Hakone Barrier

The Hakone Barrier stands near Lake Ashinoko with Mount Byobu at its back, featuring inspection areas, guard houses, and prison cells throughout the complex.

The checkpoint operated from 1619 to 1869 during the Edo period as one of fifty major security stations controlling travel along the Tokaido Road between Edo and Kyoto.

The checkpoint's guards performed detailed inspections of women travelers to prevent wives of feudal lords from secretly leaving Edo, maintaining the shogunate's political control.

Visitors can access the site from Odawara Station by taking a 55-minute bus ride, with admission fees of 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children.

Based on discovered architectural documents from the late Edo period, the 2007 reconstruction used period-accurate techniques and materials to replicate the original structure.

Location: Hakone

Website: https://hakonesekisyo.jp/china_t

GPS coordinates: 35.19236,139.02614

Latest update: May 27, 2025 10:03