It's new! Nishi Ward Tekuteku Sketch: 10th Hachioji Oiwake

After walking for a while on the old Tokaido in front of Asama Shrine near the Sengencho intersection in the direction of Hodogaya-juku, there is a three-way intersection with the signpost of "Oiwake" standing on the right corner. It is called "Shibo Oiwake" and is a place where the Tokaido and Hachioji Road are divided. The Hachioji Road runs along the Katabira River and passes through Machida to Hachioji-juku in Koshu Kaido.
In Ansei 6 (1859), the opening of Yokohama promoted raw silk trade. A part of the raw silk collected in Hachioji from around Koshu and Joshu was carried by wagons and people and transported to Yokohama through the Hachioji Road (silk road). A traveler who has carried valuable raw silk over a tight mountain path and through a winding road will have been relieved to arrive at Oiwake. Old "Koshin Tower" and "Enmei Jizo-son" are left near Oiwake, and I am very happy that you can still feel the state of the past.

Title, picture, text: SUZUKI Taro (Nishi Ward Cultural Association)