Shirasawa-juku

This was the first post station town on the Oshu Kaido highway, one of the Five Routes maintained by the central government during the Edo period. The Shirasawa region sprawling on the north side of what is now Utsunomiya City prospered as a post station town on the Oshu Kaido from the Edo through the Meiji periods; today, many structures as well as cultural practices from this time period can still be found here. Shinto shrines in Shirasawa, once visited by daimyo lord processions and great numbers of travelers, are dedicated to the Seven Gods of Fortune, and visitors exploring the area on foot can enjoy a sort of mini Seven Gods of Fortune pilgrimage by making their way to each of the shrines. The grounds of Shirahige Shrine, dedicated to Daikokuten (Mahakala), offer a sweeping view of the Shirasawa area.