Edo Five RoutesThe Five Routes (五街道, Gokaidō), sometimes translated as "Five Highways", were the five centrally administered routes, or kaidō, that connected the de facto capital of Japan at Edo (now Tokyo) with the outer provinces during the Edo period (1603–1868). The most important of the routes was the Tōkaidō, which linked Edo and Kyoto.
JapanJapan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland, it is bordered to the west by the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk in the north, and the East China Sea in the south. The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands alongside over 14,000 smaller islands.
TokyoTokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. The population of the city proper was over 14 million as of 2023. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 33 million residents as of 2025. Lying at the head of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo is part of the Kantō region, on the central coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island.
San'yōdōSan'yōdō (山陽道; Japanese pronunciation:) is a Japanese geographical term. It means both an ancient division of the country and the main road running through it. The San'yōdō corresponds for the most part with the modern conception of the San'yō region. This name derives from the idea that the southern side of the central mountain chain running through Honshū was the "sunny" side, while the northern side was the "shady" (山陰 San'in) side.
San'indōSan'indō (山陰道; Japanese pronunciation:) is a Japanese geographical term. It means both an ancient division of the country and the main road running through it. San'in translates to "the shaded side of a mountain", while dō, depending on the context, can mean either a road, or a circuit, in the sense of delineating a region.
GokishichidōGokishichidō (五畿七道; "five provinces and seven circuits") was the name for ancient administrative units organized in Japan during the Asuka period (AD 538–710), as part of a legal and governmental system borrowed from the Chinese. Though these units did not survive as administrative structures beyond the Muromachi period (1336–1573), they did remain important geographical entities until the 19th century.
Appian WayThe Appian Way, also known by its Latin and Italian name, Via Appia, is one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. Its importance is indicated by its common name, recorded by Statius, of Appia longarum... regina viarum ('the Appian Way, the queen of the long roads').
Nagasaki KaidōThe Nagasaki Kaidō (長崎街道) was a road across Kyūshū from Kokura to Nagasaki, used by daimyō for the sankin-kōtai, and also by the chief of the Dutch trading post at Nagasaki on whom a similar obligation of visiting the shōgun was imposed. The route stretched 228 km and took travelers approximately one week.
EdoHistorical name of Tokyo until 1868 Former city in Musashi, JapanEdo 江戸 (えど)Former cityFolding screen view of Edo in the 17th century, showing Edo Castle on the upper right cornerLocation of the former city of EdoCoordinates: 35°41′02″N 139°46′28″E / 35.68389°N 139.77444°E / 35.68389; 139.77444CountryJapanProvinceMusashiEdo Castle built1457Capital of Japan (De facto)1603Renamed Tokyo1868Government • Type of leaderFeudal governmentPopulation (1721) • Total1,000,000 Edo (江戸; lit.
SaikaidōThe Saikaidō (西海道; Japanese pronunciation:, lit.'Western Sea Circuit') is a Japanese geographical term. It means both an ancient division of the country and the main road running through it. Saikaido was one of the main circuits of the Gokishichidō system, which was originally established during the Asuka period. This name identified the geographic region of Kyūshū and the islands of Tsushima and Iki. It consisted of nine ancient provinces and two islands.
NankaidōNankaidō (南海道; Japanese pronunciation: [naŋ.kaꜜi.doː], lit. 'Southern Sea Circuit') is a Japanese geographical term. It means both an ancient division of the country and the main road running through it. The road connected provincial capitals in this region. It was part of the Gokishichidō system. The Nankaidō encompassed the pre-Meiji provincial lands of Kii and Awaji, plus the four provinces that made up the island of Shikoku: Awa, Sanuki, Tosa, and Iyo.Edo periodJapanese history from 1600 to 1868*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.