Iseji - Iseji

Originally, this road was a route taken by people from various provinces on pilgrimages to Ise Grand Shrine. The route that branches off from the Tokaido at Hinagaoiwake in Yokkaichi, runs south along the coast of the Ise Plains, passes through Tsu and Matsusaka, and ends at the shrine. This is called the Ise (Main) Highway, but the wider area that includes this route is sometimes called Iseji, and is also another name for Ise Province. During the Edo period, the area was bustling with people making pilgrimages to Ise and visiting the shrine, and it is said that as many as 2 to 3 million people made the journey to Ise on each visit, particularly in 1650 (Keian 3) and 1705 (Hoei 2). In addition to this main road, other routes to the shrine included the Ise-betsu Kaido, which crossed the Suzuka Pass and headed towards Tsu, the Iga (Yamato) Kaido, which entered from Iga Ueno, the Kita Kaido from Nabari, the Minami (Wakayama) Kaido, which crossed the Takami Pass, and the Kumano Kaido, which headed north from southern Kii, as well as a route to the shrine from the sea via Tsu and Ōminato.

[Tatsuo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

本来、伊勢神宮に参詣(さんけい)するための諸国からの参宮街道をいう。四日市(よっかいち)の日永追分(ひながおいわけ)で東海道と分岐し、伊勢平野を海岸に沿って南下、津、松阪を経て神宮に至るルートを伊勢（本）街道とよぶが、その沿線を含めた広い地域を伊勢路と称することもあり、伊勢国の別称ともなっている。江戸時代に盛んになった「伊勢参り」「お陰参り」でにぎわい、とくに1650年（慶安3）、1705年（宝永2）などのお陰参りの際は毎回200万～300万もの人が伊勢に向かったという。参宮ルートとしては本街道のほか、鈴鹿(すずか)峠を越えて津へ向かう伊勢別街道、伊賀上野から入る伊賀（大和(やまと)）街道、名張(なばり)からの北街道、高見峠を越える南（和歌山）街道、南紀州から北上する熊野(くまの)街道などがあり、さらに海上から津や大湊(おおみなと)を経て神宮へのルートもあった。

［伊藤達雄］

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