Many years ago, there were numerous villages along the route from Kyoto to what was then called Edo, today being Tokyo. They were called “Post Towns”, and were generally used as stopping points for travelers to rest and resupply. They were also checkpoints whereby the local Daimyo or lord could keep track of the comings and goings of the people. They were generally spaced every ten to twenty miles or so apart.
Today there are very few authentic post towns surviving. One of the most well preserved and well known is Magome about an hour west of Nagoya. You can read about by clicking here for our blog post about Magome. However, there is another one that is equally authentic if not more so that few foreigners visit or know about. It’s the town of Ouchi-juku. The town is located about two hours north of Tokyo in a remote mountain region and is easily reached by car, although there is a train station not too far away.
There is one main street which is lined by dozens of original and rebuilt houses that serve as residences, shops, restaurants and museums. The street itself is largely soil and not paved, lending a more authentic flare to the experience. It does not take long to explore the town unless you choose to stop in one of the many shops or have a bite to eat.
At the north end of the town is a popular overlook area that is accessed by a long flight of stone steps that will get your heart rate going strong. But once at the point, the view is that of the iconic one you see in all the travel blogs and websites. There is no charge for visiting the town, although the convenient parking lots charge a flat fee of 500 yen for the day.
Best of all, while we were there on a Saturday, we hardly encountered any western tourists. It was a refreshing change of scenery from that of overcrowded Tokyo and Kyoto. So if you want a taste of historic Japan, then Ouchi-juku is the place for you.
