Signal Books

Thirty-six approaches to the city gates, called mitsuke, were built as security checkpoints. Although the mitsuke have vanished and only a small section of the outer moat exists today, they survive in the names of districts and metro stations like Akasaka-mitsuke, and Yoysuya-mitsuke. The gates were firmly locked at night, a practice that worked for a time before a more natural order asserted itself.

Nihonbashi Bridge, a 160-foot long wooden construction, built in 1603, making it the starting point for the five great roads that led out of the city. The five trunk roads that converged and bifurcated here were the Tokaido, Nakasendo, Koshu Kaido, Oshu Kaido and Nikko Kaido

Tokaido road, which was kept narrow enough to discourage the movement of armies, and suitable only for travel by foot or horse.