In this class, you’ll learn some of the sword techniques patented by Tetsuro Shimaguchi, the founder of the ‘Kengido’ blend of combat and performance. He’s also known for his work as a choreographer in the action sequences of Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL, VOL.1.
This workshop takes place in the historic dojo of the Ookawaso onsen hotel, nestled in the crook of the Okawa river south of Aizu-Wakamatsu City. The hotel is also well-known for its resemblance to Infinity Castle from the Demon Slayer anime series.
The typical class schedule is as follows:
Class 1: 10:15 - 11:00
Class 2: 11:15 - 12:00
Those looking to apply, please send an email to kengido@k2c.jp with the following information:
As currently planned, dates for classes at Ookawaso are as follows:
September 21
October 12
November 23
Please direct any enquiries to kengido@k2c.jp. (English or Japanese)
| Website | http://www.samurai-kengido.com/(Japanese) |
|---|---|
| Related info | Adults: 3,000 yen for one lesson, 5,000 yen for two lessons Children: 2,000 yen for one lesson, 3,000 yen for two lessons |
| Access | 969-5147 Fukushima, Aizuwakamatsu, Otomachi Oaza Ashinomaki, 字下平９８４ View directions |
|---|---|
| Getting there | 2nd Floor Dojo, Aizu Ashinomaki Hot Spring Resort Ookawaso (Guests arriving by car, please use parking lot No. 7) 30 min drive from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station 52 min bus from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station |
Experience canoeing at Lake Hibara, one of Urabandai’s largest lakes! Outdoor Sports Club Bacss offers a range of fun tours and activities centred around Lake Hibara that you can join with family and friends, including trekking, canoeing and fishing.
Tsukimigaoka Chomin Center (a town hall-turned-hotel which is only a 20-minute walk from Aizu Yanaizu Station) is known for their famous sauce katsudon lunch. This dish contains fried pork cutlet and a simple egg omelet on rice which is covered with a savory sauce that simply melts in your mouth. There are other places in Yanaizu that serve the katsudon dish as well, but according to local opinion, the katsudon at Yanaizu Chomin Center is hard to beat. Why not stop by and fill your stomach before taking in the other local sights? There are even some great shared hot spring baths, which can be enjoyed as day visit onsen. There are plenty of nearby attractions. Enjoy your time hiking or fishing or at the nearby Kiyoshi Saito Museum of Art or the beautiful and serene Enzoji Temple. Kiyoshi Saito Museum of Art houses works by esteemed woodblock artist Kiyoshi Saito and the beautiful works he created throughout his lifetime. At the Enzoji Temple experience tranquility and nature, also learn about the origin legend of the akabeko, the nodding red cow famous in the area. And only a 15-minute drive away you can look at the No. 1 Tadami River Bridge View Spot; this bridge offers a spectacular sight of the Tadami River and the surrounding nature.
The Tradition of Aizu lacquerware in Fukushima Prefecture has continued for 400 years. Try out creating a design on Aizu Lacquerware with a technique called Chinkin ("Sunken-gold") at Tsunoda Lacquer Art Studio. Sketch your design on tracing paper, and then mark it onto the lacqerware with a needle. Tsunoda san will help you fill the grooves created by your needle with gold and silver powder to create your design. Alternatively, try painting your own design on Aizu lacquerware at the studio. Either experience will create a great souvenir of your trip in Japan. These experiences take about an hour.
A wakeboard shop located on the northwest shore of Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture. It offers easy access from the Kanto region, bypassing major traffic congestion. Individuals and beginners are welcome. A specialized beginner's course is available, allowing even first-timers to enjoy their time on the water, and all necessary equipment can be rented. Bookings can be made even for 1 person. Why not spend a day enjoying the beautiful, clear waters of Lake Inawashiro, one of the most breathtaking lakes in Japan?
Urabandai Night Fantasy Snow Festival is held in the mid-February every year at the very scenic Renge Pond. Come to Urabandai next February to enjoy firework displays and picturesque sights of this beautiful area lit up with candles.
