 Last additions - Tokaido Seki-juku 関宿 |
Seki-juku was the 47th station or lodging/post town on the old Tokaido Road. It well retains a traditional townscape with a good number of traditional Edo Period buildings including the Honjin and Waki Honjin. Seki-juku is preceded by Kameyama-juku and followed by Sakashita-juku. All three are in the present-day city of Kameyama. Hiroshige also created this woodblock print of Seki-juku in the 1830s. It depicts daimyo staff preparing to leave the Honjin lodge before dawn (notice the still dark sky). Unknown which Honjin it is. (Seki had two Honjin.)Aug 15, 2020
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JR Tsuge Station connects to the JR Kusatsu Line.May 18, 2020
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Ninja at JR Tsuge Station.May 18, 2020
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JR Seki Station on the Kansai Line. JR関西本線 関駅May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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More latticed walls in Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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Tokaido Road marker.May 18, 2020
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Gochisoba plaza used for greeting VIPs arriving Seki-juku. 御馳走場May 18, 2020
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On left, Kaiunro 開雲楼, former geisha house in Seki-juku. On the right is another former geisha house, Shokakuro 松鶴楼. May 18, 2020
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Kaiunro, former geisha house in Seki-juku. 開雲楼May 18, 2020
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About Oi houseMay 18, 2020
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Oi houseMay 18, 2020
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Hyakugo Bank, Seki Branch 百五銀行 関支店May 18, 2020
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Hyakugo Bank, Seki Branch is a modern building designed in the traditional style. 百五銀行 関支店May 18, 2020
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Aizu-ya inn in front of Jizo-in Temple. 会津屋May 18, 2020
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Inns in front of Jizo-in Temple.May 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple's Jizo statue.May 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple's Jizo statue.May 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple's bell tower is also an Important Cultural Property.May 18, 2020
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Inside Jizo-in Temple, Main Hall.May 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple, Main HallMay 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple, Main Hall is an Important Cultural Property. 地蔵院May 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple, Main Hall is an Important Cultural Property. 地蔵院May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Jizo-in Temple anchors one end of Seki-juku. It belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect, Omuro School. 地蔵院May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Fukuzoji Temple 福蔵寺May 18, 2020
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Fukuzoji Temple has Koman's grave. 小万の墓 福蔵寺May 18, 2020
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Fukuzoji Temple gate. 福蔵寺May 18, 2020
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Old shop sign adds to the townscape's charm.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Antique shop sign.May 18, 2020
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Beauty salon in a traditional building in Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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About the Seki-juku bulletin board used by officials to give official notices to people in Seki-juku. 高札場May 18, 2020
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Seki-juku bulletin board (replica). 高札場May 18, 2020
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Seki-juku post office (modern).May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn rear view.May 18, 2020
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Tableware used by Tamaya when it was an inn.May 18, 2020
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Ceiling of the kura storehouse.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Top floor of the kura storehouse.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Mie and Shiga sections of the Tokaido Road.May 18, 2020
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Inside the kura storehouse, exhibits of woodblock prints of the Tokaido Road.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn also has this storehouse for more exhibits centering on Hiroshige's woodblock prints of the Tokaido Road.May 18, 2020
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This might be the maid's room.May 18, 2020
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PillowMay 18, 2020
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Guest room on the 2nd floor of Tamaya inn.May 18, 2020
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Guest room on the 2nd floor of Tamaya, a high-class inn.May 18, 2020
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Dining room on the 2nd floor of Tamaya inn.May 18, 2020
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Dining room on the 2nd floor of Tamaya inn.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn Guest roomMay 18, 2020
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Tamaya tokonoma alcove.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya courtyard.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya has many rooms with exhibits.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Kitchen roof was high to dilute the smoke.May 18, 2020
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Sake flasks and delivery box.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya kitchenMay 18, 2020
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Tamaya kitchen stove.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya kitchen stove.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya kitchen stove.May 18, 2020
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Abasuc.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn's front desk clerk.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn's front desk.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn's front desk.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya entrance hall.May 18, 2020
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Seki-juku had 42 inns including two Honjin and two Waki-Honjin.May 18, 2020
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About the three types of inns in stage towns.May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn adult admission ¥300. Must see. 旅籠玉屋歴史資料館May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn is another major museum in Seki-juku. 旅籠玉屋歴史資料館May 18, 2020
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Tamaya inn is another major museum in Seki-juku. 旅籠玉屋歴史資料館May 18, 2020
