Kanazawa was once the home of the fearsome Kaga clan, a samurai family who ruled the coast and ushered the city of Kanazawa into a cultural renaissance. Discover the legacy of these warriors in an exciting full day experience tracing their history and getting a hands-on feel for samurai battle techniques. Sure to be a delightful look into the past for families with teens or anyone who longs to relive the days of the samurai.

Programme Details

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Meet a local guide in the hotel lobby at 09:30 and set out on a full day adventure to learn about the samurai heritage of Kanazawa. Begin with a quintessential samurai martial arts experience.

Enter a traditional dojo and train in the art of kendo, a sword fighting technique that dates back to the Edo period, when samurai no longer fought in wars but wanted to retain their martial skills. Using wooden training swords, guests will learn the basic skills, stances, and movements that were essential to the samurai in battle. This is a rare chance to don a full set of kendo armor and mask for some training and commemorative pictures.

After a stop for lunch, continue on with a visit to the Nagamachi samurai district, a former neighbourhood of opulent traditional villas. Walk the walled streets where high level Kaga Clan samurai once lived, and enter the beautifully preserved Nomura Samurai House. The elegant rooms here offer fine views of an expertly designed garden.

Time permitting, stop at a local Samurai Museum, a small but fascinating exhibition space of antique armor, swords, calligraphy, and other daily items from the samurai era. 

Finish the day with a special hands-on viewing of authentic samurai swords. A local business owner from a former samurai family has opened his private collection of artifacts for personal inspections, and guests will have the opportunity to see the swords up close and hear their history. Feeling the weight of a centuries-old samurai sword in one’s hands is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will bring this Kanazawa samurai experience to a fulfilling close.

Part ways with the guide and continue exploring the city independently with a new appreciation for the role that the samurai once played in Japanese society.

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

Notes:

- This tour is not available from November 15th 2024 – 15th January 2025.
- Kendo activity is suitable for ages 12 and up.
- Samurai museums may be closed on regular days or without notice. The guide will suggest substitute sites instead.
- For kendo activity is recommended to bring a towel, a change of shirt and water bottle.
- Please contact your Travel Consultant for availability. Please note that all of the services and tours have yet to be booked and that they are proposed for your reference only. We will start making reservations after we receive your confirmation.
- Please inform your Travel Consultant of any special dietary requirements and physical conditions that you may have. We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel insurance that also covers emergency medical evacuation.

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