During the Edo period (1603-1867) Shimosuwa was one of the postal stations and rest stops along the Kisokaidō—one of two roads connecting Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto, the imperial capital of Japan. Shimosawa-shuku (est. 1601) prospered in this early modern travel network because it was situated between two challenging mountain passes, Wada Pass and Shiojiri Pass, and allowed visitors to rest in its natural hot springs. We perhaps catch a glimpse of some of those rewards in the view of a man bathing, while in the neighboring minka we see across the wooden veranda and through the sliding doors to people dining together inside. (RR)