While movies like The Last Samurai and Shogun bring viewers back in time to a distinctly important period in Japanese history, visitors to Kanazawa can take it a hundred steps further and fully immerse themselves in what it truly meant to be an elite warrior.  Even if it’s just for a few hours.

One of Japan’s most alluring aspects is the ability it delivers for travelers to go beneath the modern surface and discover a vibrant array of heritage homes and neighborhoods from the Edo Period (1603-1867) along with martial arts and Kanazawa is the ultimate destination for those wanting to discover what remains of the Samurai lifestyle.

Nagamachi is the neighborhood one wants to explore fully beyond the castle- a picturesque area made of earthen walls, where mini-canals wind their way through it against cobblestone streets that are lined with traditional Samurai homes that can be explored, many still well intact and dressed up with traditional artifacts, handiwork and décor with lush manicured gardens below verandas that are replete with carp-filled ponds.

Once the atmosphere is soaked up, it’s time for action which often begins with becoming a Bushido devotee for a day at Shijimaya Honpo, just 15 minutes from Kanazawa station.  Here, in a centuries-old wooden house surrounded by a beautiful garden is the studio of Mr. Masahisa Shijimaya, a 16th-generation samurai descendant, and a third-dan master of Iaido which is a martial art centered around swordsmanship.  He proudly shows off his collection of blades and explains the intricate patterns and inscriptions that run along them.

Finally, it’s time to absorb kendo and gear up for “battle.”  To fully embrace the Samurai spirit, it is said that one must become a warrior and kendo is a Japanese martial art that required Samurai to utilize bamboo swords to preserve their skills during times of peace. Saishikan is a kendo school led by head master Toshihiro Enoki who’s been practicing kendo for 50 years. The day includes lessons on the basics of kendo etiquette such as bowing, learning the essential stances and how to properly hold and wield the bamboo sword, photo ops included while donned in traditional dress and a distinctive facemask.

For travelers seeking a deep dive into Japan’s Samurai past, Kanazawa offers a truly immersive experience. As exemplified by the stunning imagery on both the Visit Kanazawa Facebook and Instagram pages and its official tourism site, this region provides a rare opportunity to step into the shoes of a Samurai, even if just for a day.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or arranged at no cost to accommodate if this is review editorial, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***

** All images courtesy of Visit Kanazawa