Hodogaya Post Town

Hodogaya Post Town. Yokohama has blossomed since being set up as an international trading port in the mid 19C to become Japan’s second largest city, even bigger than Osaka. A few kilometres back from the seaside however, lies modern Yokohama City suburb Hodogaya, which in fact has a much older history in its own right. Hodogaya was established in 1601 as the 4th stop westward of Edo (now called Tokyo) for weary Tokaido walkers to rest for the night. In more recent international history, Hodogaya hosts the Commonwealth War Memmorial Graves. Solomn services are held here every year on April 25 and November 11 for Australia/New Zealand and UK servicemen respectively, who perished in Japan as POWs during World War 11. Hodogaya is also a great spot to enjoy the New Year’s Day Hakone Ekiden, a relay race amongst universities along the Old Tokaido from Tokyo to Hakone.Image result for hiroshige hodogaya

Shinmachi Bridge at Hodogaya Post Town, Hiroshige 19C

Relive ancient Tokaido travelling - call into this original Tokaido resthouse (open Sundays)
Relive ancient Tokaido travelling – call into this original Tokaido resthouse (open Sundays)
Locals pop into pray at cute little Sotogawa Shrine by the side of ancient Tokaido at Hodogaya, just as travellers have done for centuries
Locals pop into pray at cute little Sotogawa Shrine by the side of ancient Tokaido at Hodogaya, just as travellers have done for centuries
An original IchiRi Zuka by the side of ancient Tokaido at Hodogaya. These markers used be every Ri (approx 4km) along Tokaido to let travellers know what progress they were making
An original IchiRi Zuka by the side of ancient Tokaido at Hodogaya. These markers used to be every Ri (approx 4km) along Tokaido to let travellers know what progress they were making
Hodogaya also marks the turnoff ancient Tokaido onto Kamakura Kaido - access to Japan's 12C century capital. Apparently the first Shogun's wife, Hojo Masako, drank from this well near the turnoff point when journing east from her home in Izu Peninsula to set up the new capital
Hodogaya also marks the turnoff ancient Tokaido onto Kamakura Kaido – access to Japan’s 12C century capital. Apparently the first Shogun’s wife, Hojo Masako, drank from this well near the turnoff point when journing east from her home in Izu Peninsula to set up the new capital

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