Aizu Nisshinkan Samurai Academy

Aizu Nisshinkan Samurai Academy

The Aizu Nisshinkan samurai academy, or Aizu Hanko Nisshinkan, was the highest-level learning institution of its time. It was established in 1803 by the Aizu Domain to foster Japan's next generation of talented samurai.

Children of samurai families entered this school at the age of ten and worked on academic studies and physical exercises to instill both physical and mental discipline.

The property, covering about 26,500 square meters in area, used to house such facilities as a martial arts training hall, an astronomical observatory, and Suiren-Suiba Ike, Japan's oldest swimming pool.

During the late Edo Period, the school turned out a great deal of excellent talent, including the legendary group of young warriors, the Byakkotai. The facilities, which were burned down during the Boshin War, have been rebuilt faithful to their original design. They now function as a hands-on museum that features exhibits of the magnificent architecture of the Edo Period and dioramas of school life as it used to be.

Visitors can enjoy practicing some of the essential disciplines of the samurai, including tea ceremony, Japanese archery, meditation, and horseback riding, as well as experiencing hand painting an akabeko (red cow), a traditional good-luck charm of Aizu.

Please see the official website for updated entry and reservation fees. Discounted combination tickets are offered for those who book experiences with admission.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://www.nisshinkan.co.jp/en/
Contact

Aizu Hanko Nisshinkan

(+81) 242-75-2525

Best SeasonAll Year
Opening Hours

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Admittance until 4:00 PM)

None

Parking200 cars, 50 coaches
Entrance FeeAdults: 1,800 yen / Junior high & high school students: 900 yen / Primary school students: 800 yen
Accommodation details

Pets: Allowed if carried in a cage or held in the arms (No walking allowed)

Access Details
Access10 Takatsukayama, Minami-Takano, Kawahigashi-machi, Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Pref. 969-3441
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 5 min from Bandai-Kawahigashi I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway

By Train: 15 min by taxi ride (or 35 min by the city's sightseeing loop bus) from Aizuwakamatsu Station (JR Ban-etsu West Line)

Useful Links

6 Things to Do at the Aizu Hanko Nisshinkan Samurai School

2 Days in Aizu-Wakamatsu

Feel the Samurai Spirit at Nisshinkan & Aizu Bukeyashiki

Related trips

  1. Samurai

    Samurai Spirit Experience

    Discover the spirit of the Japanese samurai on this one-day tour of warrior history in the beautiful Aizu region of Fukushima. Feel the past come to life all around you as you experience the places where samurai once walked. This tour can be enjoyed any time of the year. Leave from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and journey to Tsurugajo Castle, the only castle in Japan with its signature red roof tiles. Stroll through the outer grounds before heading inside the keep, complete with a picture from the observation platform at the top. After you’ve finished at the castle, make your way to Aizu Hanko Nisshinkan, once a high-grade academy for young samurai. This is where the fledgling warriors received training and education, not only in combat but in philosophical and artistic pursuits. Afterwards, move on to Aizu Bukeyashiki, the 28-room sprawling estate that once belonged to a samurai family of the region. The well-preserved estate showcases everyday samurai life as well as some stunning artifacts and gardens. As you walk the halls of the old quarters, you'll be able to imagine what life was like for a powerful and influential samurai of the period. Still looking for samurai experiences? Try a samurai class at the dojo of Ookawaso ryokan.

    Samurai Spirit Experience

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The World Glassware Hall
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Tsurugajo Castle is the crown jewel of the Aizu region, bringing visitors from all over the world to see its incredible scenery, which changes drastically every season.Despite several reconstructions to the main castle over the years, the surrounding park's stone walls remain in their original state. In 2010, for the first time since it was refurbished in 1965, the castle underwent a cosmetic restoration. Following completion in 2011, the same red-tile roofs seen by the Byakkotai (during the Boshin War and finals days of the Tokugawa shogunate) are now displayed for all to see.This castle is one of the final strongholds of samurai that remained loyal to the shogunate and today stands as a symbol of courage and faithfulness.Within the castle tower's museum, the swords and armor of the castle’s successive lords are on display. Visitors can watch a CG-enhanced theatrical video reflecting on the great history of Aizu.In addition to the historical atmosphere surrounding Tsurugajo, visitors can sense the changes that have occurred throughout history, thanks to the engaging and informative museum within the castle walls. It’s fun to gaze across Aizu from the fifth floor, like a feudal lord admiring his domain—the viewing platform up here provides panoramic views taking in Mt. Bandai and Mt. Iimoriyama.The castle is also a must-see in the springtime when approximately 1,000 cherry trees offer a magnificent display within the castle's grounds.When you’re in the mood for a rest, visit the Rinkaku Tea Rooms for some freshly-prepared matcha green tea. This tea house on the grounds of Tsurugajo was vital in the spread of this traditional art—and had it been destroyed during the Meiji Restoration, tea ceremony as it is known in Japan might have vanished.
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