Sekijuku (関宿) in Mie Prefecture is Japan’s largest and best preserved samurai post towns along the Tokaido old road (東海道), which was the most important walking trail running from the imperial city of Edo (now known as Tokyo) to the economical capital Kyoto during the Edo Period (江戸時代, 1603 – 1868). It is one of the best places to experience life as a samurai without masses of tourists.
Tokaido Seki-juku is the 47th out of 53 station towns along the Tokaido route and is part of Japan’s top 100 roads. The Post Town is 1.8km long and 25 hectares (the size of around 950 tennis courts!) of traditonal Japanese houses, stores, and inns where samurai, daimyo (feudal lords), and other important officials would stay overnight during the 514km long Tokaido road walking tour. As the route also connects to Japan’s most important shrine, Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮), the road has been well-trodden, but the buildings have been beautifully maintained so that visitors feel as though they have stepped into an old samurai movie or into the Edo Period itself!
The best way for modern-day tourists to visit is from Nagoya Station between Kyoto and Tokyo and it takes about 1.5 hours via train. Visitors can also find Japan’s oldest Jizo statue in this beautiful old Japanese town and if you are making a one day trip from Nagoya, we recommend buying Sekijuku’s wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) called Sekinoto (東海道関宿銘菓 関の戸) as omiyage (souvenirs). These tasty Japanese sweets were once served to the imperial family in Kyoto and they’re so good that the recipe hasn’t changed in 350 years! Come with us to explore one of the most picturesque historical samurai towns in Japan!
📍 LOCATIONS:
1:19 Seki-juku (Seki Post Town, 東海道関宿) in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture (三重県亀山市)
2:09 Jizo-in Temple
關地藏院 (関地蔵院)
5:45 Seki Post Office (関郵便局)
6:34 Traditional Japanese Sweets at Sekinoto Wagashi Store Fukagawaya
(東海道関宿銘菓 関の戸、深川屋)
9:20 Hyakurokutei park & Choukantei observatory (百六里庭・眺関亭)
11:14 Tendaishinseishu Fukuzoji Temple (天台真盛宗 清浄山 福蔵寺)
12:24 Seki Shrine (関神社)
How to get to Sekijuku:
From Nagoya Station → Kameyama Station by JR Kansai Line (1 hr 21 min).
Kameyama Station → Seki Station by JR Kansai Line towards Kamo (1 stop, 6 min).
Seki Station → Sekijuku (600m, 5 min walk).
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Best Historic Towns in Japan TOP10:
No.1 Tsumago (Nagiso, Nagano Prefecture)
No.2 Ouchi (Shimogo, Fukushima Prefecture)
No.3 Magome (Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture)
No.4 Narai (Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture)
No.5 Seki (Kameyama, Mie Prefecture)
No.6 Unno (Tomi, Nagano Prefecture)
No.7 Oiwake (Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture)
No.8 Hizen Hama (Kashima, Saga Prefecture)
No.9 Shiozawa (Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture)
No.10 Kumagawa (Wakasa, Fukui Prefecture)
Source: Nikkei Asia, 2019
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