Sekigahara Battlefield Itinerary

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Itinerary Type :
Hiking/Walks, Historic Sites, Museums
Number of Stops
11
Est. Drive
13 km / 8.3 miles - 34 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 3 hours 55 minutes and 6 hours 40 minutes
Website :
https://battle-of-sekigahara.pref.gifu.lg.jp/en/
 
SItes related to the historic Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.

The Battle of Sekigahara was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600, that preceded the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate (also called the Edo Period, 1600-1868). Tokugawa Ieyasu (who led the Eastern forces battling the Western forces) took three more years to consolidate his position of power over the Toyotomi clan and the various daimyō, but Sekigahara is widely considered to be the unofficial beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate, the last shogunate to control Japan. The shogunate lasted over 250 years and was a period of relative peace after centuries of almost continual warfare between the many warlords.

Its historic importance is compared to other battles such as Waterloo, Gettysburg, Stalingrad, and Hastings as changing the course of history.

In addition to the Gifu Prefecture website about the battle indicated above, Wikipedia also has an extensive description of the battle and its consequences. There are also many books and articles available in multiple languages about this historic battle.
 

13 km / 8.3 miles - 34 minutes
1. Site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's First Encampment - 徳川家康最初陣跡

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Has Parking
Min/Max Time :
10 / 20 Minutes
MapCode :
242 103 448*71
Description :
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the leader of the Eastern Army that won the Battle of Sekigahara over the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari.

Tokugawa Ieyasu's first encampment in Sekigahara was here at the base of Mt. Momokubariyama.

Site Marker: E-13 (Note that Site Markers beginning with "E" indicate a site related to the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, while those beginning with "W" indicate a site related to the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari.)
Hours :
Open daily 24/7
Address :
Nogami, Sekigahara, Fuwa District, Gifu 503-1532
5.6 km /  3.5 miles - (8 minutes)
2. Sekigahara Tourism Center - 関ヶ原駅前観光交流館

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Has Food Has Parking Has Toilet Has Vending Machine(s)
Min/Max Time :
5 / 20 Minutes
MapCode :
242 101 204*36
Phone :
058-443-1100
Website :
http://www.kanko-sekigahara.jp/event/ekimae/index.html
Description :
Located across the street from the Sekigahara JR Station, the center provides local information, maps, food and souvenirs. Good place to buy a guide booklet with detailed explanations and history; available in multiple languages.
Hours :
Open Daily 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Tuesdays and National Holidays.
Address :
598番地の4 Sekigahara, 大字 Sekigahara, Fuwa District, Gifu 503-1512
1.4 km /  0.9 miles - (3 minutes)
3. Fuwanoseki Checkpoint Museum - 不破関資料館

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
10 / 20 Minutes
MapCode :
242 070 728*60
Phone :
058-443-2611
Website :
http://www.rekimin-sekigahara.jp/main/fuwa_no_seki/museum/
Description :
Commemorates the old Fuwanoseki Checkpoint along the Nakasendo Road from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo).
Hours :
Open Daily 09:00 - 1630 (April to October); 09:00 - 16:00 (November to March).
Closed Mondays.
Address :
21-1 Matsuo, Sekigahara, Fuwa-gun, Gifu 503-1541
0.7 km /  0.4 miles - (2 minutes)
4. Nishi-Nazuka Mound (Western Burial Mound) - 西首塚

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
5 / 10 Minutes
MapCode :
242 071 784*41
Description :
A shrine honoring the dead soldiers from the Western Army (of Ishida Mitsunari) whose severed heads were buried in this mound after the Battle of Sekigahara.

Site Marker: E-09
Hours :
Open daily 24/7
Address :
Sekigahara, Fuwa District, Gifu 503-1501
0.8 km /  0.5 miles - (3 minutes)
5. Higashi-Kubizuka Mound (Eastern Burial Mound) - 東首塚

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
5 / 15 Minutes
MapCode :
242 101 225*25
Description :
A shrine honoring the dead soldiers from the Eastern Army (of Tokugawa Ieyasu) whose severed heads were buried in this mound after the Battle of Sekigahara.

Site Marker: E-12
Hours :
Open daily 24/7
Address :
関ケ原町 Sekigahara, Fuwa District, Gifu 503-1501
0.4 km /  0.3 miles - (1 minutes)
6. Sekigahara Town History & Folklore Museum - 関ケ原町歴史民俗資料館

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Has Parking Has Toilet
Min/Max Time :
10 / 45 Minutes
MapCode :
242 101 519*58
Phone :
058-443-2665
Website :
http://www.rekimin-sekigahara.jp/english/index.html
Description :
The Sekigahara Town History & Folklore Museum has a permanent exhibition, includidng a folding screen of the Battle of Sekigahara and weapons like armor, cannon, matchlock, conches, and other excavated items from the ruins of the camp site on display. Also replicated helmets of Ieyasu Tokugawa and Mitsunari Ishida, portraits of the main warlords and panels of details about the warlords are eye-catching. Above all, a large diorama presenting the formations of the Eastern and Western Armies in the battle and the flow of the battle, with the lightning is a must-see. It is described with a CD with realistic commentary in English and Korean.

