| Overview |
Honjin was established as a facility with accommodations and resting places for daimyo or feudal lords and visitors to Nikko in the post station. Honjin were only available to dignities, such as imperial envoy, priest, court noble, feudal lord and vassal of shogun etc. The most important thing of post stations including Senju-shuku on the way to Nikko was the traffic of the Nikko chief priests who went back and forth between Edo and Nikko three times a year. In addition, various famous daimyo including Sendai clan Date family and Kubota (Akita) clan Satake family went back and forth between Edo and each hometown under the system of alternate attendance called Sankin-kotai. For example, 41 families traveled on the way to Nikko and 20 families passed through Mito-Sakura Road branching from Nikko Kaido in Senju post station in 1821-22. Honjin in Senju post station is basically put in one place, AKIBA ichirobei lived in Senju 3-chome has served to keep Honjin for a long period by heredity. There is a stone pillar inscribed Senju-juku Honjin site at the entrance of the alley now, and there is also a board explained Honjin next to the alley. |
