Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(16) Ferryboat on the Tōkaidō. In the background is the familiar silhouette of Mt Fuji.
The roads were often marked by rows of trees planted close together on both sides,
either tall cedars (cryptomeria) or pine trees, their purpose being to define the road and
prevent travelers wandering off it, and also to provide shade from sun and shelter from
rain and snow. Across mountain terrain the roads would become narrower and more diffi-
cult,althoughwellengineered. River-crossingswereconsiderable obstacles, fortherewere
few bridges in the country as opposed to the towns, where bridges were a common fea-
ture. Japanese rivers usually have wide beds, along which for much of the year the flow of
water is divided into relatively narrow streams, at which time they did not present serious
obstacles totravelers. Ferryboats wereused(
16
),andinsomeplaces porterscarried people
or their burdens through the water on their shoulders or on their heads. When floods came
down, such crossings would become temporarily impassable and traffic be brought to an
enforced halt; not for long, however, for water subsides quickly in Japan.
It would seem that the government was faced with a dilemma with regard to roads. On
the one hand, good communication was necessary between Edo and the provinces, to en-
able officials and messengers to go speedily from one place to another; on the other, the
Shogun's fear of rebellion and armed attack made him wish to restrict freedom of move-
mentforthosewhowerenottravelinginhisservice.Heachievedtheseendspartlybymak-
ing the roads suitable only for foot and horse traffic, and partly by keeping in existence the
