Fujisawa-shuku

nihongo|Fujisawa-shuku|藤沢宿|Fujisawa-shuku was the sixth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

History

Fujisawa-shuku was established as a post station on the Tōkaidō in 1601, but did not become the sixth post station until Totsuka-juku was later established. Before the establishment of the Tōkaidō, Fujisawa flourished as a “temple town” (門前町 "monzen-machi") for Yugyō-ji (遊行寺). Also, it served as a fork along the Odawara Kaidō, which connected Odawara Castle and its two supporting castles, Edo Castle and Hachiōji Castle during the reign of the Late Hōjō clan. The gate of post station (見附 "mitsuke") toward Edo was about the east of Yugyō-ji, the gate of post station toward Kyoto was on the western side of the modern Odakyū Enoshima Line, and these boundaries mark the general limits of Fujisawa-juku.

It was said that there were over 1,000 buildings in the post town, including "honjin", "hatago", etc. [http://www.city.fujisawa.kanagawa.jp/kouhou/page100170.shtml Fujisawa-shuku Bangumi Shōkai] . Fujisawa City Hall. Accessed December 10, 2007.] Up until 1745, the "honjin" for Fujisawa-shuku was the Horiuchi Honjin, but after that, the Maita Honjin was used.

Fujisawa Palace

Fujisawa Palace was established by the Tokugawa family. Its location is between the Fujisawa Municipal Hall and the Fujisawa Municipal Hospital. It was until 1682.

"Meshimori onna" grave

At Eishō-ji (永勝寺), there is a memorial grave for the "meshimori onna" who worked at the local "hatago".

Neighboring post towns

;Tōkaidō:Totsuka-juku - Fujisawa-shuku - Hiratsuka-juku

References