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travelers' best friend (8)
KiiT
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 11 W: 6 N: 23]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (58) | Water... the first thing you need after a long journey.
This is a water fountain〈水場〉 from Narai-juku〈奈良井宿〉, a historic post town〈宿場町〉, one of Kisoji (Kiso road) eleven post stations. Kisoji is a part of the main route, Nakasendo〈中山道〉.
Several main routes are developed during Edo era (1603~1867), connecting Edo (today’s Tokyo) and Kyoto - perhaps the most well-known of all is Tokaido - many people, merchants, traders, messengers... traveled on these roads, businesses in villages along the routes flourished.
Narai-juku is particularly popular for its well-preserved historic scenery. A long stretch of the old street (about 1000m they say) and the wooden structures neatly built along are very well-maintained.
According to their map there are six water fountains in town, but I only spotted three. How could I have missed out the rest? remains mystery, but it gives me a good reason to go back there again. |
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KiiT
(58)
water fountain #3
Edited by:KiiT
(58) |
The third one I spotted in Narai-juku (the one in the front page was the second).
That small persimmon branch was a nice autumnal decoration, people never seem to forget adding a touch of season.
Narai-juku sits on the highest latitude among all eleven Kisoji post stations along the road that goes through the hills and mountains of Nagano, connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. It was a little past mid-November, the air was already biting cold.
The metal buckets hanging in the background indicate that the fountain also serves as an emergency water supply in case of fire. As every house/building was, and still is, made of wood, even the small fire would have been lethal.
By the way, in the time of Edo every arson was met by death penalty – not particularly in this area only. |
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KiiT
(58)
a fellow traveler
Edited by:KiiT
(58) |
...in action. He was about 190cm(6'4") tall.
So the fountain is rather bigger than you thought?
Or smaller.
Hope this will help you get a sense of scale. |
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| Altered Image #1
KiiT
(58)
water fountain #1
Edited by:KiiT
(58) |
The first water fountain I saw (the one in the front page was the second), right by the shrine on the mild slope toward the end of the town, the road heading to Kyoto (via Nagoya).
The area is rich in cold spring water which keeps flowing throughout the year.
I often times just shoot the subject, cut out the surroundings, especially when they appear disagreeable, which is not good for TE. Fortunately, for this fountain I had a wider shot even including a person (lucky me). |
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