[Kawanishi City, Hyogo] Experience the feeling of being a Kamakura samurai at Tada Shrine, the birthplace of the Tada Genji clan! A genuine samurai culture experience supervised by the world's best Iaijutsu master, Isao Machii

Carrying the resolve of a samurai -- Experience the weight of O-yoroi O-yoroi is a crystallization of iron and leather, each piece painstakingly woven together. Its heavy weight is not just the weight of armor, but the very responsibility and resolve that the samurai bore. As you feel the weight on your shoulders, back, and arms, try to sense with your body the tension and spirit that the samurai of that time carried on the battlefield. This is not just an experience of putting on the armor. It is a valuable time to "learn with your body" about history and spirit.

Tada Shrine boasts a vast site of 45,000m2, a sacred area where magnificent nature and history come to life. Tada Shrine was founded by Minamoto no Mitsunaka in the first year of the Tenroku era (970) and is a sacred place famous as the birthplace of the Seiwa Genji samurai group. This shrine is steeped in history and tradition and has a special red-lined area within its vast grounds for you to rent exclusively. No outsiders are allowed in, so you can enjoy this quiet and sacred space to your heart's content.

Planner: Isao Machii Isao Machii is the world's best Iaido master, who holds six Guinness World Records and has been featured in many media outlets both in Japan and abroad. He is active as an instructor in overseas martial arts associations and is known around the world. If you search for "ISAO MACHII" on YouTube, you will surely have seen his overwhelming techniques. Watch his demonstration on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzhs1Z8Rwnk

The majestic staircase leading to Namdaemun The moment you pass through the gates of Tada Shrine and climb the stairs, your very own special experience begins.

Gohonden <Nationally designated important cultural property> The main hall of Tada Shrine was built in 1667 by the fourth Tokugawa Shogun, Ietsuna, and conveys history and holiness to the present day. The doors are decorated with glittering golden ornamental metal fittings, boasting majestic beauty. You will be taken aback by its splendor. You can experience a special moment surrounded by the sacred atmosphere, feeling the power of the gods that transcends time.

A moment to purify your mind in the solemn Mandokoroden, a sacred place This ceremonial hall and martial arts hall was completed in 1986 on the former site of the administrative office on the east side of the temple grounds as a place for the spiritual and physical training of both the arts and martial arts, in order to pray for the divine blessings of the enshrined deity. The building area is 660 m2, with a plaster wall construction and real tile roofing. The interior is finished in wood using cypress, cedar, and keyaki wood.

A part of the Tada Shrine grounds can be rented exclusively for you! There are no other tourists around. Please enjoy the quiet shrine grounds to your heart's content.

Majestic - Experience the spirit of a samurai in yoroi hitatare In this experience, you will wear a traditional samurai outfit called "Yoroi Hitatare" in accordance with samurai etiquette. The formal attire actually worn by Sengoku samurai is not just clothing, but a ritual to prepare the mind. The moment you change into your outfit, the "samurai" within you will be awakened.

A symbol of the majestic warrior: wearing large armor from the Heian and Kamakura periods Among all Japanese armor, O-yoroi is considered to be the most prestigious. In this experience, you can actually wear O-yoroi, which has been faithfully reproduced by a modern, skilled armorer. The glittering decoration and solid structure truly embody the pride and dignity of the Heian and Kamakura samurai. In addition to O-yoroi, we also have Tosei Gusoku, practical armor from the Sengoku period. Come experience the timeless attire of a samurai for yourself.

Wear the pride of a samurai - O-yoroi dressing ceremony After taking off the Yoroi Hitatare (armor sleeve), you will finally start putting on your O-yoroi. First, you will put on the gauntlets and shin guards, one by one, carefully. As you get dressed, you will feel as if you are changing into a timeless samurai. The experience of putting on the heavy and majestic O-yoroi is the moment when you truly "become a samurai."

Preparation for battle starts here - putting on shin guards Samurai start putting on their armor from the left side - this is not just a custom, but a gesture with deep meaning. In this experience, you can learn the essence of putting on armor while also touching on the "reason" and "spirit" of such traditions. By learning the samurai's thoughts that are embedded in each and every movement, the time spent putting on armor will become even more special.

Strengthening defense in battle: wearing a side shield The waidate (side shield) of the O-yoroi is an important part that covers the right side of the body, and is one of the essential pieces of armor for a samurai to survive on the battlefield. By wearing the wakidate, a samurai wearing O-yoroi can reliably protect the side of the body and prevent fatal attacks even during the intense movements of battle. You can feel the weight and historical value of the armor while learning about the true image of the samurai of the Kamakura period.

A warrior's shield that blocks arrows on the battlefield - wearing the weight of a large sleeve "Osode" is a large piece of armor made by carefully sewing together countless small metal plates to block enemy arrows. Its appearance is like a "moving shield." It is heavy yet flexible, and boasts a robustness that can withstand a hail of arrows on the battlefield. The osode, which symbolizes O-yoroi, is not merely a protective gear, but a design that embodies the pride and aesthetic sense of the samurai. Its functionality and beauty of form continue to fascinate people even today. In this experience, you can actually wear osode and feel its weight and presence with your whole body. Please wear it on your arm and feel the atmosphere of an era when samurai fought for their lives.

Beautiful back What particularly catches the eye on the back of the o-yoroi is the large decorative tassel called "agemaki." Its elegant form is created by beautifully and intricately tying the various cords. However, this decoration is not there simply for the sake of beauty. It is the crystallization of "functional beauty" born from the samurai's actual combat experience - ease of movement, weight distribution, ease of putting on and taking off. The agemaki peeking out from the back embodies the dignity that is never disturbed even on the battlefield, and the samurai's sense of beauty. Looking at it from behind, you too will surely be able to sense the deep ideas embodied in the o-yoroi and the aesthetics of the warrior.

Now it's time to put on the helmet - the moment when the warrior's resolve is realized The final piece of armor is the helmet, which protects the head. It is not just a protective gear, but a symbol of the resolve and pride of a samurai. The moment you put on the helmet, you change from a mere wearer to a true warrior. With the weight of the heavy helmet, you can feel the breath of the Kamakura period samurai, and the responsibility and spirit they bore. This experience is not just a costume, but a special ceremony that allows you to touch the spirit of the samurai beyond time.

Wearing large armor, walking through a thousand years of history A moment to reminisce about the samurai of old in the exclusive grounds of Tada Shrine. Dressed in formal armor and walking through the silent grounds, you will enter a world that transcends time. You are alone in the sacred grounds that are steeped in a thousand years of history. The sound of the wind blowing, the chirping of the birds, the rustling of the trees - all of these will make you feel the breathing of the samurai of the past. In this moment, the "soul of the samurai" will quietly awaken within you.

Become a Kamakura samurai and take a special photo Enjoy taking a commemorative photo wearing authentic armor. Set in the grounds of the historic Tada Shrine, you will step in front of the camera dressed just like a samurai from the Kamakura period. The presence of the heavy armor and the dignified posture - this is the moment when you yourself become a part of history. Your stance, posture, and spirit will make you feel like a real warrior. An unforgettable photo will be engraved here.

Wearing full armor, a formal visit to pray for victory and good fortune You can have an authentic experience, just like a warrior from the Warring States period came to pray for victory -- you can receive a special prayer in the worship hall of the 1,000-year-old Tada Shrine while wearing formal armor. It is the same as the warriors of the past who stood before the altar before going into battle and prayed for victory and safety. It is not just a worship service, but a "ritual" to align the soul. You, who live in the modern era, will be able to align your mind just like the warriors did and take a step towards a new destiny.