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- Samurai Town Tour
Samurai Town Tour
Information
Sakura is a historic Japanese town containing the ruins of an important Japanese castle. It is located a short 20 minutes from Narita Airport. Many historical structures from the Edo Period can be found here. Much of the town has remained in its original form since the Edo Period, making the trip the here a worthwhile experience for those interested in the history of Japan.
Tourist Information
All locations described on the right are a walking distance away from the train station, and can be seen in their entirety in one morning or afternoon.
Pricing
Please note pricing for this tour is on a per-person basis. We will be able to provide you with complete information about pricing depending on your group’s various needs, as well as your hotel in Tokyo. Please send us an email and we will give you a full quotation!
Access to Sakura.
Access
If you are coming from Tokyo, please use the Keisei Line or Keisei-Sakura Station. Please note that Shinagawa Station is the preferred starting point for this tour.
- – From Narita Airport, use the JR Narita Line to Sakura Station.
- – From Tokyo Station, use the JR-Sobu Line to Sakura Station.
Detailed Travel Guide
Come and see the largest remaining samurai residence in all of Kanto. Here in Sakura, you will be able to view and walk through three of the remaining five samurai houses of Kanto, whose design has not changed since the Edo Period. Rarely will you see such an untouched and preserved version of Japan’s past. These houses contain the original earthwork involved in the original construction, and are guarded by a living fence for the house defense.
This house was built in the early 19th century, making it one of the oldest in the region. This house supported 300 koku, a unit of measurement that described one’s rice rations for an entire year. 300 koku would mean there were Edo-period samurai inhabitants here, and with a very high rank. The house remains in wonderful condition, and offers a glimpse into the high-ranking samurai life of ancient times.
This house was built in 1890 by the last Daimyo of Sakura, Hotta Masatomo. The house and some of the surrounding buildings are registered as important historical assets of Japan, and the eclectic garden located here offers a year-round spectacular view of the Chiba Prefecture.
The Sakura Castle was built in 1618 by Doi Katsutoshi. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ordered this castle to be built to protect Edo from enemies to the east. After the Meiji Restoration, all of these buildings were abandoned, however the structure of the castle, as well as the moats, dry moats, and earthwork, still remain surprisingly intact. This area is also a very popular location to witness the yearly cherry blossoms in the spring.
Tickets for Samurai Houses and Museum
Tickets can be purchased for each of these locations for reasonable prices. Each ticket is sold separately.
