Itinerary

• DAY 1 　　　　Tokyo

  Our guides and/or drivers will greet you on your arrival in Tokyo at either Narita or Haneda Airports.

• DAY 2 　　　　Edo Castle & Zojo-ji Temple（Tokyo)

  

  

  Visit places related to Tokugawa Ieyasu and the powerful Tokugawa clan, starting with the Shogun’s mighty Edo Castle in the very heart of sprawling Tokyo, now the Imperial Palace and home of the Emperor. Admire the castle’s historical moats, stone walls, remaining gates, and turrets, and gain access to Edo Castle’s innermost compound, where the Shogun’s palace once stood and climb the stone base of Edo’s former tower keep. From there see the graves of generations of Tokugawa shoguns at the ancient and venerated Zojo-ji Temple.

• DAY 3 　　　　Kunozan Toshogu Shrine & Sumpu Castle（Shizuoka)

  

  

  Departing Tokyo we head to Shizuoka via Bullet Train to the World Heritage listed Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, and the actual grave of the Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Take the cable car ropeway or for a challenge, climb the 1,159 stone steps from the base of Mt. Kuno. Marvel at the splendor of the colorful yet elegant shrine and discover the secrets in the architecture and devices. Pay your respects at Tokugawa Ieyasu’s imposing burial site and be mesmerized by the Kunozan Shrines’ magnificent collection of Ieyasu’s private belongings, and Tokugawa clan armour, weapons and treasures. Our expert guides make the trip a fascinating and valued experience, passing on their knowledge and passion to you!
  
  From the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, we head to the ruins of Sumpu Castle in central Shizuoka City, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s residence in retirement, and where he continued to pull the strings of political power, surrounding himself with his think-tank of warlords and advisors. From Ieyasu’s Sunpu Castle, we head next via Bullet Train to Toyohashi.

• DAY 4 　　　　Nagashino-Shitaragahara Battlefields (Aichi)

  

  

  See the battlefields of Nagashino-Shitaragahara, where the 38,000 combined samurai forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu faced off against 15,000 invading Takeda troops under Takeda Katsuyori in one of the greatest gun battles in samurai history. Samurai History & Culture Tours’ professional and dedicated guides and drivers can take you around to the most important and often difficult to access positions and command posts sites on the battlefield. Visit all the important sites of the most violent of samurai action, including the ruins of Nagashino Castle, and the Nagashino Castle Historic Site Preservation Museum’s collection of armor, weapons and battle artifacts. See the Shitaragahara decisive battlefield with its recreated stockades, where over 10,000 samurai were slaughtered in the half day gun battle. Learn more in the fascinating Shinshiro City Shitaragahara Historical Museum overlooking the main battlefield and featuring actual samurai armor, weapons and matchlock guns.

• DAY 5 　　　　Tokugawa Art Museum & Nagoya Castle（Aichi）

  

  

  

  Admire the world’s greatest collection of daimyo artifacts, armor, weapons, personal and daily items in the superb Tokugawa Art Museum, home to numerous National Treasure designated items. Enjoy the daimyo gardens there before visiting the Tokugawa clan’s greatest Nagoya Castle, built at the peak of castle construction techniques. Learn about the secrets of Nagoya Castle, how and why it was constructed, and it’s hidden defensive capabilities. A must see is the magnificent Honmaru Goten Palace with its golden walls, said to be the pinnacle of samurai palace construction and decorative arts, built by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, for his son, the lord of the Owari (Nagoya) Tokugawa, the politically and financially strongest branch of the mighty Tokugawa clan. Enjoy samurai cuisine, the unique and tasty Nagoya-meshi at Nagoya’s popular Kinshachi Yokocho area.

• DAY 6 　　　　Atsuta Shrine & Okehazama Battlefields (Aichi)

  

  Walk through the ancient grounds of the 1,900 year-old Atsuta Shrine, Japan’s second most venerated shrine, and home to the legendary sword Kusanagi-no-tsurigi, one of the three Imperial Regalia. This is where Oda Nobunaga prayed just before going into battle at Okehazama, and Tokugawa Ieyasu prayed for victory before the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. From Atsuta Shrine, we head towards the Okehazama Battlefields, where Oda Nobunaga defended his lands with an estimated 2,500 samurai against an invading force of 25,000 Imagawa troops in 1560. See where Tokugawa Ieyasu saw action running a supply mission that actually saved his life! See where Nobunaga trounced his opponent, Imagawa Yoshimoto, and other historically important sites, some of which only Samurai History & Culture Tours can gain access to!

