The old postal and trade route Tokaido connected the seat of government of the Tokugawa Shogunate Edo (Tokyo) with the imperial capital Kyoto. The system of a trade route was adopted from China and implemented in 701. However, it only took on its current form in the Edo period (1603-1867), when it was paved with stones. In total, there were 53 classic rest stations where traders could rest.