1 Day Samurai Life Tour Oyaki Samurai and Katana Practice
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Experience a day in the life of a samurai, as this tour explores Nagano’s unique samurai past in historic town of Matsushiro, including visits to some of Japan’s best-preserved samurai residences and hands-on experiences cooking local specialty “oyaki” and katana practice at an Edo Period military school. All led by a locally-based guide, this engaging tour is available throughout the year and offers real insight through firsthand experience of Nagano’s samurai heritage
Inclusions
What's included
- Transport costs to all listed destinations / activities and English-speaking guide on both days
- Guided “oyaki” making experience
- Entry to former Sanada Residence, former Higuchi Residence and Bunbu Gakko inc samurai experience
What's not
- Transport fees inc. Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ to / from Nagano Station
- Any additional “oyaki” (JPY100 ~ 200)
- Additional food, snacks & drinks
Itinerary
Begin crafting your simple "oyaki" lunch, with experts guiding you every step of the way including an explanation of oyaki's cultural importance and Nagano and a tour of the facility. Enjoy the fruits of your labor by enjoying your "oyaki" for lunch on the roof of the facility surrounded by the crisp Nagano air and mountain scenery. More "oyaki" are available separately a the counter for individual purchase for your enjoyment.
Arrive in Matsushiro and enjoy approximately 4 hours exploring the historic samurai enclave including visits to the former Sanada Residence, the former Higuchi Residence and Bunbu Gakko Military Arts School inc. samurai experience. Following your time in Matsushiro, your guide will accompany you back to Nagano Station on the 16:30 bus before walking to the temple and your accommodation.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- *WINTER ONLY* Please wait inside the bus terminal and stay warm. Several tours operate from the bus terminal be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag and confirm that you’re joining the correct tour. Please ensure you are at the terminal before the meeting time.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 15 travellers
- Operated by
- Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
How it compares in Nagano
- Its from-price is 33% below the median of the 61 day trips we list in Nagano.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Nagano
Nagano is a mountain city in central Japan, centred on the old Zenko-ji temple and ringed by ski slopes, hot springs and alpine valleys.
Nagano sits in a basin among the mountains of central Honshu, and Zenko-ji, a temple traditionally founded in the seventh century, is the heart of the city. Pilgrims have come to it for more than a thousand years, up a long approach lined with shops and lodgings to a great wooden hall. The city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998.
Top-ranked sights in Nagano: Jigokudani Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen-Koen), Zenkoji Temple, Yudanaka Onsen.
Special offers in Nagano
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.















