A model course to enjoy KameyamaCity and Sekijuku to the fullest♪ We visited popular spots!

This trip around the Hokusei area started from JR Seki Station in KameyamaCity.
I would like to visit various spots by train.

First, let's get information about this town at the "KameyamaCity Tourism Association" located inside the station!
It's right next to the ticket gate.

We have a large selection of brochures around KameyamaCity, including the one we are looking for "Sekijuku".
Use this as a reference and enjoy your trip!
We asked the staff of KameyamaCity Tourism Association to tell us how to get to Sekijuku and recommended spots.

I'm planning to go eat "KameyamaMisoYakiUdon". You can have a lot of fun!

[KameyamaCity Tourism Association]
Address 664-2 Shinsho, sekicho KameyamaCity
Phone number 0595-97-8877
Official URL http://kameyama-kanko.com
Business hours 8:30-17:00
Closed on Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays
Access: JR Seki Station, approximately 5 minutes from Meihan National Highway Seki IC

First, I stopped at Michi-no-eki Sekijuku, which is about a minute's walk from JR Seki Station.
This facility is so popular that the large parking lot is full even on weekdays. I can't wait to see what's on sale!

Inside the station, there are many special products unique to this area.
It's a perfect spot to pick up souvenirs.

There are also many vegetables grown in and around KameyamaCity. They are all grown by local farmers who spare no effort.
It's so colorful that it stimulates your desire to shop.

The photo shows Kameyama tea flavored soft serve ice cream. It has just the right amount of bitterness and is very delicious.
Finally, we decided to head to Sekijuku.

[Michi-no-eki Sekijuku]
Address 674-8 Shinsho, sekicho KameyamaCity
Phone number 0595-97-8200
Official URL https://www.anzen-kameyama.jp/servicearea#a05
Business hours: 9:00-18:00 *Restaurant orders stop at 17:30
Closed: Open all year round
Access: Approximately 1 minute walk from JR “Seki Station”, approximately 5 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Seki IC”

It takes about 5 minutes on foot from "Michi-no-eki Sekijuku" to arrive at Sekijuku. During the Edo period, it was the 47th post town on the 53rd station of Tokaido, counting from Edo, and was crowded with people visiting Sankin Kotai and visiting Ise Shrine.
It is known as the only spot on Tokaido that still retains the townscape of the past. The retro scenery will soothe your soul.

A little further west, there was a white building that stood out.
``Fukawaya'' is a long-established store that has been in business for over 370 years and continues to make ``Seki no To'' Sekinoto using the same manufacturing methods as in the Edo period.

The store has a sense of history, as it is a Japanese sweets shop that has been around since the time of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu.
It's fun just looking at the kimonos and accessories placed here and there.

``Seki no To'' was once popular among the feudal lords who traveled along the highway, and was used as a Sekinoto sweet for the Omuro Imperial Palace (Ninnaji Temple, Kyoto). This is a bite-sized mochi confectionery filled with red azuki bean paste wrapped in Gyuhi mochi and sprinkled with Wasanbon. The elegant taste with less sweetness goes perfectly with tea!

[Sekinoto (Fukagawa-ya Sekinoto Honpo)]
Address 387 Nakamachi sekicho KameyamaCity
Phone number 0595-96-0008
Official URL http://www.sekinoto.com/
Business hours 10:00-17:00 (closed as soon as sold out)
Closed Thursday
Access: Approximately 10 minutes walk from JR Seki Station

Continuing further west, a temple with a majestic appearance came into view.
Seki Jizo-in Temple is famous for the folk song, ``Put a long-sleeved kimono on the Jizo of Seki and take him as a bridegroom for the Great Buddha of Nara.'' When you see a temple that is said to have gathered the faith of people traveling along Tokaido, you will feel a sense of strength.

The last place I visited in Sekijuku was Higashi no Oiwake.
At the junction of Tokaido and Isebetsu Kaido roads, a large torii gate is built for travelers to worship IseJingu from a distance. It is said that the torii gate of Naiku UjibashiBridge will be relocated during ShikinenSengu IseJingu, which happens once every 20 years. I felt the depth of Mie's history and tradition in this place as well.

[Tokaido Sekijuku]
Address sekicho, Shinsho, Sekimachi, KameyamaCity
Phone number 0595-97-8877 (KameyamaCity Tourism Association)
Access: About 5 minutes walk from JR Seki Station

After enjoying Sekijuku, return to JR Seki Station and take the Kansai Main Line to Kameyama Station.
I'm getting hungry, so I walk towards the restaurant I'm looking for.

