Historical landmark • 4-chōme-24-1 Kanbara, Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka, 421-3203, Japan
A small riverside remains in the quiet streets of Kambara. Here, there was once the flourishing activity of the Fujikawa river transport and the vitality as a key point of the Tokaido. From the Edo period to the early Meiji period, this place flourished as a distribution center for goods.
In the Edo period, Koshu's (now Yamanashi Prefecture) tax rice was transported from the Kambara riverside to Shimizu. The rice for Edo was shipped from Shimizu port. Although Kambara was an inn town on the Tokaido, it was also a vital transportation link between inland and sea.
In the Meiji era, Yamanashi Prefecture strongly desired a direct waterway to Kambara. In 1875, a new waterway and boat stop were finally excavated by the volunteers of Yamanashi Prefecture and Kambara. The Kambara riverside, which had reached its peak, was lined with branches of steamship companies and storage yards for goods.
However, with the opening of the Tokaido line in 1889, the logistics center moved to the Fujikawa river. The past prosperity has passed, but the townscape of the Kambara riverside still retains the history of water transport.
Walking through this land where the vestiges of the port remain, you will remember the former bustle. It is recommended to take a leisurely stroll, savoring the quiet old townhouses and reminiscing on the site of the boat landing. Why not enjoy the deeply charming townscape of Kambara and indulge in the historical romance?