Nikenjaya

Location: 6 Jinkyu, Ise City

During the Edo period, pilgrims from the Kanto region would travel along the Ise kaido (Road), and those from the Kansai region would travel along the Ise Honkaido (Road). However, pilgrims from Shima, Owari and Mikawa (Aichi Prefecture) or from Totoumi and Suruga (Shizuoka Prefecture) would make their pilgrimages by ship. These were known as “boat pilgrims.” Upon entering the waters of the Seta River from Ominato on eight-oared fishing boats, they would festively parade in while beating drums and playing flutes and bells as they landed at the Kamiyasiro or here at the Nikenjaya.

The Nikenjaya (meaning “two tea houses”) gets its name from the fact that there once existed two tea houses: Kadoya (serving rice cakes, which became the current Niken Jaya Mochi), and to the east of that, Minatoya (serving udon noodles and sushi). Kadoya is said to have been founded in 1575.

In May of 1872, the Emperor Meiji visited the Ise Jingu when touring western Japan. During that time, warships came and stayed overnight at Toba. On the 25 th, they landed at Nikenjaya, and retuned home on the 27 th after the emperor visited both shrines. Those accompanying the emperor included Saigo Takamori, a vice-minister in the new government.

March 2012 Ise City Board of Education