宿 場(しゅくば)

しゅくば

noun

post town; relay station

1. post town; relay station

A town along the major highways of the Edo period that served as an official rest stop for travelers. Post towns provided lodging, food, and fresh horses for those traveling on highways like the Tokaido and Nakasendo.

東海道(とうかいどう)には五十三(ごじゅうさん)の宿場(しゅくば)があった。

There were fifty-three post towns along the Tokaido highway.

この町(まち)はかつて宿場町(しゅくばまち)として栄(さか)えた。

This town once thrived as a post town.

旧(きゅう)宿場(しゅくば)の面影(おもかげ)を残(のこ)す通(とお)りを歩(ある)いた。

I walked along a street that still retains traces of the old post town.

An important concept in Japanese history. The Edo-period highway system (五街道(ごかいどう)) had officially designated 宿場(しゅくば) at regular intervals where travelers could rest and exchange horses.

Common collocations

宿場町(しゅくばまち) (post town — the full town, as opposed to just the station)
宿場(しゅくば)を出(で)る (to depart from a post town)
旧(きゅう)宿場(しゅくば) (former post town)

Usage

Many former 宿場町(しゅくばまち) are now popular tourist destinations, preserving their historic architecture and atmosphere. Examples include 妻籠(つまご) and 馬籠(まごめ) on the 中山道(なかせんどう).

general

Added 2026.3.4 16:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

14500/14942_shukuba