街道(かいどう)

かいどう
noun
highway, main road
transportationgeography
1. highway, main road, historical route
A major road or route, especially one with historical significance. Often refers to the major highways of the Edo period that connected important cities.
東海道(とうかいどう)は江戸(えど)と京都(きょうと)を結(むす)ぶ街道(かいどう)だった。
The Tokaido was the highway connecting Edo and Kyoto.
古(ふる)い街道(かいどう)に沿(そ)って宿場町(しゅくばまち)が並(なら)んでいた。
Post towns were lined up along the old highway.
この街道(かいどう)は昔(むかし)、参勤交代(さんきんこうたい)の大名行列(だいみょうぎょうれつ)が通(とお)った道(みち)として知(し)られている。
This highway is known as a road that daimyo processions used to travel along during the alternate attendance system.

Usage

Primarily associated with historical highways, especially the five major routes (五街道(ごかいどう)) of the Edo period. Also used figuratively in the expression 出世(しゅっせ)街道(かいどう) (path to success).

Famous routes

  • 東海道(とうかいどう): Tokaido (Edo to Kyoto along the coast)
  • 中山道(なかせんどう): Nakasendo (Edo to Kyoto through the mountains)
  • 日光街道(にっこうかいどう): Nikko Kaido (Edo to Nikko)

Related Words

Related: 通(とお)り (street, avenue)
Compare: 馬車道(ばしゃみち) (carriage road)
general
Added 2026.2.27 19:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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