Kisokaidô: Annaka - Station 15

And now ?

A first castle was built in Annaka in 1559 by Annaka Tadamasa (who gave his name to the town). It was destroyed five years later by Takeda Shingen during the civil wars of the Sengoku period. A second castle was built in 1614 by Ii Noakatsu, son of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s most famous general and became later the seat of the Itakuna family. The Itakuna family remained in charge until the clan feudal system was abolished by Emperor Meiji in 1870. In 1855, Itakuna Katsuakira is remembered for asking his retainers to run up to the Usui pass 28km/18 mi away, thus starting the Japanese long distance runs. A race on the same course is held every year in mid-May.

Every honjin had to keep guest registers, but most of them disappeared in fire or when the station system was stopped at the end of 19^th century. However the Annaka honjin books have been kept, giving invaluable information on the Kisokaido road traffic, the food and lodgings in the station. The honjin itself does not exist anymore. There are several old houses in today’s city, such as this rice granary with white-washed walls and its fireproof windows. Rice was the measure of wealth, measured in “koku” (around 1801) and was kept in well protected granaries.

The castle has been destroyed, but parts of the samurai quarters still exist. This superb building built in 1850 is made of four units where a single samurai lived. During festivals, there are re-enactments with period costumes. Another old administrative building built in 1840 survived and is the subject of Nishijima’s print.

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