On tour with John: The Tokaido Wayfarer

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

John McBride, a Walk Japan Tour leader, will lead us on a virtual tour along one of Japan’s two greatest highways, the Tokaido, of the Edo Period (1603-1868). Together with the Nakasendo, these were the principal thoroughfares that connected the Shogun’s power base in Edo (today’s Tokyo) with the Kyoto, the home of the imperial family.

Nihonbashi and Sanjo Ohashi, both famed bridges to this day in Japan, marked, respectively the eastern end and western end of the highways. Thereafter they diverged from one another with the Tokaido skirting the Pacific Ocean coast, while the Nakasendo threaded its way inland through mountains.

Both roads were much more than just conduits for travel. They became strategically, culturally and socially important arteries that brought forth guide books, comedic novels, and Japan’s iconic woodblock prints by the likes of Hiroshige.

The Tokaido, in particular has a great hold on the Japanese public imagination, so much so that the first ever Shinkansen bullet train line, which also connects Tokyo with Kyoto, was named after it. However, by far and away its most famous motif is Mt. Fuji, which dominates the view for a large part of its central section.

John McBride has travelled extensively on foot along Japan’s old highways including the Tokaido. He intermingles these first-hand experiences with reference to The Illustrated Guide to the Tokaido (Tokaido Meisho-zue), which was first published in 1797, for an illuminating and enjoyable virtual exploration of the Tokaido.