About 15 minutes walk from JR Kameyama Station.
We have arrived at Ueda Shokudo, a restaurant where you can enjoy Kameyama's proud local gourmet dish, misoyaki udon. The exterior is reminiscent of an old-fashioned diner, and expectations are high.

The store has a homely atmosphere. I'm also happy that the store is easy to enter.
Without hesitation, I ordered the Misoyaki Udon Set Meal (950 yen (tax included)).

“Misoyaki udon” served on a piping hot iron plate is impressive!
The sweet, spicy, and rich flavor will make you addicted to it once you take a bite. Although the portion was plentiful, I devoured it in one go.

[Ueda Restaurant]
Address 2-1 Kitakashimacho, Kameyama KameyamaCity
Phone number 0595-82-6007
Business hours 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00
Closed on Sunday
Access: Approximately 15 minutes walk from JR “Kameyama Station”

I feel like having a few drinks before heading to my hotel for the night...
We headed to ``Kibino Momotaro,'' an izakaya restaurant known for its delicious skewers. The lanterns in front of the store create a nice atmosphere.

The restaurant originally specialized in fried skewers and merged with an izakaya run by the owner's parents. This restaurant is loved by locals and is frequented by office workers on their way home from work and customers with their families. The gentle light from the Japanese paper lighting will soothe you. Looks like it would be a good venue for a girls' night out!

From the extensive menu, choose the recommended ``Tenmusu'' and ``Ikawata Foil Yaki''.
I'll enjoy having this. Let's start with "Tenmusu"... Bite-sized and very easy to eat. The right amount of salt is also good. ``Ikawata grilled in foil'' also has a chewy texture, and both are perfect as snacks with alcohol.

And this is the restaurant's specialty, ``kushiage.'' I can't believe they serve such a generous amount of fried skewers...!
It's a rip-off by dipping it in the store's special sauce (back left). The flavor of the rich sauce and the crispy fried skewers go well together and are delicious. I finished my meal feeling tipsy with the owner's recommended alcohol. Thank you for the meal!

Full of happiness with delicious drinks and food. Thank you to the owner and his wife for seeing us off!

[Kibino Momotaro]
Address 1489-1 Sakaemachi KameyamaCity
Phone number 0595-83-5979
Official URL http://www.kibi-momo.com
Business hours 17:00-23:00
Access: Approximately 30 minutes walk from JR “Kameyama Station”, approximately 10 minutes from Higashi-Meihan Expressway “Kameyama IC”
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays that are public holidays

It was fun to enjoy the various charms of KameyamaCity.
Well, it was quite late at night... You could just go home by train, but why not spend the night in KameyamaCity?

Click here to search for hotels and accommodations in KameyamaCity!
http://hotel.kankomie.or.jp/dom/s/?ar=2402

This is a photo of Sekijuku at dusk. Sekijuku sun creates an indescribably beautiful and fantastical scenery.
On your left, you can see the signboard for ``Seki no To'', a famous confectionery made by `` Sekinoto'', a long-established shop with a history of 370 years.

This is a photo of the sunrise at almost the same location. It is a morning sky with the sun rising from the eastern sky.
By the way, what you can see on the right is the signboard for "Sekinoto" from earlier, but it has "Seki No To" written in kanji. Depending on the direction you look at it, it can be written in kanji or hiragana. It is said that travelers traveling up and down Tokaido used to look at the signboards to know if they were going uphill if they read Hiragana, or if they went downhill if they read Kanji.

If you watch the sunrise and sunset from the same place, you can see such a beautiful sight ♪
I'm glad I stayed for one night. Since I stayed for one night, I want to enjoy Sekijuku the next day as well! If you are interested, please refer to this ♪

[Sekijuku Experience Kobo Saikari (Akari)
A shop where you can experience handmade candles.
We also sell candles. Even small children can try it out!
Sekijuku Experience Workshop Saikari

[Sekijuku interview report]
We will introduce you to the highlights of Sekijuku in detail, from access and volunteer guide information to teahouses!
Stroll around Tokaido Sekijuku (KameyamaCity). A post town with plenty of tea places! Introducing parking lots, guides, and gourmet food!
Please enjoy your trip to KameyamaCity and Sekijuku!

*Information as of November 2017. Dates, prices, etc. may have changed, so please check with your contact information before going out.