Quote Originally Posted by Dogen Z View Post
If you want to know more about the outposts along the Old Tokaido Highway, you could take a trip to Hakone. A faithful restoration of a guard outpost along the Old Tokaido Highway has been built on the exact spot it occupied along the lake. Racks of weapons used and even an outhouse are included. (It looks like a movie set.) And an Edo style teashop is located next to it where you can buy refreshments and take a brief rest.

Easy to get to, just do the Hakone loop tour. Info at this link
http://www.hakonesekisyo.jp/english/main/main.html
Thanks for the link, Dogen-Z ! That's exactly the experience that has a real historic, type feel.

And if it's a lovely central mountainous area you're looking for, Magome and Tsumago are two restored and preserved Edo-period way stations on the Nakasendo route running through Kiso Valley, Gifu and Nagano prefectures that I've also done stops along. It was more of a disappointment, but like all major organized tourist attractions in Japan, there is an ugly commercial side, and a small rustic, beautiful, traditional side for those who take the time. And the authenticity is there -- sometimes you just have to look at little harder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakasend%C5%8D