A 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.
Figuratively, 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.
A 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).