47th Station: Seki

The area around Seki was always a major intersection for travelers. During the Edo period, it was a busy post town, because two major roads, the Isebetsu Road and the Yamato Road, intersected with the Tokaido.

In this view Hiroshige shows the outside of an upper class honjin where a daimyo has spent the night. It is early morning and the retainers, aided by lanterns, prepare for the journey ahead.

Today, many of the historical buildings of Seki have been preserved and the area has been designated as an “Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings” by the Japanese government.