The Salt Road: From the Kanazawa Kaido to the Asaina Pass

The Kanazawa Kaido, the road that runs east and west through Wakaremichi, was once called the Mutsura road: a “salt road” along which salt was carried from the port of Mutsura. Follow it east to the Asaina Kiridoshi, an ancient pass cut through the hills in the Kamakura period.

The route

• From Wakaremichi, east along the Kanazawa Kaido.
• Stop at Sugimoto-dera, Hokoku-ji and Jomyo-ji along the Temple Path.
• Take the bus to Junisho Jinja. From the stop it is about 10 minutes on foot to the start of the pass at the Saburo waterfall.
• Asaina Kiridoshi: one of the Seven Entrances to Kamakura and a National Historic Site. The Azuma Kagami records that the regent Hojo Yasutoki came in person to oversee the cutting of this road between Kamakura and Mutsura. Between its rock walls, the air of the old road remains.
• Through the pass to the Yokohama side, where you can catch a bus home from the Asahina stop.

A fork in the road

On days when you only want to walk the pass, take the bus straight to Junisho Jinja and walk it there and back.

The pass is currently open to pedestrians only.

This is a mountain trail. Wear good walking shoes and plan to finish well before dark. Sections sometimes close because of fallen trees, so check the City of Kamakura’s announcements before you set out.