Seki-juku

Seki-juku is one of the post towns of Kameyama City along the Tokaido, and it is the 47th station when counting from Edo in the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. In the Edo period, it is said that as many as 10,000 people passed through in a single day for sankin-kotai processions and pilgrimages to Ise. The nearest station is Seki Station on the JR Kansai Main Line, and after about a five-minute walk, you’ll find a well-preserved historic streetscape that still retains the atmosphere of the old post town. Today, it is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government. Seki Jizo-in Temple, where travelers along the Tokaido held deep faith, is also designated as a National Important Cultural Property. If you want to learn about Seki-juku’s history and culture, visiting the Seki Machinami Shiryokan Museum is a good idea. This museum makes use of a townhouse built in the late Edo period and clearly presents exhibits on how Seki-juku has changed over time. You can also stop by Fukagawaya, a long-established shop that continues to make the classic local sweet "Seki no To" to this day. Another highlight is the shop signs with different lettering depending on whether you are approaching from the Kyoto side or the Edo side.