Samurai District, Tohoku, Japan

4Ed_Uyeshima 5:00 PM Dec 17, 2019

Evocative look into the samurai lifestyle
Now here is a uniquely Japanese experience, a self-guided walking tour of well-preserved, continuously restored Edo-era samurai residences dating back to the 17th century. Of the over eighty original homes in this tranquil small town, only six were open to the public, two of which were particularly noteworthy. The most elaborate complex was the Aoyagi House, which contained an impressive museum-level collection of samurai armor and weaponry as well as two tea houses, a gift shop, and of course a samurai helmet you can wear with a hairnet. The other residence, the Ishiguro House, was much smaller but also more personal as a congenial descendent shared his family's history in the home in perfect English. The other houses were worth mostly cursory looks, whether to walk through the landscaped gardens or explore an art gallery. There were rickshaw operators if you go for that sort of thing. It's about a half-hour train ride from Akita but well worth it. Stop at the tourist information center next to the train station as they explain the walking path as well as how to get to Lake Tazawa to take the sightseeing bus.

4MrCustoms 5:00 PM Oct 2, 2015

Advice if you want to have a wonderful experience.
This is a wonderful place, but it's not Disneyland. This is a functioning modern town with historic elements intertwined. It's easy to get lost or go the wrong way. The historic attractions are easy to miss if you are not paying attention. Only a few of the attractions are museums. But the museums are EXCELLENT! In the museums you can spend 1 hour or more exploring... However, the rest of the historic places will only take a few minutes to see. So, make sure you have a good map and can locate all of the museums so you will not miss them. Also, expect to do at least 3 miles of walking. The best part of Kakunodatemachi is the PEOPLE. You will really enjoy visiting here if you make an effort to talk to the shopkeepers and the other tourists. In the museums, other Japanese tourists were very excited to explain things to me about Samurai history. Don't be shy to talk to both the vendors and the customers. This will really make your visit an adventure. If you are studying Japanese this is a fun place to practice if you relax, smile, and try to talk to everyone!