Nakayama is in between Narita And Haneda International Airport

Imai no Watashi Ato | the Remain of the Ferry at Imai

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The remains of the ferry at Imai was the eastern gate of Edo in Edo period, and it was the physical distribution base in Edogawa river. It was on the east bank near the Imaibashi Bridge. Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Edo Bakufu landed near the ferry at Imai and passed through Gongenmichi Road to go hawking at Togane after he moved to Edo after the Seige of Odawara by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. And it is said that the Second Shogun, Hidetada Tokugawa and the lord of Ootaki, Honda's also used this ferry. Moreover, the ferry was described on the essay 'Azumaji no Tsuto (the trips in East Japan)' by the renga poet Socho in late Muromachi period so it had existed there at that time. In Edo period, only residents near Imai could use this ferry. Anyway, it was a very beautiful spot that Mt. Fuji could be seen and thousands of ships passed through Edogawa River to bring thousands of products from Tohoku (north east Japan) and Kita Kanto (northern Kanto) region. In Meiji era, some steam boats appeared on the river, so Edogawa River was much crowded with people and boats. The remains of the ferry at Imai tells how prosperous water transportation in Edo period was before cars and trains would develop.
Why don't you visit Imai no Watashi Ato?

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The Remain of the Ferry at Imai

October 1631, two courses of ferry at Imai was registered by Edo Bakufu, one was 207 meters long and another one was 109 meters long on the water. They had carried many people until Imaibashi Bridge was constructed in 1912.
A famous renga poet in Muromachi period Saiokuken Socho took on a boat at Asakusa and landed on Imai in 1509, he told it in his essay 'Azumaji no Tuto (the trips in East Japa), this was the first record the ferry appeared on.
In Edo period, the ferry carried people only from Edo, it couldn't them from local regions to Edo. In 1644, Kyuzaburo and Ine who were retainers of Hanya Morikawa the lord of Oyumijo Castle in Chiba eloped together, then they tried to go to Edo by the ferry at Imai, but they were arrested. As a result, Kyuzaburo, Ine, the ferryman, his wife and one more person were crucified for helping their crossing.
There had been a Jizo on their tombs as a monument called Nene Zuka about 100 meter down the river from the ferry at Imai. However, it has gone since several floods would brought it.
（「葛飾誌略 (the Short History of Katsushika」）

今井の渡し旧跡案内板より


抜粋・引用および参考
今井の渡し旧跡案内板
市川市ホームページ
江戸名所図会６　ちくま学芸文庫

A Walk on the Remains of the Ferry at Imai and Edogawa River

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The Location and Access to the Remain of the Ferry at Imai

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The Remain of the Ferry at Imai

• 1-27 Ainokawa, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-ken
• The Remain of the Ferry at Imai has a great accessibility from both Narita and Haneda International Airport.
• From Narita International Airport, take JR Sobu-express line, transfer the line at Nishi-funabashi to Tozai line of Tokyo Metro bound to Nakano or Mitaka, get off Myoden Sta. And also take Keisei-line, transfer the line at Funabashi to Sobu-Local line, and transfer the line at Nishi-funabashi to Tozai line of Tokyo Metro bound to Nakano or Mitaka, get off Gyotoku Sta. It takes minimally 60 minutes from Narita Airport.
• From Haneda International Airport, take Keikyu-line bound to Narita, transfer the line at Nihonbashi to Tozai line of Tokyo Metro bound to Nishifunabashi, Tsudanuma or Katsutadai, get off Gyotoku Sta.
• From Tokyo (Otemachi) Sta, take Tozai line of Tokyo Metro bound to Nishi-funabashi, Tsudanuma or Katsutadai, get off Gyotoku Sta.
• From Akihabara Sta, take Sobu line bound to Chiba, Tsudanuma or Nishi Funabashi, transfer the line at Nishifunabashi to Tozai line of Tokyo Metro, get off Minami Gyotoku Sta or Gyotoku Sta.
• Take 15minute walk from Minami Gyotoku Sta.

Noted Spots near Imai no Watashi Ato

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