[2023] What is “Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival”? We will thoroughly explain the history, highlights, access, parking information, etc.

▼Table of contents

• What is Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival?
• History of Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival
• About the schedule
• Sekijuku Highlights of the Gion Summer Festival
• ① “Dashi parade”
• ② “Seki Dashi” is “Seki no Yama”
• ③“Stage rotation”
• ④“Night Sekijuku”
• About stalls and other stalls and restrooms
• About access, parking, and traffic regulations
• Access by train
• About access by car and parking lot
• About traffic regulations

What is Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival?

Sekijuku The Gion Festival is a traditional summer event held for two days (Saturday and Sunday) in the middle of July every year in Sekijuku of KameyamaCity Mie Prefecture, the 47th inn town of Tokaido the 53rd itinerary, where four gorgeous floats parade along the old Tokaido Sekijuku road.

“Dashi parade” is the origin of the word “Seki no Yama”

The impressive ``stage mawashi'', in which the top of the float rotates vigorously, is a must-see attraction.

The Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival is a traditional festival worth seeing, with the old buildings and streetscape of Sekijuku, a post town, making you feel like you have traveled back in time to the Edo period.

History of Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival

Sekijuku The Gion Summer Festival is a traditional summer event that has continued since the Genroku era (1688-1704) of the Edo period. At its peak, as many as 16 floats Tokaido Sekijuku paraded through the entire area, competing with each other with their gorgeous decorations of side curtains, farewell curtains and lanterns.

Because of its splendor and liveliness, it was one of Japan's representative festivals at the time, along with the Gion Festival (Kyoto Prefecture) and Sumiyoshi Tenjin Festival (Osaka Prefecture), as one of the ``Five Great Kansai Festivals.''

Currently, there are four floats in the Shinjo, Nakamachi, and Kizaki districts (Nakamachi Sanbancho, Nakamachi Yonbancho, Kizaki, and Kitaura), but the festival floats run along the entire width of the highway that continues through the old Sekijuku. ) sights,

The scene when the floats change direction at each intersection of the highway,

The impressive spectacle known as ``stage mawashi,'' in which the top of the float rotates vigorously, continues to this day.

It was canceled for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and in 2022 it was held for the first time in three years, but the "stage mawashi" will be held in separate locations with each float to avoid crowding. It was unveiled.

In 2023, the "stage rotation" with all four machines will be revived, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.

About the schedule

2023 Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival

It will be held on Saturday, July 22nd and Sunday, July 23rd.

The main event schedule is as follows.

*Please note that some events may be canceled in case of rain.

[Mikoshi Togo] 22nd (13:00-17:00) Seki Shrine - Otabisho

(Mikoshi Togyo) 23rd (13:00-17:00) Otabisho - Seki Shrine Rain or shine

[Float parade] 22nd and 23rd (17:00-21:30) Sekijuku Kaido route canceled due to rain

[Children's float parade]

23rd (10:00-11:00) SekinoyamaKaikan- Former Ochiai family event canceled due to rain

[Sekijuku Information Center] 22nd & 23rd (11:00-16:30) Former Ochiai Family

[Lighting of the lanterns] 22nd (18:00-20:30) Shinsho district road canceled due to rain

*Lamps will be lit along the street.

Sekijuku Highlights of the Gion Summer Festival.

① “Dashi parade”

Sekijuku, which has an old townscape, is a post town along Tokaido that was developed during the Edo period.

At that time, Tokaido (formerly Tokaido) was not as wide as today's large national highways, but was only about one lane wide. The sight of large floats cruising the entire width of the road is a sight to behold.

It looked like the floats were blocking the entire width of the road, making it impossible to pass any further.

It seemed like it couldn't pass any further, as if it was just brushing past the eaves.

One of the highlights is how it is full of threads.

By the way, the word ``dashi'' has been used frequently, but it is usually pronounced as ``dashi.'' However, at Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival, it is not pronounced "dashi".

At Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival...the floats are called ``yama''. This has a lot to do with the word ``Seki no Yama'' which will be mentioned later.

② “Seki Dashi” is “Seki no Yama”

``Seki no Yama''...isn't this a word you've probably heard before?