The miko dance at Bandai Shrine is a traditional sacred performance passed down through generations in Bandai Town. It's performed as part of the wider Funahiki Festival, held on the spring equinox in March, which is a ritual to divine the year’s harvest. The dance itself is deeply connected to local beliefs and has long been preserved as a ceremonial offering to the gods.The dance is performed primarily by young girls, ranging from kindergarten age to junior high school students. They carry out the ritual movements in front of the shrine, to a musical accompaniment of drums and flutes. This intergenerational participation plays an important role in preserving the tradition and passing it down within the community.The performance consists of three distinct dances: the Sakaki Dance, the Bow Dance, and the Sword Dance. Each uses different ritual objects and has its own meaning and choreography. For example, dancers hold sacred sakaki branches, bows and arrows, or swords depending on the piece, reflecting ancient ceremonial practices that have been maintained over time. The dances are usually divided by age group.Typically performed by a group of four dancers, the choreography incorporates circular formations and flowing movements. Its style is considered somewhat unique, bearing closer resemblance to older forms of court or ritual dance than to more commonly seen shrine dances. Although its precise origins are unclear, it remains an important and protected element of the area’s intangible cultural heritage.The 'funahiki' tug-of-war event is open to anyone - please apply by 1pm before the contest starts at 2pm - and takes place shortly after the dancing is complete.The shrine is just down the road from the beautiful Enichiji Temple, although entry to the deepest part of the temple is typically restricted until the start of April.
Held in the town of Aizu-Bange to the northwest of Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Otawara Hiki is a fierce display of community spirit and competitive energy that traces its roots back to the Edo period. It's the main attraction of the so-called 'Strange Festival', which takes place on 14 January every year.There is a children's event, featuring local students, before the main bout is fought over a large bale between teams representing the west (the white team) and the east (the red team). Despite the cold, the male participants take part largely in loincloths, while female participants wear a traditional festival light coat. It's said that if the east team wins, business will prosper in the coming year, while if the west team wins, it means there will be a bountiful harvest.The festival was first founded over 400 years ago in the Warring States Period, but was abolished by the Imperial government after the Aizu Domain's loss under the shogun in the Boshin War (civil war) of 1868. The tradition was restarted roughly a century later in 1956, and has continued to this day.Before the tug-of-war, there are taiko drum performances, and afterwards visitors can enjoy a dramatic display of the pounding of mochi by local experts, cheered on by the crowd, and receive a miniature bale said to bring good luck.Members of the public can also join the tug-of-war if they apply in advance. Please contact us for more details.A similar Strange Festival takes place in nearby Aizu-Misato on 11 January, also featuring a tug-of-war over a large bale, albeit wearing more layers than their counterparts in Aizu-Bange.Otawara Hiki– Event Schedule (2026)12:50 Tawara-daiko Performance Taiko drum performance by the Aizubange Town taiko group13:20 East vs. West Kotawara Hiki (Small Bale Pulling) Children compete by pulling a small straw bale (approx. 1.5 m high × 2.2 m long, weighing 1 ton)14:00 Otawara Hiki (Giant Bale Pulling) Teams pull a giant straw bale (approx. 2.5 m high × 4 m long, weighing 5 tons)14:45 Mochi Rice Cake Serving15:00 Fukumame Bale Tossing A total of 365 lucky small bales are thrown to the crowdFood stalls open from 11:00
Aizu painted candles (e-rousoku) are one of Aizu’s most well-loved traditional crafts. The Aizu Painted Candle Festival was started in order to let people all over Japan (and all over the world) know about this traditional art form, and to give people an appreciation for the work that is needed to make every single candle.Take in the picturesque snowy scenery in Aizu-Wakamatsu City by candlelight this winter - the Aizu Painted Candle Festival takes place at Tsurugajo Castle (main venue) and Oyakuen Garden (sub venue) on the second Friday and Saturday of February. The castle grounds are lit up with artisanal candles and lanterns, while the garden at Oyaku-en has colourful illuminations that reflect in the clear waters of the ponds. Visitors to the castle can enjoy food stalls, while the garden offers a rare opportunity to drink green tea from the teahouse overlooking the ponds, which typically is only open during the day.The 2026 festival took place on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th February, 2026.