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Shukuba (宿場) werestaging post stations during theEdo period inJapan, generally located on one of theEdo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also calledshuku-eki (宿駅). These stage stations, or "stage station towns (宿場町,shukuba-machi)" developed around them, were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation.[1] They were created based on policies for the transportation of goods by horseback that were developed during theNara andHeian periods.
These stations were first established byTokugawa Ieyasu shortly after the end of theBattle of Sekigahara. The first stations were developed along theTōkaidō (followed by stations on theNakasendō and other routes). In 1601, the first of the Tōkaidō'sfifty-three stations were developed, stretching fromShinagawa-juku inEdo toŌtsu-juku inŌmi Province. Not all the post stations were built at the same time, however, as the last one was built in 1624.
The lodgings in the post stations were established for use by public officials and, when there were not enough lodgings, nearby towns were also put into use. The post station'stoiyaba,honjin and sub-honjin were all saved for the public officials. It was hard to receive a profit as the proprietor of these places, but theshōgun provided help in the form of various permits,rice collection and simple money lending, making it possible for the establishments to stay open. Thehatago, retail stores,tea houses, etc., which were designed for general travelers, were able to build a profit.Ai no shuku were intermediate post stations; though they were unofficial resting spots, they had many of the same facilities.
Generally speaking, as theMeiji period arrived and brought along the spread ofrail transport, the number of travelers visiting these post stations greatly declined, as did the prosperity of the post stations.
Many shukuba are preserved as cultural heritage. They are also often the subjects ofUkiyo-e, such as inThe Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō byHiroshige.
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