Seki (関)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Pleasant weather supports temple visits, museums, gardens, and outdoor sightseeing; cherry blossoms and spring flowers add seasonal appeal.
• summer: Cormorant fishing operates from May 11 through October 15, while rivers, ayu cuisine, water lilies, and outdoor activities are especially appealing.
• autumn: October’s Cutlery Festival, peak foliage, continued cormorant fishing, and late water lilies make autumn especially rewarding.

What's There

• crafts: Seki is internationally renowned for knife making, swordsmithing, sharpening, and traditional edged-tool craftsmanship.
• culture: Swordsmithing, cormorant fishing, temple traditions, and regional food culture define Seki’s heritage.
• fishing: Visitors can experience historic cormorant fishing and enjoy ayu from the Nagara and Itadori rivers.
• flowers: Monet’s Pond features water lilies from late spring through autumn, while nearby flower parks offer seasonal blooms.
• food: Local specialties include grilled eel, ayu, regional dairy products, and shiitake mushrooms.
• history: Seki preserves roughly seven centuries of swordsmithing and more than a millennium of cormorant-fishing tradition.
• museum: Cutlery museums and sword-forging facilities explain Seki’s blade-making history through exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences.
• nature: Clear spring-fed waters, rivers, mountain landscapes, forests, ponds, and seasonal foliage provide varied natural attractions.
• park: Flower parks and forest parks offer accessible outdoor scenery, seasonal blooms, and relaxing walks.
• river: The Nagara and Itadori rivers support cormorant fishing, ayu cuisine, scenic views, and summer recreation.
• shopping: Visitors can browse and purchase knives, scissors, kitchen tools, and other products from numerous local manufacturers.
• temple: Seki Zenkoji offers distinctive architecture, a symbolic underground passage, and a historic Buddhist pilgrimage experience.
• spiritual: Temple visits, sword traditions, and ritualized cormorant fishing provide meaningful cultural and spiritual experiences.
• wildlife: Cormorants, colorful carp, and river ecosystems enrich Seki’s traditional fishing and nature attractions.

Specialties

• Seki Hamono (関刃物): Seki is internationally known for its high-quality knives, scissors, and other edged tools. The Gifu Seki Cutlery Hall presents products from more than 70 manufacturers and offers sharpening experiences.
• Unagi (うなぎ): Eel is one of Seki’s best-known local foods, served by numerous long-established restaurants. Local preparations commonly feature crisp-skinned grilled eel with a savory-sweet sauce.
• Ayu (鮎): The Nagara and Itadori rivers support ayu fishing and cuisine in Seki. Visitors can enjoy ayu grilled with salt, prepared as rice dishes, or served alongside the traditional Oze cormorant-fishing experience.
• Seki Milk (関牛乳): Seki Milk is a locally rooted dairy product highlighted among the city’s characteristic foods. The local tourism association presents it as part of Seki’s everyday food culture and regional specialties.
• Seki Shiitake Mushrooms (関しいたけ): Seki’s regional cuisine and gift products include thick, flavorful log-grown shiitake mushrooms. The Mugi area is particularly associated with shiitake cultivation and direct sales.