Natural place with Cultural meaning

Suzuka mountain range
The mountain range is a border of Mie and Shiga prefecture and gentle in side of Shiga but steepness in side of Mie. In edo period, people who had crossed here toward warship at Ise shrine crowded and they stayed an accommodation range in Seki, Seki-juku(関宿). This area's route which is called Tokai-do Syukubamati (post station) was a important to pass Kinai(畿内) to Tougoku(東国) for a long time.

General description

Kameyama city is located in the middle-north area of Mie prefecture so it's crowded in the speedway as a turning point of Tokai(東海) area and Kansai(関西) area. Kameyama city is adjacent to Suzuka(鈴鹿) city which is popular for car racing in east, to Iga(伊賀) city where is recognized the existence of Ninja in west, to Tsu(津) city which is the prefectual capital city of Mie in south and to Kora(甲賀) city of Shiga prefecture which is popular for Shigara-yaki(信楽焼). Suzuka mountain range is rising in western north area of Kameyama city and in past time many people who acrossed the mountain range in Toukai route stayed here.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Kanko dancing
It's the kind of dance praying for rain and bumper crop. The origin is derived from 700 years and the farmers teached genelation. They dance gracely and emotionally covering a woven hat（笠） and holding a drum. The music is plyaed with conch shell（ほら貝）, transverse flute（横笛） and peoples's call out.

 

What i like about Kameyama city

What I like about my hometown Kameyama is the view. This view had not changed since my young, does not change now and would not change though I grow up to more older. The living things for example trees and sky, wind and so on change their color seasonally and I like feeling them devoted myself so much. It's not special thing but I think it's love for my hometown.

Local Industry

Kameyama city is famous for the candle products called 'Kameyama rosoku'. It was founded in February of 1927. The concept of the products is '3 not(「三ず」); not to drip(流れず), not to be awry(垂れず) and not to smoke(くすぶらず)'. It's used for both of God and Buddha and has been used regularly around Japan for 80 years after founding.

Name

First people called this area 'Kami-Yama' which meant the mountain where the gods 'kami(神)' had lived and then the name changed to 'Kame-Yama(亀山)'.

History

Seki-juku, Seki station(関宿)
It's not station but the accommodation range. Seki station is located in west of Kameyama city which is the turning point of east and west of Japan but also it's important station for people who would visit Ise shrine or go to east from west of Japan. Because it was so difficult to cross the Suzuka mountain range which had hard shape, so people wanted to stay here to cure themselves. And in that time it was so crowded with the marchants and the travelers. The old buildings for example an inn are remained so it designated as traditional architectures preservation district(伝統的建造物軍保存地区).