Shukuba-machi (a post town)

Long time ago Ibogawa was prosperous as a post town
We thought it might have something to do with the river.
Here are reports on who stayed in the town and their connections with the river.

Who stayed in the town?

Inns were located in three areas, Hara, Shojo and Umaba. They remain their old figure, but nobody continues the business any more. The record of Iguchi Inn at Shojo shows that the guests were not common people and merchants.
They were the feudal lords of western regions of Japan such as Satsuma, Tosa-Kochi, Aki-Hiroshima, and Buzen-Ohtsu.

　

Iguchi-House
(Syojyo,Ibogawa-cyo)

Why the high ranking samurais and the feudal lords, not ordinary travelers came and stayed in Ibogawa
The main reason of it was Sankin-Kotai, the mandatory alternation of residence imposed on the feudal lords.
Here is a report on Sankin-Kotai and the role of the Ibo River.

Why the travelers stopped by in Ibogawa, and what kind of roles did the river play?

　

Under the Sankin-Kotai duty, on the way to Edo (Tokyo), the feudal lords of the western Japan came to Ibogawa by foot.
Then they took Takasebune, as mall boat, and went down the Ibo River to the sea port, where they transferred to a bigger boat to Edo.
Some lords chose to stay overnight before going down the river.
Some were forced to stay due to the rise of water in the river.

　

Old site of a ferry in Shojo

Ferry at Toyo, Ibo
(around 1935)

Now we understand the relationship between the post town and Sankin-Kotai.

The reason why the feudal lords stayed was completely different from our reason to stay at inns today.
It is amazing that Ibogawa became prosperous as a post town due to the presence of the Ibo River.
We also learned that much more people stayed than we thought, especially the powerful feudal lords from the western Japan.

Old highway

The current Route 2

　

Railroad bridge over the Ibo River
(70 years ago)

The current bridge

　

The Tatsuno Station, the JR Sanyo Line
(100 years ago)

the current station