Kameyama, the birthplace of art. Kameyama's art is on the road and advertised

1. Kameyama, the birthplace of art

The culture of “road” inherited from the Edo period

Furthermore...Kameyama offers many opportunities to experience art up close.

Works by artists from Kameyama can be found throughout the city

Art festival “Kameyama Triennale”

2. Enjoy Sekijuku

What is Sekijuku?

Sekijuku the 47th post town from Edo on the 53 stations of Tokaido.

The 53 Stations Tokaido is one of the five highways built during the Edo period, and refers to the 53 post stations along Tokaido.
There are many scenic spots, and they are often featured in ukiyo-e prints, Japanese poems, and haiku.

Sekijuku has a 1.8km streetscape that retains traces of the Edo period, and is home to approximately 200 buildings.
Walking along the highway, you will feel like you have traveled back in time to the Edo period.

Sekijuku was selected as a nationally important preservation district for traditional buildings in 1981.

In addition to remaining townhouses built from the Edo to Meiji periods, the buildings that are being repaired or newly constructed have wooden lattices and fittings to preserve the traditional scenery.
There are also valuable historical buildings along the road, so if you take a leisurely walk, you may discover a variety of things.

Enjoy wild vegetable rice and soba noodles at Aizuya

Aizuya was such a big inn that it was said, "If you stay in Seki, you should stay in Tsuruya or Tamaya, and if you still stay in Aizuya, you should stay at Aizuya."​

Currently, the historic building has been inherited and transformed into a restaurant.
With a focus on ``local production for local consumption'' and ``handmade,'' the ``Special Wild Vegetables Okowa'' (certified by the Kameyama brand), which is steamed in an oven, and the ``Kaido Soba,'' which are made with soup stock, are popular.

Wild vegetable rice steamed in a Taisho era stove

Wild vegetable rice is steamed using a stove from the Taisho era.

The glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice from Mie Prefecture are steamed using the strong heat of a stove, making them chewy and moist.
When steaming the rice, we add the juice from dried shiitake mushrooms from Karatogawa, Shiga Prefecture, which are used as an ingredient in the rice, so you can enjoy the concentrated flavor of the shiitake mushrooms.

A kamado experience is also being held.

You can experience using a stove to start a fire, cook rice, and steam dishes such as locally grown pesticide-free vegetables.
A wonderful experience where you can learn about the traditional lifestyle and culture, and also enjoy delicious food.
Please check the official website for details.

The recommended set meal (1,600 yen including tax) is a very satisfying menu with wild vegetable rice rice, warm soba noodles, sweetly cooked white beans, two daily small bowls, seasonal fruits, pickled vegetables, and a simmered bowl.​

The vegetables used are all locally grown.
It's nice to be able to enjoy local seasonal vegetables in simmered dishes and pickled vegetables.

The soba soup stock is carefully made from high-quality Hidaka kelp and bonito flakes, and is made with four types of soy sauce, making it extremely flavorful.
It also contains locally produced yuzu, and when you slurp the soba, the aroma of bonito and yuzu, as well as the taste of kelp and soy sauce, fills your mouth.

In addition to sticky rice and non-glutinous rice, the wild vegetable okowa is packed with flavorful chicken from Mie Prefecture, crunchy wild vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and burdock root.
This is a dish where you can really feel the texture and taste of each ingredient.

In a historic building, enjoy rice steamed with wild vegetables steamed in a stove that has been used since ancient times, as well as other items made with locally produced ingredients.
It's sure to be a special time.

Aizuya spot information

Enjoy coffee and “Sekinoto” at Chakura Sabo

Chakura Sabo is a cafe and rental space where you can enjoy coffee, tea, and light snacks in a warehouse-style building.

The storehouse is built with great attention to detail, making it a sight to behold.
You can learn about the history and culture of Kameyama through the structure and design of the storehouse.

For example, the exterior walls are decorated with the traditional Japanese architectural technique of ``yoroshibuki'' (a method of layering boards to resemble armor), and the Ise castle played an important role in the development of the post town of Sekijuku. It has the Taira clan's black swallowtail family crest, etc.
It seems that there are many other special features as well.

It's nice to enjoy coffee while admiring the structure of the building and listening to the staff talk about Kameyama's history and culture.

self-drip coffee

The first floor is a counter-style cafe space.
In addition to drinks such as self-drip coffee and Japanese tea, you can also enjoy light meals such as hot sandwiches and sweets.

It is currently the only cafe in Mie Prefecture that has a ``self-drip'' method where you can brew your own coffee.
The staff will teach you the tricks for drip coffee, and you will slowly brew the coffee over a period of 5 minutes.

Even with the same blended beans, the taste can vary greatly depending on subtle changes such as steaming time and pouring speed.
There's something about coffee that you brew yourself that has your own unique taste that makes you feel attached to it.

