyutou-Kannon
– 26. Koshin stone monument
– 27. Otsumago / Fujiwara Residence
– 28. Stone Signpost
– 29. Omata Bridge
– 30. The Street Below the Temple
– 31. Enmei Jizo
– 32. Masugata
– 33. Post Office Museum
– 34. Tourist Information Center
– 35. Tsumago-juku Honjin
– 36. Tsumago-juku Waki-Honjin Okuya
– 37. Nagiso Historical Museum
🎥 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.
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■ 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/
■ vTourMap Link
・馬籠宿 / Magome-juku
https://www.vtourmap.com/static/h/loc/en/japantour/Magome-juku_japantour_en.html
・妻籠宿 / Tsumago-juku
https://www.vtourmap.com/static/h/loc/en/japantour/Tsumago-juku_japantour_en.html
・vTourMap
https://www.vtourmap.com/
■ BGM
・BGM: かぐや-kaguya- 月のゆりかご By Yoshinori Tanaka – CC BY 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/yoshinori-tanaka-guitar/kaguya?in=yoshinori-tanaka-guitar/sets/songs-style
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
#馬籠宿 #妻籠宿 #Magomejuku #Tsumagojuku #中山道 #中山道トレイル #Nakasendo #vTourMap
#女滝 #男滝 #倉科祖霊社 #牛頭観音 #中山道庚申碑 #大妻籠 #藤原家住宅 #石柱道標 #尾又橋 #妻籠宿寺下の町並み #延命地蔵
#枡形 #妻籠郵便資料館 #妻籠観光案内所 #本陣 #脇本陣 #南木曽町歴史資料館
#Medaki #Odaki #Kurashina-Soreisya #Gyutou-Kannon #Koshin-stone-monument #Otsumago #Omata-Bridge #Enmei-Jizo
#Masugata #Honjin #Waki-Honjin #Nagiso-Historical-Museum
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