Kogaya Sekisho was considered one of the most fortified checkpoints on the Koshu Kaido road during the Edo period, situated at the border between Kai Province (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture) and Musashi Province (present-day Tokyo). It's said to have been initially built by Hojo Ujisato atop Kogaya Pass as a strategic point on the border between Musashi and Sagami Provinces during the Tensho period (1573-1592). Later, it was relocated to the foot of the pass and then, after the fall of the Hojo clan in 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved and developed it to its current location after entering Kanto. According to Edo-era drawings, the checkpoint had gates on the east and west, with an inspection office to the north. A river flowed outside the east gate, crossed by the Komakinoya Bridge. Bamboo fences surrounded the checkpoint, and the riverbed was deepened to control the flow of traffic.
While the number of guards sometimes dropped to three, it generally consisted of a team of four dedicated guards. These guards received land near the checkpoint and had strong ties to Edo, often serving as cultural figures in the community.
All checkpoints nationwide were abolished by an Imperial decree in 1869. Kogaya Sekisho was no exception, and its buildings were demolished. Today, only the Tegataishi (hand-stamp stone), where travelers placed their travel permits, and the Tezukishi (hand-kneeling stone), where they waited for inspection, remain.
In 1888, the Koshu Kaido was rerouted from the Kogaya Pass to its current route over O-darumi. Later, efforts to preserve the old road led to the checkpoint site being designated a National Historic Site in 1928.
The site now retains the atmosphere of the old road and is known as a plum blossom viewing spot, popular with hikers. Kogaya Sekisho is a precious historical site where you can feel the history of the Edo period, and it's also a popular hiking course. In spring, the plum blossoms create a stunning landscape.
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