• DAY 7 　　　　Gifu Castle & Inuyama Castle (Gifu & Aichi)

  

  

  See exciting castles associated with Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu! Visit Japan’s oldest remaining castle tower, National Treasure designated Inuyama Castle! We’ll see historical Gifu Castle, and the Oda clan’s Sofukuji Temple, with Nobunaga’s grave and some fascinating relics, including the temples’ Ceiling of Blood. A driver and guide makes the day all the more relaxing, informative and enjoyable!
  
  As an option, between May 11 and October 15, visitors can choose to join a Nagaragawa boat tour below Gifu castle and experience the 1,300 year old traditional cormorant fishing experience, enjoyed by Oda Nobunaga and used as a source of entertainment and hospitality.

• DAY 8 　　　　Sekigahara Battlefields & Museum (Gifu)

  

  

  Transfer from Nagoya to the site of the greatest samurai field battle in history, the battlefields of Sekigahara, where 160,000 samurai, split into East and West factions, fought a decisive six hour violent and close combat battle in 1600 for control of the nation. Learn about the historical, political and military action, and walk, cycle or be driven on a tour of the main general’s command posts to see just how close the fighting really was. You can truly feel the emotion while viewing this battle site. Visit the new experience-based Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum with next generation super screen and ground vision technology, fascinating exhibits and explanations making the battle come alive! Examine the Sekigahara Sengoku Armor Museum where you can see ashigaru armor, weapons, helmets, and samurai items gathered by individual collectors. From Sekigahara we head next to Hikone.

• DAY 9 　　　　Hikone Castle & Azuchi Castle (Shiga)

  

  

  

  Marvel at the defensive features of National Treasure designated Hikone Castle, and the collection of Ii clan samurai armor, weapons and personal items of the Lords of Hikone on display in the captivating Hikone Castle Museum. Moving south along the coast of Japan’s largest lake, the “inland sea” of Lake Biwa to Azuchi, and the ruins of Oda Nobunaga’s magnificent Azuchi Castle, a castle so innovative, it forever changed the way samurai castles were constructed! Climb the mountain and see the ishigaki stone walls, enclosures and features. Visit the enthralling Azuchi Castle Museum, and the authentic full-sized recreations of Nobunaga’s rooms of gold and other sections, before heading to Kyoto. Our guides and drivers make the experience all the more enjoyable, educational and simple.

• DAY 10 　　　　Nijo Castle & Honno-ji (Kyoto)

  

  Visit Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Nijo Castle in the heart of ancient Kyoto, with its splendid gates and palaces including the National Treasure and World Heritage listed Nijo Castle Ni-no-maru Goten Palace, with its famed nightingale floors and gorgeous wall artworks. We’ll take you to see the actual site of the original Honno-ji Temple where the warlord Oda Nobunaga was attacked and killed by a traitorous general, and the current site of the rebuilt Honno-ji and Nobunaga’s grave.

• DAY 11 　　　　Free Time (Kyoto)

  　　　

  Enjoy free time exploring Kyoto

• DAY 12 　　　　Himeji Castle & Engyo-ji Temple (Hyogo)

  From Kyoto we head to Himeji via Bullet Train. We recommend having a guide take you around the National Treasure and sumptuous World Heritage listed Himeji Castle, originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, later greatly expanded and improved under Tokugawa control. There is so much to see, learn and enjoy.
  
  From Himeji, we’ll take you to the ancient Engyo-ji Temple complex, used as a filming location for the Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe movie The Last Samurai, and we’ll show you the grave of the great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi’s son who committed junshi, following his lord in death. We recommend hiring a driver as the sites are quite difficult to access. Overnight in Himeji.

• DAY 13 　　　　Osaka Castle (Osaka)

  Via Bullet Train head from Himeji to Osaka, and the famed Osaka Castle. Originally Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s most magnificent base of operations and symbol of supreme authority, the castle was attacked and mostly destroyed by the Toyotomi clan’s archrival, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s forces in 1614 and 1615. In 1620, the victorious Tokugawa completely rebuilt Osaka Castle, making it bigger, stronger and even more impressive. The great stone walls and wide protective moats are a feat of engineering. The museum housed within the current keep contains one of Japan’s finest collections of historical items.

• DAY 14 　　　　Free Time (Osaka)

  Enjoy free time exploring Osaka

• DAY 15 　　　　The tour ends at the airport

  DAY 15

  The tour ends at the airport in time for your departure.