杉戸宿（Sugito-Juku) / 杉戸 (Sugito)
Sugito-juku is one of the post town on the road from Tokyo to Nikko. Nikko Kaido is one of the five highways radiating on Edo. The others are Tokaido, Nakasendo, Oshu Kaido, and Koshu Kaido. There are 21 post town on Nikko Kaido and Sugito-Juku is the fifth.
杉戸宿は元和2年（1616年）に成立したとされる宿場です。正保４年（1647年）に現在のルートに付け替えられる以前の日光道中は、上杉戸方面を古利根川に向かって北上し、和戸橋付近で「日光御成道」と合流するルートだったとされています。
It is located along with 大落古利根川 (“Oootoshifurutone river”). At the beginnings of August, annual festival holds with a lot of large garden lantern.
The above is the house of “小島定右衛門”. That was a kind of rice exchange place. The building is owned by private and maintained.
宿場の特徴の一つでもある町端の「桝型」。その道沿いに堂々たる風格を見せる古民家が「角穀」です。母屋と蔵が並ぶ優美さは、道ゆく人の心にひときわ刻み込まれてきたことでしょう。
小島定右衛門邸の敷地内には、かつて、表の蔵（袖蔵）に続きさらなる他の蔵３つが連なり、敷地を囲む外堀にも収納空間があったと言います。屋内では大木を使った梁や柱が木材の美しさを際立たせています。
The above is the house of “渡辺勘左衛門” who built “Sugito-Bank” in 1900. Sugito-Bank is now known as Saitama Risona bank which is one of the large bank group in Japan. A direct descendant of him is living in this large house.
宝性院 (Houshou-in) which is established in 1560.
宝性院は杉戸宿とともに長く、暮らしの礎となってきた「まちの寺院」です。法事や法要のほか、戸籍の把握や寺小屋教育、旅籠屋の代わりなど重要な役割を多数になってきました。
東福寺(Tofuku-Ji).
富士浅間神社 (“Fuji Sengen Shrine”) . This is one of the Fujimi-Tduka for Mt. Fuji worship. There were a lot of this kinds of Fujimi-Tsuka and people could see Mt. Fuji at the top of each Fujimi-Tsuka. Unfortunately, we cannot see any more because of change of scenery.
At the foot of this Fujimi-Tsuka, there is a stone described words of 松尾芭蕉 (Matsuo Basho).
近津神社 (“Tikatsu Shrine”)
豊島屋 (“Toshima-Ya”) , which is Sake Breweries established in 1822. It is still continuing brewing Sake. The brand os 豊泉 (“Hosen”).
Now, 豊島屋 is named 関口酒造. The house is made of woods and roof tile. Beautiful, isn’t it?
