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Learn the elegant martial art of kyudo (Japanese archery) in the former samurai city of Kanazawa
Kanazawa City Tourism Association
Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture was once the center of the powerful Kaga Domain, under which the arts and martial culture of the samurai flourished. You can still experience parts of Kanazawa’s samurai history today and learn about the spirit and principles these famous warriors lived by.
While most people associate samurai with their prowess in swordsmanship, they also were masters of kyudo, Japanese archery. This beautiful martial art incorporates aspects of spirituality and Zen into its form and practice, which differentiates kyudo from European styles of archery.
Learn the basics of kyudo during your visit to Kanazawa under the instruction of experts from the Ishikawa Prefectural Kyudo Federation. After arriving at the dojo, change into traditional kyudo attire, and start your training in the hassetsu, the manners, postures, and techniques of Japanese archery. Once you have gotten the basics of handling the long bow, try shooting arrows at the target, which is trickier than it seems. After the experience is over, you will receive a certificate of completion that you can show off back home.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa Station (about 2 hours 30 minutes). The kyudo range is about a 20-minute bus ride and walk from Kanazawa Station.
4-18-1 Ishibiki, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken
