| Page Views: 28,050 Last Visit to Tokyo: 2004 | TOKYO by cheesecake17 - last update: Mar 28, 2007 |
1 STATION on the OLD TOKAIDO ROAD |
In my quest to see all 53 STATIONS of the OLD TOKAIDO ROAD, this is number 1
IN HISTORY
Nihon means "Japan" and bashi (hashi) means "bridge", so Nihonbashi literally means "Japan bridge".
There has been a bridge in Nihonbashi which was first built in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyas established a new shogunate... Nihonbashi was the starting point of all 5 official routes during the Edo (Tokygawa) era (1603-1868), and the district was one of the busiest spots in Japan.
It is unknown why the government gave the bridge such a name "Japan bridge". Today, you cannot view the original bridge anymore. Current bridge was built before the Tokyo Olympics were held in 1963.
Hiroshige lived in Nihonbashi from 1849 until he died in 1858.
Distance from Nihonbashi: 0 km
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| nihonbashi , morning scene |
Nihonbashi by Hiroshige
.....Nihonbashi is the starting point for travel along the Tokaido Highway..With the big castle gate in the foreground wide open, a DAIMYO feudal lord's proccession comes across the bridge led by footmen carrying HASAMI-BAKO (daimyo's lacquered traveling boxes) and twirling decorative halberds..
These travelers start early in the morning at 7, which is 4 am today time...In sharp contrast to the brisk movements of the somewhat tense-looking fishermen returning from the fish market, who hastly make way for the proccession, the whole town, including its fire lookouts seems to be still asleep in the morning glow.....
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 Comments for cheesecake17 about Tokyo | | | | |
ladagspa Thu Jul 30, 2009 08:48 UTC
Beautiful pages with lots and loads of info. Can't wait to be there in Sept. | joveyb Sat Jul 18, 2009 15:33 UTC
Some questions? Is members here provide homestay? Also if I intend to go to fuji will one day be enough in fuji and disneyland | DSwede Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:41 UTC
I guess I have been to your hometown of P l Cruz!! I'll be passing through Japan (Tokyo/Kawasaki) for 6 days on my way back to Korea. Small world indeed! | volopolo Sun Mar 30, 2008 01:43 UTC
One of my favorite cities in the world! I love the skyscrapers |
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