Tōsandō

Tōsandō (東山道; Japanese pronunciation: [toː.saꜜn.doː, toꜜː.san.doː],^[1] lit. 'Eastern Mountain Circuit') is a Japanese geographical term.^[2] It means both an ancient division of the country and the main road running through it.^[3] It is part of the Gokishichidō system.^[4] It was situated along the central mountains of northern Honshu,^[5] specifically the Tōhoku region.

Tosandō provinces in pink

This term also refers to a series of roads that connected the capitals (国府, kokufu) of each of the provinces that made up the region.

The Tōsandō region encompasses eight ancient provinces.^[6]

• Dewa Province
• Hida Province
• Kōzuke Province
• Mino Province
• Mutsu Province^[7]
• Ōmi Province
• Shimotsuke Province
• Shinano Province

After 711 AD, Tōsandō was understood to include the Musashi Province.^[8]

See also

• Comparison of past and present administrative divisions of Japan
• Nakasendō (post-Sekigahara Tōsandō)
• Sanriku, neighbouring region