## [[Trails/Nakatsugawa (中津川市)|Nakatsugawa (中津川市)]] | Kisa Road 2 | [[Trails/Magome-juku (馬籠宿)|Magome-juku (馬籠宿)]] #trail/nakasendo/kisa-road ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7129.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7184.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7149.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7142.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7143.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7147.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8179.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8186.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8188.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8182.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8184.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8189.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8191.png]] > [!NOTE] The 17 [[Nakasendō (中山道)|Nakasendo]] Post Stations in Gifu > There were 69 post stations (sometimes called "post towns" and marked with "juku" or "shuku" at the end of the post-station's name) between Nihonbashi in Edo and Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto a distance of 135 ri, 24 cho, and eight ken (around 532 kilometers). The section of highway that went through Mino Province, the southern area of present-day Gifu Prefecture, accounted for one-fourth (around 128 kilometers) of the entire Nakasendo Highway. This section of the [[Nakasendō (中山道)|Nakasendo]] known as the Mino Nakasendo is home to 16 post stations and passes through many forests, hills, and valleys, allowing us to witness the seasonal beauty of Gifu's majestic nature. Kisoji Magome-juku, which is not considered to be part of the Mino Nakasendo but is still located in Gifu, is a bustling sightseeing destination where the traditional post-station atmosphere is well preserved. > [!NOTE] The Nakasendo Highway's Nakatsugawa-juku > [[Cities/Nakatsugawa (中津川市)|Nakatsugawa-juku]] flourished as the gateway of Kisoji Road. It is the 45th post town from Nihonbashi in Edo and fully retains the [[Nakasendō (中山道)|Nakasendo's]] old highway atmosphere. Among the structures here, such as the City-Designated Cultural Property: Soga-ke Jutaku (meaning "Soga Family Residence"), one can see the "udatsu" fire walls, which served as both a means of preventing the spread of fires, and a symbol of one's social status (this is because they are only seen on affluent houses). > > [[Cities/Nakatsugawa (中津川市)|Nakatsugawa-juku]] has been famous for Japanese confections since ancient times. Even today, chestnut confections including the "kurikinton," a delicacy made with sweetened chestnuts that are boiled and then mashed, and other Japanese confections that have originated in [[Cities/Nakatsugawa (中津川市)|Nakatsugawa]] are very popular among many people. ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8193.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8194.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7132.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7133b.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8203.png]] ![[? ochiai-juku IMG_7136.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7140.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8204.png]] > [!NOTE] Information > The Honzon (principal object of worship at a temple) Yakushi Nyorai statue in this temple was carved by Priest Gyouki (Sou Gyouki) in the Nara Era. While the Seibu Emperor was in power, a plague had spread through the country and Sou Gyouki was ordered to travel around the country to create and enshrine the Yakushi Nyorai (Buddha of Healing) statues. He also educated others on the remedies for the diseases. The Yakushi Nyorai statue in Iouji Temple was one of the creation of that time and it is one of the Three Important Yakushi Nyorai Statues of this era, along with the Yakushi Nyorai statue in Houraiji in Mikawa (in Aichi Prefecture) and the Kani Yakushi statue in Knigun Mitake (in Gifu Prefecture). > > The flowers of the Cherry Blossoms in the precinct of the temple bloom beautifully every spring and warms the hearts of people walking by. It has been said that Kiso Yoshinaka picked this branch on his way for a official visitation to capital Kyoto and buried the end of the branch in the soil. From there, the Cherry Blossom tree began to grow. > > A famous tale of Ochiai Juku is called Kitsune Kouyaku (Fox Medicine) and the story also appeared in the publication "Kiso Kaidou Hizakurige." The sign that is used to see the Kitsune Kouyaku is also preserved at this temple. ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7150.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8215.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8216.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7154.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_7171.png]] ![[ochiai-juku IMG_8217.png]]