Honjin
Evolution of "Honjin". Originally, "honjin" were places from which generals directed battles and, therefore, were fleeting in nature. However, as commanders began to transform the "honjin" into temporary lodgings during battle and travel, "honjin" came to be places where "daimyō" and other representatives of the shogunate, including "hatamoto", "monzeki", etc., were allowed to stay during their travels. Many of the "honjin" were actually personal residences of village and town leaders. As such, they received official designations from the government and expanded their residences to include walls, gates and other features. Because of their cooperation, the owners of the "honjin  also gained various special rights. General travelers, regardless of status or money, were not able to stay at honjin". Section::::"Waki-honjin". "Waki-honjin" (脇本陣), also referred to as "sub-"honjin"," are similar in structure and operation to, but generally smaller than, "honjin". The rules of operation were also are slightly different. When two official traveling parties are staying in the same post station, the more powerful of the two stayed in the main "honjin". The major difference, though, is that general travelers were able to stay at the "waki-honjin", if they had enough status or money. Section::::"Honjin" open to the  public. The "honjin" or "waki-honjin" of the following post stations have either been preserved or restored and are now open to be viewed by the public: Tōkaidō: Nakasendō: Kōshū Kaidō: Other Routes: