Seasoning the Seasons
This program visits places across Japan to introduce the charms of their local daily life and festivals fostered by the nation's long history.
4. The Castle Towns of the Tokaido Route
0.0Apr 27, 2026 · 28 min
The Tokaido was built around 400 years ago to link Tokyo, then known as Edo, to Kyoto. The route, which is closely tied to the shogunate and Japan's military history, includes 53 post towns, 11 of which are castle towns. Tokugawa Ieyasu established his government in Edo, after uniting Japan early in the 17th century. While he was born in Okazaki Castle, he was based in Hamamatsu Castle as he strove to unify Japan. This journey through the Tokaido's 11 castle towns takes us from east to west.