This room is called "Kaminoma". The Kaminoma is the highest grade room in the Hakone Sekisho, where the Bangashira and the Yokome usually worked. Sometimes the Kaminoma was used as a reception room for the daimyo, feudal lord, and the karo, chief retainer of the daimyo. Guns and bows were displayed in order to oppress passersby.
Bangashira was a samurai who was dispatched from the Odawara Domain and was the highest-ranking among the officials working at Hakone Sekisho. He assumed fullresponsibility for the daily operations and management of the checkpoint.」
The nails used to restore the Checkpoint are the same as those used in the Edo period. These nails are characterized by the angular cross section and by the shape of a nailhead called "Makigashira" or "Rolled-head".
When they are driven in, the nail head does not protrude from the surface but lays flat.」
This room was a rest area for foot soldiers within the foot soldiers' quarters. Here was where the soldiers kept personal items and rested at night. At the rear of the rest area was the Shimoban Kyosho, a place where workers called shimoban waited to be called on to perform routine tasks.」
「足軽(あしがる)
伴頭などの下で施設の営繕や御門の開閉、遠見番所での監視など多くの業務にあたっていました。
Ashigaru
Ashigaru were tasked with various duties, including serving as gatekeeper sat the Kyoto side gate and Edo side gate and guarding Hakone Sekisho from the elevated lookout post 24 hours a day.」
This is an earthen-floored room located in the foot soldiers' quarters.
It was used for cooking and similar activities. Tools used for apprehending criminals, such as rokushakubo long staffs measuring about 1.8 meters in length, were also stored here.」
A well was excavated during a survey of remnants of ancient structures from a location that was not illustrated in the Hakone Checkpoint Picture Map. This well is full of mountain spring water, has never dried up, and maintains a certain level of water after its resurrection.」
「足軽番所雪隠」。 雪隠とは、便所のこと。足軽が利用するためのもので、旅人は利用できませんでした。
「遠見番所」を下から見上げて。
「遠見番所」に上る江戸時代の石段を見る。
「石段 Stone steps 遠見番所に上がるこの階段には、発掘調査によって出土した江戸時代の踏み石がそのまま 使われ、急な傾斜も当時を再現しています。
いにしえの役人が行き来した石段を登ると芦ノ湖の対岸まで見渡せます。
(下から数え17段目より上は当時の踏み石です)
These steps leading up to the tomibansho make use of the stepping stones from the Edo era, which were discovered during an excavation project, and the steep inclination reflects what it was like at the time.
From the top of the flight of steps that the officials regularly used to come and go in the ancient times, you can look across the sweep of Lake Ashi to the opposite shore.
(Stone steps from the 17th step, counting from the bottom, all the way to the top, are from the Edo era.)」