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.
東海道には五十三の宿場があった。
There were fifty-three post towns along the Tokaido highway.
この町はかつて宿場町として栄えた。
This town once thrived as a post town.
旧宿場の面影を残す通りを歩いた。
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) had officially designated 宿場 at regular intervals where travelers could rest and exchange horses.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 宿場町 (post town — the full town, as opposed to just the station)
- 宿場を出る (to depart from a post town)
- 旧宿場 (former post town)
USAGE NOTE:
Many former 宿場町 are now popular tourist destinations, preserving their historic architecture and atmosphere. Examples include 妻籠 and 馬籠 on the 中山道.