Arai Post Town

Trip Start Jul 26, 2008
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7
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Trip End Aug 03, 2008


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Saturday, August 16, 2008

After I came back from Tsumago Post Town, I got interested in the Old Five Routes. Tsumago was located on the Nakasendo Old Route, but this time I would like to try another route. It was difficult to find a route well preserved like the one between Magome and Tsumago Post Towns, but while I was surfing on the Web, I happened to find Arai Post Town on Tokaido, which was situated to the west of Hamanako Lake. Checking some pictures of the town, I knew it had a checkpoint of the Tokaido Route and an old inn museum. Actually, at that time, I underestimated the town and I am still not sure that if I should give a report on it, because it is not a big tourist spot, even if I liked it. At least, I didn't see any foreigners there and LP guide does't mention it at all.

Anyway, the town had a Arai Checkpoint with a museum and Hatago Kinokuniya Inn museum. Half an hour in each place is enough to see everhting there. The checkpoint was close to JR Arai station and easy to find. It cost 300 yen for a entrance ticket, but I bought a combination ticket with the entrance to Hatago Kinokuniya for 400 yen. The museum next to the checkpoint was small, but it had a lot of simple and easy legends (unfortunately, only in Japanese) on the checkpoint and the Old Five Routes. The checkpoint building had some figures of officers, an armor, weapons, and a back garden. Honestly, if you are not interested in the Old Routes, you can pass it.

Another attraction in the town was Hatago Kinokuniya Inn Museum. Arai was a post town and there were some Hatago inns for common travelers. Hatago Kinokuniya Inn was one of them and had been used by the Tokugawas. Nowadays it is a museum with a lot of travellers goods. To tell you the truth, I thought it was nothing before I entered it, but it was more interesting than the checkpoint. The reason why I was attracted to the inn was probably that I am also a common traveler. The inn is now a museum, but somehow it made me relax and feel like staying there.

By the way, there is a Hatago inn operetated since 1649 in Akasaka-jyuku, and the present building was built in 1716. The Hatago inn, Ohashiya, seems attractive and popular among seniors enjoying traveling on Tokaido Route. It costs 10,500 yen (100 USD) including dinner and breakfast, but staying there would be an unforgettable experience. In fact, I told my mom about it, she was really interested, seriously thinking when to stay there.
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