There are always multiple types of blended coffee beans available, and the menu changes each time.
We purchase roasted beans from all over Japan, with a variety of flavors and aromas.

The photo shows the Ginza Kuya Shizuku Blend (660 yen including tax), which has a refreshing taste.
All of our coffee menus are brewed using plenty of beans and take a long time, so you can enjoy the full flavor.

actually…

Chazo Sabo is a cafe run by Fukagawa-ya, a Japanese sweets shop that has been around since the time of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu.

Chazo Sabo's coffee and Japanese tea come with Fukagawaya's famous confectionery "Sekinoto" (Kameyama brand certified).

Sekinoto is a bite-sized rice cake made with strained bean paste wrapped in gyuhi and sprinkled with wasanbon.
The gentle sweetness of Wasanbon goes well with coffee.

enjoy art

​Mural art (art drawn on the exterior walls, fences, etc.) by SHETA is displayed on the premises of Chazo Sabo.
SHETA is an artist from Shonan who has also collaborated with FILA, COACH, and STAR WARS.

While walking through the historic streets of Sekijuku, when you come into contact with the colorful and pop-style art inside the Chagura Sabo, you will notice that each art stand out and become even more appealing.

rental space

​The two rooms on the second floor of Chazo Sabo are rental spaces and are used for kimono dressing classes and as an exhibition venue for crafts and artists.

​The cafe space on the first floor is also available for rent.
It seems to be used in galleries etc.

Chagura Sabo attracts a variety of people, including those who visit the cafe during sightseeing, those who come to see the art, regular local customers, and those who use the rental space, so it looks like it will be a fun place to interact.

3. New spots and gourmet food in front of the station

Yamato Takeru Ototachi Banahime bronze statue

Created by Shinya Nakamura, a sculptor from KameyamaCity

In January 2023, a new bronze statue will be erected in conjunction with the renewal of KameyamaCity City Station Plaza, and public art will welcome visitors at JR Kameyama Station, the new gateway to Kameyama KameyamaCity.

The bronze statue is an image of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (Nihon Takeru), a hero recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, whose legends remain in KameyamaCity, and his wife Ototachi Banahime (younger brother Tachibana Hime).
This is a work by Shinya Nakamura, a sculptor who is a recipient of the Order of Culture from KameyamaCity and an honorary citizen KameyamaCity.

The sculptural beauty is such that you can admire it for a long time, with a sense of dynamism that makes it seem as if it is about to move at any moment, and a delicate facial expression that makes you feel the deep love between Nippon Takeru and his younger brother Tachibana Hime. It has already been visited by many lovers and couples as a ``sacred place to deepen bonds'', which is named after the legend of a romantic relationship between two people.

New library in KameyamaCity

In January 2023, along with the erection of the bronze statue of Yamato Takeru and Ototachi Banahime, KameyamaCity Library was also relocated and opened.

The library has been transformed from a place of learning to a place of connection.
The old library had only one floor and was a quiet library, but the new library has four floors and has floor spaces where conversation is possible.

There is a terrace on the third floor with a nice view, making it a convenient spot for sightseeing visitors to take a breather.
Please stop by while waiting for a train or bus or when you want to take a short break.

The interior has a very open feel.

If you look closely at the bookshelves on the third floor, you will see that the shelves are arranged in order from lowest to highest.
This seems to represent the mountain range of Kameyama.

The window shelf is low, allowing plenty of sunlight to enter the room, making it comfortable.

A terrace full of openness

There is also a spacious terrace on the third floor.

From the terrace, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the newly renovated Kameyama Station Square, as well as the southern hills and Nunobiki Mountains.
There are no observation decks in KameyamaCity, so the view of Kameyama from a high place may be a bit rare.

A variety of people can come to the terrace to enjoy conversations and meals while watching the views of the mountains and the trains coming and going. (Please take your trash home with you when eating and drinking)
It is also a popular spot for people waiting for trains, buses, and pick-ups.

Illustrated curtains by a picture book artist from KameyamaCity

The second floor is a place where children and their parents can communicate and spend time together.

At the back is a ``story square'' with a large illustrated curtain.
The curtains are 4m high and 15m wide, and are illustrated by Komaya Sukan, a picture book artist who lives in KameyamaCity curtains are 4m high and 15m wide, and include illustrations of cute animals, as well as the KameyamaCity Library and city festivals. .

In order to make it easier to see the entire illustration, a panoramic view is placed next to the rental counter on the same floor so that it is aligned with children's perspective.
It's great to be able to learn about artists from Kameyama through illustrations, and to have fun learning about the town of Kameyama itself.

There is also a wall bookshelf called ``Book Train KAMEYAMA'' on the second floor.

The design is inspired by a train, and it is a hideaway-like space where you can spend time surrounded by books in the box seats.
It's a wonderful spot where you can enjoy reading.

The new library will be more convenient as it reflects the voices of people in various towns.