It is used to mean "to the best of your ability," "to the fullest," "to the fullest," or "no matter how hard you try, you can't go any further." It is said that the scene of the aforementioned floats passing through the streets of Sekijuku Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival is the origin of the word ``Seki no Yama.''

The “yama” in Seki was not a mountain, but a float!

There is a connection between the etymology of the word and the Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival!

It is no exaggeration to say that this is also one of the highlights.

③“Stage rotation”

There are currently four floats of Seki (Nakamachi Sanbancho, Nakamachi Yonbancho, Kizaki, and Kitura) that have been preserved, and are decorated with horizontal banners, farewell curtains, and lanterns. I think it's interesting to watch too.

Sekijuku The floats of the Gion Summer Festival have not only decorations but also other unusual features.

The structure is such that the part of the float above the cart rotates!

During the procession, the way the top of the float is rotated vigorously at each intersection of the highway is called ``stage mawashi'', and it is a sight that is rarely seen anywhere else, and it is a sight to behold.

This year, from around 20:00 on Saturday, July 22nd, on the east side of the former Ochiai family residence, the "stage mawashi" with all four lights will be revived for the first time in four years. You can see the impressive sight of the floats spinning.

*Please note that "stage rotation" with all 4 units is only available at this time! !

④“Night Sekijuku”

At Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival, festival float parades are scheduled to take place at night on July 22nd (Saturday) and July 23rd (Sunday) (17:00-21:30).

I highly recommend the parade of floats with lanterns and lantern lights after dark, and the streetscape of Sekijuku have a different atmosphere from that of the daytime.

It looks like you'll be able to take some great photos surrounded by soft light.

It's also a time when it's easier to spend time compared to the hot midday hours, so if you take a cool stroll through the old streets of Sekijuku with the lights on, you'll probably discover something different than during the day.

About stalls and other stalls and restrooms

There are several restaurants and cafes along the road in Sekijuku, and it is said that around 10 stores will be opened.

Restrooms are available at the sightseeing parking lot, Sekijuku, the Ippukutei Jizo-machi strolling base facility, and the Machinami Cultural Center, so please refer here.

(This is an enlarged map)

Sekijuku Click here for a tourist map and a link to Sekijuku KameyamaCity Tourism Association, the organizer of the Gion Summer Festival.

・ Sekijuku sightseeing map

　　seki-B (kameyama-kanko.com)

・ KameyamaCity Tourism Association

　　TEL:0595-97-8877　FAX:0595-96-0700

　　http://www.kameyama-kanko.com/

How to access by train/bus

There is a tourist parking lot and Seki Elementary School ground (temporary parking lot), but the roads are narrow and traffic congestion is expected, so we recommend using public transportation whenever possible.

Access by train

Approximately 5 minutes walk from Seki Station on the JR Kansai Main Line.

About access by car and parking lot

If you are coming by car, please use Sekijuku Tourist Parking Lot or the Seki Elementary School Ground (temporary parking lot).

About traffic regulations

Please note that there will be traffic restrictions scheduled from 16:00 to 23:00 on the day of the event, and no vehicles will be allowed on the old Tokaido (Oiwake in the west - Oiwake in the east).

How was it?

In this article, we have provided a thorough explanation of the highlights and access to Sekijuku Gion Summer Festival, a summer tradition in Sekijuku. We hope that you will be able to feel the charm of the `` Sekijuku juku Gion Summer Festival'' by reading this article, such as the parade of floats, which is the origin of the word ``Mountain of Seki,'' and the ``stage mawashi'' where all four floats will be held together for the first time in four years.

Please enjoy this traditional festival in Sekijuku, where the old Tokaido townscape remains.

In addition, there is currently a sunflower field on the south side of JR Seki Station as a nearby spot.

The best time to see them starts from mid-July and lasts until mid-August, so it might be a good idea to stop by! !

Please refer to this link for flowering information and locations.

・ Blog | KameyamaCity Tourism Association (kameyama-kanko.com)

・ The sunflower field on the south side of JR Seki Station is in full bloom. (2023.7.11) | KameyamaCity Tourism Association (kameyama-kanko.com)