Aug 28, 2026 · 16 min · 7 segments
Think traveling in a historical Japanese drama looks glamorous? Think again! Join your **Edo Storyteller** as we ruthlessly shatter your romantic illusions about Edo-period travel. In Part One of our…
Edo StorytellerHost
The most common, reliable, but also most exhausting mode of transportation in an adult period was your own two legs.
You might think, what's so hard about walking? When we visit Japan, we easily walk 20,000 steps a day.
If you combine the environmental factors of road conditions and the economic factors of using vehicles, walking was by far the simplest and most accessible method.
But please note, The average adult woman had to walk 30 to 40 kilometers a day.
They were navigating dirt paths, gravel roads, and even crossing over mountains.
To make matters worse, they weren't wearing air-cushioned sneakers, but walaji, which means straw sandals, made of woven straw.
While breathable and sleep-resistant, straw sandals offer basically zero shock absorption.
After walking all day, getting blisters, chafing, and bleeding sores was just a regular Tuesday.
To prevent blisters, travel guides of the time offer the folk remedies, like rubbing oil between your toes or stuffing crumpled soft pepper into reduced friction.
Plus, while you wore out incredibly fast, you'd burn through two or three pairs a day.
So not only did you have to endure foot pain, but you also had to constantly stop to change shoes.
To protect this most crucial vehicle, the Travel Bible 61 precautions for the road specifically warned, on the first day of the journey, you must especially calm your mind.
Plant your feet firmly and carefully check if your walaji have fully adapted and molded.
In the first two or three days after sitting out, you should stop and rest frequently.
When first starting a journey, anyone will feel impassioned and excited, frantically pushing forward without even resting.
But once you injure your feet, the rest of the entire journey will be a pure agony.
In short, the most critical thing at the very beginning is to properly protect your feet.
The most common, reliable, but also most exhausting mode of transportation in an adult period was your own two legs.
You might think, what's so hard about walking? When we visit Japan, we easily walk 20,000 steps a day.
If you combine the environmental factors of road conditions and the economic factors of using vehicles, walking was by far the simplest and most accessible method.
But please note, The average adult woman had to walk 30 to 40 kilometers a day.
They were navigating dirt paths, gravel roads, and even crossing over mountains.
To make matters worse, they weren't wearing air-cushioned sneakers, but walaji, which means straw sandals, made of woven straw.
While breathable and sleep-resistant, straw sandals offer basically zero shock absorption.
After walking all day, getting blisters, chafing, and bleeding sores was just a regular Tuesday.
To prevent blisters, travel guides of the time offer the folk remedies, like rubbing oil between your toes or stuffing crumpled soft pepper into reduced friction.
Plus, while you wore out incredibly fast, you'd burn through two or three pairs a day.
So not only did you have to endure foot pain, but you also had to constantly stop to change shoes.
To protect this most crucial vehicle, the Travel Bible 61 precautions for the road specifically warned, on the first day of the journey, you must especially calm your mind.
Plant your feet firmly and carefully check if your walaji have fully adapted and molded.
In the first two or three days after sitting out, you should stop and rest frequently.
When first starting a journey, anyone will feel impassioned and excited, frantically pushing forward without even resting.
But once you injure your feet, the rest of the entire journey will be a pure agony.
In short, the most critical thing at the very beginning is to properly protect your feet.
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3 of 5
Walking Until Your Feet Bled
Travelers faced punishing distances in painful footwear
The Palanquin Was a Washing Machine
Palanquins offered status, but hardly any comfort
When Your Taxi Throws You
Paid transport could still become unexpectedly dangerous
+2 more clips · 4 min 46 sec of audio in all
7 of 25
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