塩の道について / On the “Salt Road” of Yui
- 5月18日
- 読了時間: 4分
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第四話 由比本陣公園と由比の歴史 １．塩の道について
塩の道について
由比本陣公園の専用駐車場に車を停めると、そこはかつての由比宿の中心にあたります。今回訪ねるのは、大名行列が足を休めた本陣の跡です。地元でボランティアのふるさと案内人として活動されている望月一成さんに、由比宿の歴史を案内していただきました。
由比は、昔から塩作りが盛んだった土地といいます。駿河湾の海水から作られた塩は、信州の塩尻まで運ばれていました。その道は「塩の道」と呼ばれ、由比の道、興津の道、富士川を使う道の三つがあったそうです。
本陣公園の近くに残る「塩の道」は、幅が一メートルほど、広く見ても二メートルほどの細い道です。説明を聞かなければ、普通の路地のようにも見えます。しかし、この道は東海道から直角に山の方へ向かい、山の尾根を通って信州の塩尻まで続いていたと伝えられています。塩は馬に積まれ、海岸から山へ、そして信州へと運ばれていきました。
由比宿は、東海道五十三宿の中でも小さな宿場で、小さい方から二番目にあたるそうです。本陣のある場所は由比宿のほぼ中央で、東西の入口まではおよそ三百メートルほど。小さな宿場でありながら、駿河湾の塩を運ぶ道と、東西を結ぶ東海道が交わる場所でもありました。由比は、海と山をつなぐ物流の交差点だったといえるでしょう。
塩の道を歩いた後は、由比本陣公園の向かいにある建物の造りについて案内していただきました。そこに見られるのは「せがい造り」です。軒先を長く出すことで、強い風雨や日差しを遮り、格式のある美しい景観を生み出す建築の工夫です。平軒桁へ腕木を付け足して出桁とし、そこに垂木を置く造りで、由比町の町並みに多く見られると紹介されています。
続いて案内されたのは、「正雪紺屋」です。ここは由比正雪の実家と伝えられている場所です。正雪の出生地には三つほど説があるそうですが、この正雪紺屋が最も有力な実家とされています。
由比宿を歩くと、本陣跡、塩の道、せがい造りの町並み、そして由比正雪にまつわる場所が、近い距離の中に残されています。小さな宿場だからこそ、ひとつひとつの道や建物に目を向けながら、由比が担ってきた歴史をたどることができます。
On the “Salt Road” of Yui
After parking at the dedicated lot of Yui Honjin Park, visitors arrive at what was once the center of Yui-juku, a post station along the old Tōkaidō highway. The destination here is the site of the former honjin, the principal inn where feudal lords and their processions rested during their journeys. Our guide for this visit was Issei Mochizuki, a local volunteer heritage guide who introduced the history of Yui-juku.
According to Mochizuki, Yui was historically known for salt production. Salt made from the seawater of Suruga Bay was transported inland to Shiojiri in Shinshu. These transport routes were known collectively as the “Salt Roads.” Three such routes are said to have existed: the Yui route, the Okitsu route, and a route using the Fuji River.
Near Yui Honjin Park, part of the former Salt Road still remains. The path is narrow, approximately one to two meters wide, and without explanation it could easily be mistaken for an ordinary alleyway. However, this route is said to have branched at a right angle from the Tōkaidō and continued into the mountains, eventually reaching Shiojiri in Shinshu along mountain ridges. Salt was loaded onto horses and carried from the coast across the mountains toward the inland regions.
Yui-juku itself was one of the smaller post stations among the Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and is said to have been the second smallest in scale. The honjin stood near the center of the settlement, with the eastern and western entrances located only about three hundred meters away. Despite its small size, Yui functioned as a point where the east–west route of the Tōkaidō intersected with the transport route carrying salt from Suruga Bay inland. In this sense, Yui served as a junction connecting maritime and mountain distribution networks.
After walking along the Salt Road, attention turns to the buildings facing Yui Honjin Park. Many of them feature a traditional architectural style known as segai-zukuri. This method extends the eaves outward in order to protect the structure from strong rain, wind, and sunlight while also creating a dignified townscape. The construction is characterized by adding supporting brackets to the horizontal eave beams and placing rafters upon projecting beams. This architectural style is said to be commonly seen throughout the streets of Yui.
The next stop is Shōsetsu Kōya, a building associated with Yui Shōsetsu. Although there are several theories regarding his birthplace, this site is considered the most likely candidate for his family home.
Walking through Yui-juku today, visitors can still encounter the remains of the honjin, the former Salt Road, streets lined with segai-zukuri architecture, and places connected to Yui Shōsetsu, all within a relatively compact area. The small scale of the post town allows its historical functions and connections to be followed closely through its streets and surviving buildings.
