Old Tokaido Road: Hakone-juku Cedar Avenue

Overview

Walking along the old Tokaido Road in Hakone, you'll encounter the "Old Tokaido Road: Hakone-juku Cedar Avenue," a place where the atmosphere of the Edo period remains strong. Rows of massive cedar trees, over 400 years old, create a captivating scene that has charmed countless visitors. Originally, it served as a resting place for travelers crossing Hakone, protecting them from the strong summer sun and harsh winter winds. This cedar avenue is said to have been planted with the Hakone Gongen shrine in mind (a syncretic faith combining mountain worship and Shugendo practices related to the sacred mountain / now Hakone Shrine). The line, "Even at midday, it's dark; the cedar trees stand in rows," in the song "Hakone Eight Miles" (Hakone Hachi-ri), composed by Takitaro Taki and written by Makoto Torii, is said to refer to this old Tokaido cedar avenue. While feeling the weight of history, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll surrounded by the quiet, serene atmosphere of the cedar avenue. This is a recommended spot to experience Hakone's nature and history.