There are lots of souvenirs concerned with the warlords like mugs with their heraldry on it, teacups, cellphone's strap with bamboo, ultra-mini-banner and sticker with a gold lacquer heraldry in the museum shop. And there are also the latest version of history magazines about the Battle of Sekigahara. This museum is the best place for learning about the Battle for everyone. It is also fun to rent a cycle and go around the ancient battle field after learning the overview of the battle at the museum.
Hours :
Open Daily 09:00 - 16:30 (09:00 - 16:00 November to March).
Closed Mondays.
Address :
894-28 Sekigahara, Fuwa-gun, Gifu 503-1501
0.5 km /  0.3 miles - (2 minutes)
7. Site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's Final Encampment - 徳川家康最後陣跡

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
10 / 20 Minutes
MapCode :
242 101 455*85
Description :
Site of Tokugawa Ieyaso's Eastern Army final encampment after his victory over the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Sekigahara. Tokugawa also viewed the severed heads of the defeated leaders of the Western Army here in a sign of repect.

Site Marker: E-01
Hours :
Open daily 24/7
Address :
959-2 Sekigahara, Fuwa-gun, Gifu 503-1501
0.9 km /  0.5 miles - (3 minutes)
8. Forest of Peace Park - 平和の杜(児童公園)

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Has Parking
Min/Max Time :
5 / 15 Minutes
MapCode :
242 100 466*44
Description :
The Forest of Peace Park is very close to Konishi Yukinaga's Encampment, Site Marker W-03, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's retainers in the Western Army. It is a peaceful, grassy area with about a dozen stone sculptures dedicated to peace.
Hours :
Open Daily 24/7
Address :
1947 Sekigahara, Fuwa District, Gifu 503-1501
0.8 km /  0.5 miles - (3 minutes)
9. Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Site - 関ヶ原古戦場

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
5 / 10 Minutes
MapCode :
242 130 082*52
Website :
http://www.town.sekigahara.gifu.jp/
Description :
The Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Site is a set of memorial stones at the site of some of the bloodiest fighting of the Battle of Sekigahara. It features the battle flags representing both the Eastern Army (with the Tokugawa crest) and the Western Army (with the Ishida crest).

Designated a National Historic Site in 1931, the Battle of Sekigahara was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month), that preceded the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Tokugawa Ieyasu took three more years to consolidate his position of power over the Toyotomi clan and the various Daimyō, but Sekigahara is widely considered to be the unofficial beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate, the last shogunate to control Japan.

Site Marker: E-05
Hours :
Open daily 24/7
Address :
1139 Sekigahara, Fuwa-gun, Gifu 503-1501, Japan
0.4 km /  0.2 miles - (2 minutes)
10. Site of Ishida Mitsunari's Encampment - 笹尾山 石田三成陣跡

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
20 / 45 Minutes
MapCode :
242 130 222*30
Description :
Ishida Mitsunari was the leader of the Western Army that was defeated at the Battle of Sekigahara by the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

His encampment site is up a hill with lots of steps.

Site Marker: W-01
Hours :
Open daily 24/7
Address :
4008 Sekigahara, Fuwa-gun, Gifu 503-1501
1.8 km /  1.1 miles - (5 minutes)
11. Ibukiyama Drive Entrance - 伊吹山ドライブウェイ

Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Min/Max Time :
90 / 120 Minutes
MapCode :
242 129 484*03
Phone :
058-443-1155
Website :
http://www.ibukiyama-driveway.jp/
Description :
The Ibukiyama Drive is a 17 kilometer (11 mile) scenic road to a mountain top observation point, Sky Terrace Ibukiyama, at the top of Mt. Ibuki (1,377 m/4,518 ft). The mountain is famous for its unique alpine vegetation and record setting snow fall. It is attractive in all four seasons. Although not related to the Battle of Sekigahara the drive is a peaceful and scenic drive for those who have a little extra time.

Visitors must enter and exit from this entrance, meaning you will drive to the top of Mt. Ibuki and then return the same way. Note that driving to the top and back will add a minimum of 90 minutes to your trip.
Hours :
Road Open Daily.
April 3 - July 3 - 08:00 - 20:00
July 3 - August - 03:00 - 21:00
September - 08:00 - 20:00
October - November - 08:00 - 19:00

Sky Terrace open - 10:00 - 16:00; 09:00 - 18:00 during summer.

Round-trip toll about JPY3,200 per car.
Address :
503-1501 Gifu, Fuwa-gun, Sekigahara, 寺谷1586

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