noun
post town; inn town
A town that developed around a post station (宿場) on major highways during the Edo period, providing lodging, transport, and services for travelers.
妻籠宿は、江戸時代の宿場町の雰囲気をよく残している。
Tsumago-juku retains the atmosphere of an Edo-period post town well.
この街道沿いには、いくつもの宿場町が
Many post towns flourished along this highway.
城下町 is a castle town, developed around a feudal lord's castle, whereas 宿場町 is a post town along a highway.
Compound of 宿場 (post station) + 町 (town). The term reflects the historical development of settlements around official post stations on Edo-period highways.