6th Station: Fujisawa

At this station travelers are seen passing over a bridge leading to a village by the edge of a stream. Many pilgrims stopped to visit the imposing buildings of Yugyoji Temple (established in 1325), which stands on a hillside in the background. Other travelers are walking through the archway (torii) that leads to the Enoshima Benten Shrine which is dedicated to the goddess of music.

Fujisawa was established as a post station on the Tokaido in 1601, but did not become the sixth post station until Totsuka was later established. Before the establishment of the Tokaido, Fujisawa flourished as a “temple town” for Yugyo, the head temple of the Ji-sect of Japanese Buddhism. It was said that there were over 1,000 buildings in the post town.