Kyoto Samurai History

Nijo Castle in Japanese History

Following his decisive victory over Mori Terumoto and the Western Army at Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu was eager to consolidate his power. As part of his plan to do this, he ordered the construction of …
Honnoji Temple

It is early morning on June 21, 1582. The air is warm and slightly humid from the rains. The sun has not yet risen and under the cover of darkness an army surrounds Honno-ji, a small temple in central …
Genko-an Temple in Japanese history

At summer's end in 1600, a castle fell. With his reduced garrison of three hundred samurai, Torii Mototada knew he didn't stand a chance against the advancing wave of the Western Army, lead by Ishida Mitsunari. …
Yogen-in Temple in Japanese History

At summer's end in 1600, a castle fell. With his reduced garrison of three hundred samurai, Torii Mototada knew he didn't stand a chance against the advancing wave of the Western Army, lead by Ishida Mitsunari. …
Ichiriki Chaya

In 1701, daimyo Asano Takumi-no-kami Naganori was appointed ambassador of envoys from the Imperial Court in Kyoto. His job was to receive official guests from Kyoto at Edo Castle on behalf of the then …
Chion-In Temple

Located in Higashiyama-ku, Chion-in is a large temple complex dedicated to the Pure Land Buddhist sect. First established in 1234, it memorialized Honen, the founder of Pure Land Buddhism. Chion-in houses …
Gojo Ohashi Bridge

In the latter years of the Heian period, as the legend goes, an immense warrior monk named Benkei stood upon Gojo Ohashi Bridge, challenging any passing swordsman to a duel. It was his goal to collect …
Terada Inn

March 8, 1866 was a night of well-deserved rest for master swordsman Sakamoto Ryoma. A pro-loyalist, he had just helped negotiated an alliance between Choshu and Satsuma–two clans with a long history of …
Sanjo Bridge

Sanjo Bridge was a place where the samurai displayed the chopped heads of their arch-rivals. There are also reports that Hideyoshi Toyotomi (the samurai who built Osaka Castle) displayed the chopped heads …
Ikedaya Inn

In the dying days of the Edo period, characterized by brutal conflicts between the Bakufu and pro-Imperial loyalists, Emperor Komei sought a peaceful reunification via an alliance between the Imperial …
Gesshin-In temple

In 1867, Ito Kashitaro, a senior officer of the Shinsengumi broke off from the famous Kyoto Bakufu police force to form his own organization called The Guardians of the Imperial Tomb. This group withdrew …
Hachidai Jinja

In 1604, four years after his involvement in the battle of Sekigahara, Miyamoto Musashi, one of Japan's most famous swordsmen, challenged Yoshioka Seijuro, the head of the Yoshioka school of kenjitsu, …
Ryozen Museum of History

The Ryozen Museum of History is dedicated to the events and artifacts of the Bakumatsu–the end of the Bakufu period, which led to the Meiji Restoration. Located in the Gion district, the museum houses …
Toei Uzumasa Park

Toei Uzumasa Park, or Toei Kyoto Studio Park, is an active film location dedicated to period movies and dramas. Over two hundred films and shows are shot on the location, which has permanent set fixtures …
Omiya Inn

The Tokugawa shogunate had fallen. A new era was dawning, not in small part thanks to Sakamoto Ryoma. But when one induces a monumental turn in history, one tends to make enemies. Though the pro-loyalists …
Kyoto’s Samurai Spots

Genko-an Temple At summer's end in 1600, a castle fell. With his reduced garrison of three hundred samurai, Torii Mototada knew he didn't stand a chance against the advancing wave of the Western Army, …
SAMURAI AND THE WORLD

SAMURAI AND THE WORLD United States There is no record of an American born samurai but Commodore Matthew Perry is the person who ended Japan’s 260 years of self declared isolation in 1853 by forcing the …