Kobotoke Pass - Kobotoke Pass

A pass on the old Koshu Kaido road on the border between Hachioji, Tokyo and Sagamihara, Kanagawa. It is 548 meters above sea level. It is located halfway between Takao and Sagamiko stations on the JR Chuo Main Line, and the railway and Kobotoke Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway pass under the pass. At the top of the pass, there are monuments bearing poems and songs by writers who passed through here. The topography places it at the saddle between Mount Takao and Mount Kagenobu, and together with Jinba Plateau to the northwest, it forms the Oku-Takao hiking course. During the Edo period, this ridgeline was Edo's mountain defense line, and the Koshu Highway that passes through here was a key route (one of the Five Highways) leading to Kofu Castle, which was used as a refuge from Edo Castle in times of war. Kobotoke Barrier (a nationally designated historic site) located in Komagino at the eastern foot of the mountain was considered particularly important, along with Hakone and Usui Barriers, and was known for the strict inspection of those who entered and left the area. Bijodani Onsen springs well up at the southwest foot of the pass, and is known as a hot spring in a mountain lodge. There is a hiking trail from Takao Station to Onamichi to Kobotoke to Kobotoke Pass to Lake Sagami.

[Yukio Asaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都八王子市と神奈川県相模原(さがみはら)市との境にある旧甲州街道の峠。標高548メートル。JR中央本線の高尾―相模湖両駅の中間にあたり、峠の下を鉄道、中央自動車道の小仏トンネルが通ずる。峠上にはここを通った文人たちの歌碑や詩碑が建てられている。地形からは高尾山と景信山(かげのぶやま)との鞍部(あんぶ)にあたり、北西の陣馬(じんば)高原を加えて、奥高尾ハイキングコースとなっている。この稜線(りょうせん)は江戸時代には江戸の山岳防衛線とされ、またここを過ぎる甲州街道は、有時のおりの江戸城からの避難地とされていた甲府城へ通ずる要道（五街道の一つ）で、東麓(とうろく)の駒木野(こまぎの)に置かれていた小仏関（国指定史跡）は、箱根、碓氷(うすい)の両関とともにとくに重要視され、出入者の取調べの厳重なことで知られていた。峠の南西麓には美女谷温泉(びじょだにおんせん)がわき出し、山宿の湯として知られる。高尾駅―小名路―小仏―小仏峠―相模湖のハイキングコースがある。

［浅香幸雄］

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