中山道 和田峠西餅茶屋跡

Outstanding scenery!

It was a theme park for the deer.

A pass path that once used to pass a horse. Now it is a logistics road where trucks come and go. No one even knows that a teahouse was in this place.

It was known for its popularity during the Edo period, and it was said that there were four teahouses that flourished.

A traveler who has climbed from Nishi-Shimosuwajuku will have a break here, approaching one of the difficult roads of Nakasendo, Wada Toge. I actually visited on foot, but the stone walls, tombs, and Kannon statues of the parcels of the building still exist, and you can still feel the peaceful atmosphere of those days. In addition, the old map provided by Naoto Kasai is posted, so you can see the journey richly when you imagine it.

Let's leave Shimonosuwa-juku and aim for Wada-shuku. The old Nakasendo, which overlaps with Route 142, will soon overlook Jiunji Temple and Tokuzawa Onsen. There are many mountains in the north. If you go up further while looking at the ruins of Chaya Honjin on your right, the road will turn east when you cross Ohibashi, and you will see the tomb of Ronin Mito on the left side of the road. The Mito Rebellion, which rebelled in 1864 with the idea of ​​a radical rebellion, fought with the Suwa Takashima and Matsumoto Domains dispatched by the Shogunate on November 20, and about 10 people fought. It is a place that is said to have lost its life. ◆ From the site of Nishimochi Chaya to the steep road of the forest ◆ If you go up the national highway further, you will finally divide into a deep mountain, and the surrounding area is a dense forest. Eventually, on the left side of the road, you will see a signpost indicating a small branch of the old Nakasendo. If you step into that small diameter, you will find the remains of Nishimochi Chaya. Originally, this was a place where people and horses for cargo handling on the highway could rest, but eventually four teahouses were opened and became a resting place for travelers who come and go on the pass. From here onward, the old Nakasendo will be a mountain road that goes straight up to the top of the pass in the deep forest along the valley and the stream. Therefore, the journey is much shorter than going on a winding national road by car. However, the road is steep and quite tough. Walk with the equipment of "climbing that lasts for several hours" -especially shoes. It seems that bears appear occasionally, so please carry something that makes a loud noise. However, the lower branches and undergrowth along the road have been cut for those who roam the old road. By the way, after passing Nishimochi Chaya, the national highway branches off from the road to the New Wada Tunnel and the road to the old Wada Pass Tunnel. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of the old Nakasendo in your car, choose the direction of the old Wada Pass tunnel. However, the old tunnel is narrow and has only one lane, so cars are alternating traffic regulated by traffic lights.