Picture these ancient mounds. They are the Nishigahara Boundary Stone. Right before you stands a piece of Edo period history. These aren’t just any old mounds. They are ichirizuka. They marked distances along major roads.
The Nishigahara Boundary Stone is special. It’s one of only seventeen ichirizuka left. Most were lost to time. Some were destroyed by modern development. Others fell victim to the elements. The Meiji government even issued a decree ordering their demolition. This pair however survived.
This particular pair marked the second point from Nihonbashi. Nihonbashi is the Bridge of Japan. It was erected in Edo in 1603. The Nishigahara Ichirizuka sat along the Nikko Kaido highway. Also known as the Iwatsuki Highway it was next to Hongo Oiwake. Each mound measures three by three meters. They stand one meter high. Enoki trees shade their earthen surfaces.
Their survival is a testament to local perseverance. Townspeople petitioned for their preservation. Shibusawa Eiichi a prominent figure supported their cause. The road was rerouted to save them. One mound now sits as an island in the middle of Tokyo Metropolitan Route 455. The other remains accessible. A twenty minute walk from Oji Station brings you here. You can almost feel the weight of history. Imagine travelers using these mounds to calculate their journey. They used this pair to reckon their distance to Edo. Think of the palanquins and kago that passed by. Their burdens and destinations.
The Nishigahara Boundary Stone. They stand here silent witnesses to centuries of change. A fascinating blend of history and nature. A reminder of a time when travel was measured differently. The Nishigahara Boundary Stone. A small part of a larger story. A testament to resilience and preservation.