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Old koto and skis in Ishigaki-ya.May 18, 2020
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Ishigaki-yaMay 18, 2020
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Ishigaki-ya inn. It's actually an inn where you can stay. ¥2,500/night.May 18, 2020
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Ito Honjin lodge was Seki-juku's high-class lodge for VIP travelers like daimyo lords. 伊藤本陣跡May 18, 2020
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Ito Honjin lodge. Now an electronics shop. 伊藤本陣跡May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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View from Chokantei, looking toward Jizo-in Temple. 眺関亭からの眺望May 18, 2020
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View from Chokantei. 眺関亭からの眺望May 18, 2020
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View from Chokantei. 眺関亭からの眺望May 18, 2020
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Hyaku-rokuri-teiMay 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Hyaku-rokuri-tei has a building with a view of Seki-juku. 百六里庭May 18, 2020
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You see a lot of wooden lattice on the exterior. Supposed to ward off wind and rain.May 18, 2020
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Tsuruya inn. 鶴屋脇本陣跡May 18, 2020
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Road markerMay 18, 2020
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Tanaka-ya coffee shop.May 18, 2020
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Seki-juku's traditional townscape continues.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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About Seki's festival floats.May 18, 2020
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About Seki's float festival in English. This was posted on a nearby house.May 18, 2020
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About the Nakamachi Sanbancho float festival float. The Seki Hikiyama Festival is held on a weekend in late July.May 18, 2020
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Festival float storehouse or dashi-gura. One of four remaining today. Originally there were 16 floats. There's a window where you can see part of the Nakamachi Sanbancho float inside.May 18, 2020
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Kitchen stove.May 18, 2020
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Kura storehouseMay 18, 2020
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Old bicycle from the late 19th century (Meiji Period). Still a rare luxury item in those days. Bicycles became widely used in Japan from the 1930s. This bicycle was donated by a local resident in Seki. May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Indoor well.May 18, 2020
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Kitchen stove.May 18, 2020
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Grandfather's clock.May 18, 2020
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Exhibition room of photos of Seki-juku's skyline.May 18, 2020
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How Seki-juku started out. The town was named "Seki" in the early 18th century.May 18, 2020
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Traditional buildings that still remain in Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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Old map of Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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Scale model of Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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Scale model of Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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Another small exhibition room.May 18, 2020
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CorridorMay 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Tokonoma alcove.May 18, 2020
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Charcoal heater.May 18, 2020
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Old coins and dishes/pottery.May 18, 2020
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Small exhibition room on 2nd floor (or maybe attic).May 18, 2020
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About the Kawa-kita Honjin lodge. May 18, 2020
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About the Ito Honjin lodge.May 18, 2020
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Room on 2nd floor.May 18, 2020
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Stairway to 2nd floor.May 18, 2020
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Stairway also serve as storage space.May 18, 2020
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Money box, probably a safe.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Welcome to Seki Townscape Museum. It explains about the town and why so many buildings have been preserved.May 18, 2020
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Entering the Seki Townscape Museum.May 18, 2020
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The museum has this colorful Seki-juku manhole, Kameyama, Mie Prefecture. They even give you a manhole card.May 18, 2020
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Adult admission ¥300, open 9 am to 4:30 pm.May 18, 2020
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Entrance to Seki Machinami Shiryokan (Seki Townscape Museum). It looks narrow, but the building is quite long. 関まちなみ資料館May 18, 2020
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Seki Machinami Shiryokan (Seki Townscape Museum) is a local history/culture museum. 関まちなみ資料館May 18, 2020
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Lots of wooden lattice on the exterior, used to block rain and wind.May 18, 2020
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May 18, 2020
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Old Tokaido Road in Seki-juku. Picturesque.May 18, 2020
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From Seki Station, a short walk on this road to Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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Way to Seki-juku.May 18, 2020
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JR Seki Station building has a traditional design. It also houses a tourist information office and exhibition space. From Nagoya, it's about May 18, 2020
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Seki-juku stretches for about 1.8 km. The whole town is small enough to walk through. A few buildings are open to the public as museums. Seki-juku is also a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区). Short walk from JR Seki Station on the JR Kansai Main Line.May 18, 2020
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Seki-juku is highly recommended for Tokaido stage town and architecture fans. Seki-juku manhole with a traveler design, Kameyama, Mie Prefecture.May 18, 2020
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