HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Bushido Samurai Experience in Tohoku
Take a deep dive into the way of the samurai warrior across northeastern Japan
Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization
Get a taste for the life of a samurai during your travels around the northern Tohoku region of Japan.
At Shiroishi Castle in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, get dressed in a full suit of samurai armor, handwrought by craftsmen. The staff will give you tips on how to hold and draw the sword so that you can capture fantastic photos against the backdrop of the castle, a beautiful wooden restoration.
For those who crave a more active experience, visit Hayashizaki Iai Shrine in Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture. Join a lesson on iaido, the art of drawing the sword, which is the basis of the samurai’s bushido training.
Iaido was not only a way for the samurai to train for combat, but also a way to master the mind and spirit. During this hands-on program, you will get to learn the basic moves and even hold a real sword. Seek a sense of harmony as you practice the kata (set movements) and find your inner samurai as you learn how to move your body, handle the weight of the sword, and focus your attention.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Fukushima Station (about 1 hour 35 minutes). Switch to the JR Tohoku Main Line to Shiroishi Station (about 30 minutes). From Shiroishi Station, the castle is a 10-minute walk away.
From Tokyo Station, take the Yamagata Shinkansen to Murayama Station (about 3 hours), then take the bus to Hayashizaki (about 10 minutes). From Hayashizaki, Iai Shrine is a 1-minute walk away.
1-16 Masuoka-cho, Shiroishi-shi, Miyagi-ken
86-2 Hayashizaki, Murayama-shi, Yamagata-ken
