'Washi' craftwork exhibition in Shimane Pref.

'Washi' craftwork exhibition in Shimane Pref.

MATSUE, Japan - Objects made from "Sekishu washi" traditional handmade paper in Shimane Prefecture are exhibited at the Sekisho Art Museum in Hamada in the western Japanese prefecture in November 2014. Japanese "washi" was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list the same month.

'Washi' craftwork exhibition in Shimane Pref.

'Washi' craftwork exhibition in Shimane Pref.

MATSUE, Japan - A foldable "shoji" screen, used as window blinds, made from "Sekishu washi" traditional handmade paper in Shimane Prefecture is exhibited at the Sekisho Art Museum in Hamada in the western Japanese prefecture in November 2014. Japanese "washi" was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list the same month.

Charred train in Hokkaido

Charred train in Hokkaido

SAPPORO, Japan - Personnel associated with Hokkaido Railway Co. probe train cars gutted by a fire in the village of Shimukappu, Hokkaido, on May 29, 2011. The express train made an emergency stop in the middle of a 685-meter tunnel on the JR Sekisho Line on May 27 due to the fire. Around 240 on board escaped the scene on foot, with some 30 of them injured after inhaling smoke or suffering burns.

Teahouses along the Koshu Road

Teahouses along the Koshu Road

The bank of Katsura River, which separated the feudal domains of Sagami and Kai along the old Koshu Highway (present-day Uenohara-machi in southeastern Yamanashi Prefecture), seen from the east side (Sagami side) of the river. The buildings are teahouses standing along the highway, the existence of which is reported in travel journals as early as the Tenpo Period (1830-44). The mountain station Suwa-no-Sekisho (Kuchidome Bansho) is up the slope on the right. Mt. Gongen of Nakura is visible on the other side of Katsura River.==Date:unknown, Place:Yamanashi, Photo:Usui Shuzaburo?, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number65‐10‐0]

Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi

The same negative as the photo numbered 26-6. Not known which is older. In the center of the photo is the former Hakone juku, but the building with a flat roof is the Hafuya hotel, which later became the Hakone Hotel. To the right corner of the houses, was the feared sekisho (guardhouse) of Hakone.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:Suzuki Shin-ichi, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number41‐8‐0]

Inns at Nakasendo Fukushima

Inns at Nakasendo Fukushima

A distant view of one of the eleven Kiso lodgings of the Nakasendo, the Fukushima juku, which was established in Fukushima village. In the outskirts of the village, Fukushimazeki which was regarded to be four of the biggest sekisho (guard house). Fukushima was also famous as the entrance to the mountain of faith, Ontakesan.==Date:unknown, Place:Nagano, Photo:Kusakabe Kinbei, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number38‐16‐0]

Teahouse at Nezame-no-toko Pass

Teahouse at Nezame-no-toko Pass

Probably the Fukushima juku with a sekisho on the Nakasendo, presently the Fukushimacho of Kisogun of Nagano prefecture. The annex of the Kiso family was built earlier than the other lodging villages in Kiso. The woman on the rickshaw in the center and a person with a balancing pole is seen in the bottom right.==Date:unknown, Place:Nagano, Photo:Kusakabe Kinbei, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number38‐10‐0]

Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi

Lake Ashino and the Sekisho of Hakone can be seen to the left. The Sekisho of Hakone was famous as a place to guard the Tokaido, together with the Sekisho of Arai. It was established with a double fence built in the lake. To the distance is the Honjin where the warrior lords stayed during trips back and forth to Edo.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number31‐73‐0]

Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi

A photo of a person wearing a hanten and standing backwards on the cedar boulevard by the shores of Lake Ashino. From the telegraph pole, we know this picture was taken after 1881 when telegraphy started around Lake Ashino. The building to the left is the so-called Honjin of the Hakonejuku. This was taken from very near the ruins of the Sekisho.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number31‐26‐0]

HAKONE

HAKONE

A photo of Hakonejuku from near the remains of Hakone sekisho (checking station). The building to the left is Hafuya Hotel, with remains of honjin (the lodgings of warrior lords) in the rear. Where Ashino Lake can be seen in the photo is at present a pier for tourist boats. The electric poles indicate that this was taken after 1881.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number9‐9‐0]

Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi

The white pole shows the remains of the sekisho (check point).In the left corner is the Hafuya Hotel, and to the right are remains of the honjin (officially appointed inns) of the lords Kawada Kakuemon, Komasa Goemon, Ishiuchi Tarozaemon and Amano Hirazaemon. The photo portrays the area which at present is a pier for tourist boats on Ashino Lake.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number6‐11‐0]

Mt. FUJI from hakone

Mt. FUJI from hakone

The view around Oncho Park (the former Hakone Rikyu) in the vicinity of the Hakone Sekisho (checking station) near the Mikaeri Pine. A typical photo of Hakone inculuding the Sekisho, Lake Ashino and Mt. Fuji.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number5‐25‐0]

The Hakone post town

The Hakone post town

Looking toward Odawara from the south of Mishima in Hakonejuku. The houses have not changed from the Edo era. To the left of Ashino Lake in the hills, the Hakone Rikyu can be seen, so we know that this photo was taken after 1886. The cedar tree in the centre is a remainder of the sekisho (checking station).==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number5‐22‐0]

Charred train in Hokkaido

Charred train in Hokkaido

SAPPORO, Japan - Personnel associated with Hokkaido Railway Co. probe train cars gutted by a fire in the village of Shimukappu, Hokkaido, on May 29, 2011. The express train made an emergency stop in the middle of a 685-meter tunnel on the JR Sekisho Line on May 27 due to the fire. Around 240 on board escaped the scene on foot, with some 30 of them injured after inhaling smoke or suffering burns. (Kyodo)

Railway reopens in quake-hit Hokkaido

Railway reopens in quake-hit Hokkaido

The Super Ozora, an express train operated by Hokkaido Railway Co., runs in Chitose, Hokkaido, on Sept. 14, 2018, as the Sekisho Line partially reopened after being closed following a strong earthquake that struck Japan's northernmost main island on Sept. 6. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Railway reopens in quake-hit Hokkaido

Railway reopens in quake-hit Hokkaido

The Super Ozora, an express train operated by Hokkaido Railway Co., runs in Chitose, Hokkaido, on Sept. 14, 2018, as the Sekisho Line partially reopened after being closed following a strong earthquake that struck Japan's northernmost main island on Sept. 6. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo