Nippon Post Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu

NIPPON POST on 1 October  2009 issued two First Day Cover stamps depicting the Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu, a historical parade in Hakone, Japan, that recreates the processions of feudal lords (daimyo) during the Edo period. It was one of the events featured in the Nippon Post "Furusato" (hometown) series.

The parade is based on the "sankin kotai" system, where daimyo were required to travel to Edo (now Tokyo) every other year. Hakone was an important checkpoint on the route. The parade takes place annually on November 3rd and is a major autumn event in Hakone. Around 170 to 400 people dressed in historical costumes, including samurai, princesses, and geisha, march through the town. The procession includes music, dancing, and musket demonstrations. The procession typically covers a 6-kilometer route from Sounji Temple to the Yumoto Fujiya Hotel, often passing through Hakone-Yumoto Station.