Wami Pass

A pass on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures. It is 984 meters above sea level. During the Edo period, it was a side road called the Women's Highway (Hime Highway) on the south side of the Nakasendo road. The Usui checkpoint on the Nakasendo road was very vigilant, saying "guns in, women out." So women avoided the Usui checkpoint and Usui pass and crossed the pass from Fujioka, Tomioka, and Shimonita to the post town of Kutsukake in Shinshu (now Nakakaruizawa, Karuizawa Town). Hatsutoriya and Motojuku (both now Shimonita Town, Gunma Prefecture), located southeast of the pass, were post towns at the time.

[Murakami Sadao]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

群馬と長野の県境にある峠。標高984メートル。江戸時代、中山道(なかせんどう)南側の女街道（姫街道）といわれた脇(わき)往還の峠で、中山道の碓氷(うすい)関所が「入鉄炮(いりでっぽう)に出女(でおんな)」といって通行を厳しく警戒したので、女の通行人は碓氷関所、碓氷峠を避けて、藤岡、富岡、下仁田(しもにた)からこの峠を越えて信州の沓掛(くつかけ)（現、軽井沢町中軽井沢）の宿に至った。峠の南東にある初鳥屋(はつとりや)、本宿(もとじゅく)（以上、現、群馬県下仁田町）などは当時の宿場である。

［村木定雄］

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