The only sekisho (checkpoint) building today in Japan.
The Arai sekisho was set in Arai inn, of the 31st posting station (counting from Edo) out of the 53 on Tokaido, one of the five main highways constructed in the Edo period. It is located in the current city of Kosai, west of Hamamatsu City. The sekisho was put in place during the Edo period by the Shogunate to protect Edo through regulating the comings and goings of things and people, and there were 53 of these sekisho in Japan. The Arai sekisho was built in 1600, but was forced to relocate twice and in 1858 was reconstructed into the building that remains today. It is the only sekisho building left in Japan today and is an officially designated special historical site.
A scene of the inspection of that time is reproduced using puppets. It is estimated that the many weapons deployed in the sekisho were used to forcefully crack down on those who disobeyed the regulations, and also to intimidate passersby.
The adjacent Sekisho History Museum displays materials concerning the traffic during the Edo period and the history of the town of Arai.
| Admission | ||
| Araisekisho Less than kindergarten |
FREE | |
| The small, Junior high student | ¥100 | (¥50) |
| Adult | ¥310 | (¥210) |
Kinokuniya Museum Less than kindergarten |
FREE | |
| The small, Junior high student | ¥100 | (¥50) |
| Adult | ¥210 | (¥150) |
Araisekisho & Kinokuniya Less than kindergarten |
FREE | |
| The small, Junior high student | ¥150 | (¥100) |
| Adult | ¥410 | (¥360) |
http://hamaguru.com/sekisho/ (Japanese)
View a Larger Map
ADDRESS
1227-5, Arai, Arai-cho,
Kosai-shi, Shizuoka,
431-0302
PHONE
053-594-3615
OPEN HOURS
9am – 4:30pm
CLOSE
Every Monday, 12/26 – 1/2
※ If a national holiday falls on Monday, it is open. Open every day in August.
TRANSPORT
From Hamamatsu Station
[TRAIN]
Tokaido Main Line get off at "Araimachi" station (15 minutes) then walk 8 minutes
[BUS]
Take the “Maisaka-cho, Kosai Shiyakusho” line bus at bus stop #4 of the bus terminal to “Sekisho ato” then walk 1 minutes
[CAR]
Around 30 minutes from Tomei Expressway Hamamatsu-nishi IC.
Around 30 minutes from Shin-Tomei Expressway Mikkabi IC.
Parking available for 33 vehicles.
2015.5.20 update
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.