Kinomoto-Juku and the Hokkoku Kaidō Road
During the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1867), regional lords known as daimyo were required to make regular trips to Edo, the capital. Each trip was an opportunity to display the lord’s status: they traveled with large retinues of guards, footmen, servants, and family members. The retinues were required to travel on the major roads (kaidō) that connected Edo to the rest of Japan and make frequent stops at the post towns along the way.
The Hokkoku Kaidō Road, which connected Echizen to Edo, passed through Kinomoto-juku. The town was made up of mostly inns, wholesalers, relay stations, sake breweries, and other businesses for travelers. Kinomoto Jizōin Temple stood at the town’s center, and the road near the temple was lined with small canals and willow trees. Several historic buildings and landmarks scattered between the temple and Kinomoto Station have been given protected status to preserve the legacy of the old post town.
Ichirizuka
During the Edo period (1603–1867), travel distance was measured in units called ri (equivalent to about 4 kilometers). Each ri was marked by a tree planted near a mound of earth. These distance markers, known as ichirizuka (literally, “one-ri mounds”), lined the roads leading to the capital. One such marker stood here when Kinomoto-juku functioned as a post town.
Historical Noticeboard
A noticeboard of laws and announcements made by the local government once occupied this spot. These noticeboards were common in post towns, which were frequented by a large number of travelers.