Five Highways - Gokaido

The most important highways that ran through central Honshu starting from Edo. In the Edo period, these generally referred to the Tokaido (Shinagawa to Otsu, extended to Moriguchi), Nakasendo (Itabashi to Moriyama), Nikko Dochu (Senju to Hachiishi), Oshu Dochu (Shirasawa to Shirakawa), and Koshu Dochu (Naito Shinjuku or Kamitakaido to Kami-Suwa), each of which had several additional highways. These five highways and their associated highways were notable for being directly controlled by the Shogunate's road magistrates, even if they were within the domains of feudal domains. However, at the time, there was no clear definition of the Five Highways, and some important road officials considered the two roads other than the Tokaido, Nakasendo, and Nikko Dochu to be the Hokuriku Do and one other road, the name of which was unknown. Furthermore, the Shogunate's traffic laws regarding the Five Highways were also applied to many side roads throughout the country.

[Yoshinari Maruyama]

"Transportation History" edited by Kodama Kota and Toyoda Takeshi (1970, Yamakawa Publishing)" ▽ "Post Stations" by Kodama Kota (1960, Shibundo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸を起点として本州中央部を走る最重要の街道。江戸時代には一般に、東海道（品川(しながわ)～大津(おおつ)、延長して守口(もりぐち)）、中山道(なかせんどう)（板橋(いたばし)～守山(もりやま)）、日光道中（千住(せんじゅ)～鉢石(はちいし)）、奥州(おうしゅう)道中（白沢(しらさわ)～白川(しらかわ)）、甲州(こうしゅう)道中（内藤新宿(ないとうしんじゅく)または上高井戸(かみたかいど)～上諏訪(かみすわ)）をさし、それぞれにはいくつかの街道が付属した。この五街道と付属の街道は、それが藩領内であっても、幕府の道中奉行(どうちゅうぶぎょう)が直接支配した点に特徴がある。もっとも当時、五街道についての明確な概念規定があったわけではなく、東海道、中山道、日光道中以外の2道を北陸道および他の1街道とし、後者の名称は不明とする枢要な地位の道中関係者もいた。なお、五街道に関する幕府の交通法令は、全国の脇(わき)街道などにも多く準用された。

［丸山雍成］

『児玉幸多・豊田武編『交通史』（1970・山川出版社）』▽『児玉幸多著『宿駅』（1960・至文堂）』

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