Samurai unified and then ruled Japan for around seven centuries, shaping and impacting the nation and culture in ways that echo through to contemporary, 21st-century society. Tokyo (then known as Edo) was the shogunate capital of Japan from 1603 to 1868 and is steeped in the history of the storied warrior caste. Famed as some of history’s greatest warriors, the samurai also became administrators, bureaucrats, accountants and patrons of the arts during the largely peaceful Edo period.

This tour aims to provide insights into the history, myths and legends of the samurai through visits to eight important locations that shine a light on different aspects of their fascinating culture. Your guide - author of An Illustrated Guide to Samurai History and Culture: From the Age of Musashi to Contemporary Pop Culture, as well as books on Zen Buddhism, Shinto, Japanese legends and ghost stories – will also explain the how and why of the samurai’s demise, and their continuing influence on Japan.

Beginning on the south side of Tokyo at Sengaku-ji, which houses the 47 Ronin’s graves, the route takes in Hamarikyu Gardens, formerly a Shogun’s villa and hunting grounds, through to locations around the Imperial Palace, where Edo Castle once stood, the power base of the ruling shogunate. It then heads to the north of the city to a district that retains much of the feel of old Tokyo, for a lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant. Next up is Nezu Jinja, with its photogenic red Torii tunnel, a shrine with history dating back almost 2,000 years and deep links
to the shoguns. From there, a visit to Kan’e-ji Temple, the site of fierce fighting between Tokugawa clan samurai and Imperial forces, a crucial battle in the final days of the warrior caste’s rule. The tour concludes at the expansive Yanaka cemetery, final resting place of the final shogun, as well as numerous other leading figures of the era. There your guide will answer any additional questions about samurai history and culture.