Post stations in Japan

thumb|Nakasendō's [[Tsumago-juku]] were staging post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shuku-eki (宿駅). These stage stations, or "" developed around them, were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation. They were created based on policies for the transportation of goods by horseback that were developed during the Nara and Heian periods.

thumb|right|250px|Main street in Ōuchi-juku

thumb|The honjin at Inaba Kaidō's [[Ōhara-shuku.]] is the Japanese word for an inn for government officials, generally located in post stations (shukuba) during the later part of the Edo period.

thumb|A hatago in Japan which today functions as a museum were Edo period lodgings for travelers at shukuba (post stations) along the national highways, including the Edo Five Routes and the subroutes. In addition to a place to rest, hatago also offered meals and other foods to the travelers. They were also called .

rest areas along pre-modern Japanese roads