Kutsukake-shuku, along with the neighboring Karuisawa-shuku and Oiwake-shuku, was one of the Sengenmi Shuku ("three shallow passes").
Though not a neighboring post town, Matsuida-shuku also provides a direct connection to Oiwake-shuku along the Nakasendō, by way of a minor hime kaidō.
Oiwake-shuku | Motai-shuku | Karuisawa-shuku | Yawata-shuku | Matsuida-shuku |
:(Motai-shuku was an ai no shuku located between Mochizuki-shuku and Ashida-shuku.)
Oiwake was originally a horseman's song (Mago-uta) from Oiwake village from Nagano Prefecture but spread throughout Japan during the Edo period.
The place that was originally called Karuisawa is, in actuality, approximately two to three kilometers from the post town, which is located at the western entrance to the Usui Pass.
This post town's name, which roughly translates to "stuck shoes," came about because it was located near the western entrance to the difficult Usui Pass.
The area received its name, which roughly means "desirable moon," because it used to give horses to the Imperial Court and the shogunate on the day of the full moon on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, according to the old calendar.
Shionada-shuku is located on the eastern bank of the Shinano River, just across from Yawata-shuku.
In 1965, facilities were expanded to include a location at Oiwake, Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture and camp was established in 1970 at Lake Nojiri.