Tokaido

Tokaido

 

one of medieval Japan’s most important transportation routes. The Tokaido connected the cities of Edo (known as Tokyo since 1869) and Kyoto, extending 496 km in length. The first references to the Tokaido date from the sixth century. The road had great economic significance, as the two densely populated regions it connected were economically the most highly developed areas of the country. In 1889 a railroad was constructed more or less along the course of the Tokaido. A highway was built along the Tokaido in the 1930’s.