kilometers from Kyoto. Modern Toriimoto-juku Even today, there are remnants of the former post town around. If you enter from the north, you pass by a pine colonnade that leads to the still-standing buildings with a lattice structures on sleeve walls that extends for about 2 kilometer. The two teahouses depicted in the Hiroshige print no longer exist, with Rinkodo burning to the ground in 1991. But the town has several old buildings, warehouses, inns and shops dating from 19th century. One of these buildings is the famous pharmacy Akadama-Jinkyokan where herbal medicines against several types of illness are prepared since the 17th century. The complex of buildings is known as at the Arikawa family residence, and five of its structures are protected as Important Cultural Properties. Toriimoto-juku in The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kiso Kaidō Utagawa Hiroshige's ukiyo-e print of Toriimoto-juku dates from 1835 -1838. The print depicts the portion of the Nakasendō between Tanba-juku and Toriimoto-juku where the road goes through the Surihachi-toge Pass. There were two teahouses in the pass, the Bokodo (depicted on the left) and the Rinkodo (depicted on the right). These teahouses had good views overlooking Lake Biwa and were considered suitable for high-ranking travelers, as indicated by the kago (palanquin) depicted in front of the Bokodo, which is supported by a massive stone foundation, similar to that of a castle. Porters are resting outside while presumably their customers are inside. In the distance, a fishing village and pine trees can be seen on the shore of Lake Biwa, with the island of Chikubushima in the distance. The composition was plagiarized by Hiroshige from an illustrated guide to the Nakasendō called the "Kisoji Meisho Zue", published in 1805. Neighboring post towns Nakasendō Banba-juku - Toriimoto-juku - Takamiya-juku References External links Hiroshige Kiso-Kaido series Toriimoto-juku on Kiso Kaido Road Hikone City Tourist Information Notes Stations of the Nakasendō Stations of the Nakasendō in Shiga Prefecture Ōmi Province Hikone, Shiga