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placed on both sides of it, enclosed in a narrow valley, forms the village of Sakamoto.
The next part of the Nakasendo is very interesting; it ascends now rapidly, jinrikishas are out of the question, and if one does not wish to be tortured in a kago, nothing remains but to walk or to go on horseback. The scenery is fine, particularly in May when fuji and azaleas are in full flowers; at every step the view of the surrounding mountains and valleys changes, and especially that on the valley in which Sakamoto lies, is surprising. The highest point is reached at Togematshi, about 2 ri from Sakamoto. I estimate the height of this point, according to very roughly made barometric observations, at about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) above the sea level. Here is the border between the provinces of Joshiu and Shhinano, and at the same time the separation of the lands which drain into the Tonegawa. Pack-horses and female pilgrims form the bulk of the travellers on this part of the road.
From Togematshi the road descends rapidly to Karuisawa, a poor village on the extended plain, surrounded by mountains, on which the volcano of Asama-yama, is situated; over this plain the road is more interesting than beautiful; the place is covered with large blocks of lava, thrown up by the Asamayama, and has a very desolated aspect. Only the western, very smoothly ascending slope of the Asamayama, is very nice to look at; being covered here by a wood of matsu trees: the large and isolated mountain produces the impression of Gulliver with the Lilliputians. Smoke is always issuing from the crater of the Asamayama.
At Oïwake, situated at the foot of the mountain, the Niigata road leaves the Nakasendo; while the latter descends, the Niigata-road (called Hokkok’kaido), follows the table-land along the foot of the Asama-yama, and is practicable here for jinrikishas. The average breadth will be about 12 feet, some steep inclines are met with, but the way is generally well shaded; in the valleys rice is cultivated. 212 ri from Oïwake is Komoru, a large town, situated on the Chikumagawa; it was formerly the
