26th Station: Kakegawa

At Kakegawa, travelers cross a trestle-bridge over the Kake River. An old couple struggles against a strong wind, followed by a boy mocking them, while another set of travelers, watching kites in the sky, crosses in the opposite direction. Although the journey along this stretch of the Tokaido was quite uncomfortable during the summer, this district was renowned for its strong winds and kite flying in winter. The peasants in the middle ground are bent over in the rice fields planting rice; in the distance Mount Akiba is shown in the mists. A shrine at the top of the mountain near this station attracted worshippers from all over Japan, who came to pray for protection against the calamity of fire.

Kakegawa was originally the castle town of Kakegawa Castle, famous because Yamauchi Kazutoyo, an important warrior, rebuilt the area and lived in it himself. In addition to being a rest stop for travelers journeying along the Tokaido, the town also served as a post station along a salt road that ran through Shinano Province between the modern-day cities of Makinohara and Hamamatsu.