| 古い地図を開くと、日光街道の西側に一直線に走る一本の道を見ることができる。これが伊奈街道で、大江戸街道と共に見事な計画道路であることがわかる。羽村街道とは段丘を上ってからしばらくして分れ、あとは、長岡と箱根ケ崎の村境、狭山池の湿地帯を避け、二本木の地蔵堂のところで、青梅‐川越道と合する。川越城を築くとき伊奈の石を切り出して運んだ道だという者もいるが、むしろ、伊奈と扇町屋や川越の市に商をする人々の交流する近道ではなかったかと思う。 | Examining an old map, it is possible to see a single, straight road running on the west side of Nikko Kaido. This is Ina Kaido, and it is immediately seen to be a flawlessly-planned road along with the Oedo Kaido. The road separates from Hamura Kaido after climbing up the terraces a little while, and it continues past the village boundary between Nagaoka and Hakonegasaki, while avoiding the wetlands of Sayama Pond. At the 'Jizo-do' (hall dedicated to Jizo, a guardian diety of children and travellers) in Nihongi, it merges with Ome-Kawagoe-do. Although some say that the road was used to carry rocks excavated at Ina when the Kawagoe Castle was built, rather it is believed that it was a shortcut for those traveling back and forth for their business at the markets in Ina, Ogimachiya and Kawagoe. |