近世後期における江戸～唐津間の旅のルートと歩行距離について～弘化3年『江戸ヨリ唐津迄道中記』の分析から～

抄録

This paper attempts to elucidate trends in the walking distances of travelers in the latter part of the Edo period based on analysis of a travel diary called a “Edo yori Karatsu made dochuki” (1846). The results of this study can be summarized as follows.

By examining this travel route, it was found that the route was planned using the shortest route between Edo and Karatsu, and that it primarily passed through the Tokaido, San’yodo, and Karatsu Kaido.

When the arrangement of post stations along this route was examined, the stations were found to be spaced at a distance of about 9 km on average.

Calculation of walking distance of the land route on this trip showed that the total walking distance between Edo and Karatsu was 1113.5 km, and the travelers walked about 35.9 km per day on average. If the daily walking distances are divided into 10 km units, the majority are concentrated in the 30s (km).

Looking at the relationship between the time passed and walking distance while traveling, it was found that, on this trip, the travelers maintained a constant pace, consistently walking the average distance of about 35.9 km from the time they left Edo until they arrived in Karatsu. However, when they reached the latter half of the trip, and their bodies were exhausted, they tended to make physical adjustments to arrive without incident at their destination, by alternating between long and short distances each day.