Hakone Sekisho (Checkpoint)

Hakone Sekisho was one of the most important checkpoints on the Tokaido road, the highway that connected Edo with Kyoto during the Edo period. Established in 1619, it operated for over 250 years to monitor travelers and enforce the shogunate’s strict regulations. At checkpoints like this, weapons entering Edo were strictly controlled to prevent rebellion against the shogunate. Women leaving Edo, especially the wives and children of feudal lords who served as political hostages, were carefully monitored to ensure they did not pass without a permit.
The sekisho was decomissioned after the fall of the shogunate, but today visitors can see a complete reconstruction built using traditional tools and techniques. Guardhouses, gates, and cells have been faithfully recreated, and the on-site Exhibition Hall displays documents and artifacts that bring the world of Edo-period travel to life.
Perched on the edge of Ashinoko (Lake Ashi), Hakone Sekisho also commands one of the best views in Hakone. Standing here, it’s easy to imagine the travelers of centuries past pausing at this very gateway on their journey along the Tokaido road.