Learn more about KameyamaCity

​Corners are set up throughout the library where you can have fun learning about Kameyama.

On the first floor, In addition to the sculptor Shinya Nakamura, who is from KameyamaCity, this corner introduces artists who are connected to Kameyama (or where Kameyama appears in their works), such as EdogawaRanpo Shiga, Ranpo Edogawa, and Ango Sakaguchi. there is.
​On the second floor, there is also a corner with book-shaped exhibits that you can flick through and learn about the origin of Kameyama's place name and the flora and fauna that inhabit the area.​

In addition, there are corners introducing Kameyama's special products and Kameyama's companies, and there are many ways for adults and children alike to have fun and learn more about Kameyama.

Enjoy encountering books and interacting with people

The theme of the first floor is "encounter with books and interaction with citizens."​
Conversation is allowed at the counter seats and the magazine corner, so you can not only read, but also teach each other about your studies with friends and enjoy interacting with fellow citizens.

The first floor also has a large selection of magazines, manga, and other familiar books.
Even if you don't usually read books, why not pick up a book that interests you and sit down at the counter while waiting for the train or bus?

Zuihoken is a specialty store for the famous confectionery “Kamenoo” and Baumkuchen

Zuihoken is a historic confectionery store that was founded as a ``Kadoya'' in the late Eo period.
With the opening of the railway, it was relocated to the front of the station, and at that time it was named Zuihoken by the stationmaster of Kameyama Station.

The Japanese confectionery "Kamenoo" (certified by Kameyama brand), which has been made since the company's founding, was also a gift confectionery eaten by His Majesty the Emperor during the Taisho to Showa periods when he visited IseJingu.​
A long-established store that has been loved for a long time has reopened in 2021 as a store specializing in Kamenoo and Baumkuchen.

Famous confectionery “Kamenoo”

Photo: 2 Kamenoo 210 yen including tax

"Kamenoo" is a historical mochi confectionery made by the first owner of the shop during the Edo period.
It is based on a poem (celebrating longevity, prosperity, etc.) from the Kokin Wakashu, and is said to have its origin in the word ``long moss growing on the tail of a long-lived turtle'' (a sign that something auspicious will happen).​

The dough is made from high-quality domestically produced sticky rice flour and has a chewy texture.
The bean paste is made with carefully selected azuki beans from Hokkaido, and is a masterpiece with just the right amount of sweetness and a pleasant aroma of azuki beans.

New product “Ryu no Hige”

``Ryu no Hige'' is a Baumkuchen that was invented at the time of the renovation of Zuihoken.

Gluten-free Baumkuchen is made from first-class rice, ``Musubi no Kami,'' which is dedicated to IseJingu Grand Shrine, and is carefully baked layer by layer.It has a moist texture and a soft, gentle sweetness.

There are two types: the "soft" type, which allows you to enjoy a more moist texture, and the "hard" type, where the outermost dough is baked crisply.
The Tatsunohige hard plain pictured is 1,500 yen including tax, and the Tatsunohige soft plain is 1,400 yen including tax.

Top photo: Soft sake lees cut 230 yen including tax, Middle photo: Soft Japanese black tea cut 230 yen including tax, Bottom photo: Hard matcha cut 250 yen including tax

In addition to plain, there are other flavors such as sake lees, Japanese black tea, matcha, and chocolate.

The sake lees used are from Wakaebisu Shuzo, a long-established brewery located in Iga, the rice-producing region of Mie Prefecture.
When you take a bite, the sweet and plump aroma of alcohol passes through your nose.

The black tea used is Date Seicha's ``Kameyama Benihomare black tea,'' which is also certified as a Kameyama brand, and is characterized by its gorgeous aroma.
Both Tatsunohige and Kamenoo are certified as Kameyama brands, so you can enjoy the taste of Tatsunohige's black tea as a ``luxurious combination of Kameyama brands.''​

Kameyama is also a tea production area that has continued for over a thousand years. The matcha flavor made using Kameyama matcha, a specialty product, is also very appealing.
The combination of just the right amount of sweetness, slight bitterness, and the refreshing scent of matcha is irresistible.

How was it?

We introduced the relationship between KameyamaCity and art, the gourmet spots along the road in Sekijuku, and the new spots that have opened around KameyamaCity Station.
When you visit Kameyama, please stop by and enjoy the new spots.

CBC TV “Yoshi Onii-san’s “Mie” recommendation!”

“ KameyamaCity / Sekijuku” was introduced in the episode broadcast on April 26, 2023♪
Yoshio-niisan, a former gymnast, covers all over Mie Prefecture and spreads the charm of Mie Prefecture as a reporter!
Be sure to tap the image below to watch the video!

Photography model: Yumi Kato profile

Miss Universe Japan 2018.
She is active as a model and talent mainly in Japan and Malaysia. Currently disseminating information about beauty, health, and travel on SNS and media.

Article production: MSLP