1A major road or highway, especially those that existed since the Edo period (old main routes).
東海道は江戸時代の有名な街道だ。
The Tokaido is a famous highway from the Edo period.
古い街道沿いには宿場町が残っている。
Post towns remain along the old highway.
ハイキングで旧街道を歩くのが好きだ。
I like walking the old highway on hikes.
2Figuratively, a path or route to success (e.g., 出世街道: the road to promotion).
東京での成功は彼にとって出世街道の始まりだった。
Success in Tokyo was the start of his road to advancement.
その大学へ入ることは、プロの道へ続く街道だと言われている。
Getting into that university is said to be a path leading to a professional career.
彼は起業してから一気に出世街道を進んだ。
After starting his business he quickly progressed along the road to success.
3A subdistrict in China (a historical or specialized administrative division).
古い史書にはその地域が街道と記されている。
Old historical records refer to that area as a kaidou (subdistrict).