If you're traveling Japan with a rail pass and want to go beyond the usual tourist highlights, this guide is for you. Japan's former samurai districts are some of its most atmospheric and undervisited historical sites — but knowing which ones are worth the detour, and how to actually reach them, isn't always obvious. Here, we've pulled together the best preserved samurai districts that are all accessible by JR train, so you can plan your route with confidence and make every stop count.
When visiting Japan, there are so many places you can go to explore the country's fascinating and complex history. Historical destinations across the country range from merchant districts and geisha districts to post towns, but one of the most popular among tourists are the samurai districts of Japan. These areas were once home to the warriors, and many in towns and cities around Japan have fortunately been preserved.
Here are some of the best samurai districts in Japan for international visitors to see as they travel the country with their Japan Rail Pass.
A Brief History of Samurai District
Before we get into where to go to experience these enchanting historical areas, it helps to understand the samurai a little better to appreciate why these places are so interesting.
Samurai were the noble military caste of Japan from the Middle Ages until their abolishment at the end of the Edo Period. Because of their status and military roles, the samurai usually lived close to castles in large and stately homes. As such, you'll often find samurai districts close to the site of castles, that is if the castle is still standing today.
Much like other historical districts and landmarks in Japan, many samurai districts no longer exist. Natural disasters, war, and modern development have led to the loss or damage of many great historical sites around Japan.
Thankfully, there are still enough standing today for visitors curious about this aspect of Japanese history to experience them firsthand. In them, you'll find old-fashioned samurai houses that are open to the public, along with museums that provide more insight into samurai culture and everyday life.
Nagamachi, Kanazawa
What to Expect
One of the best-preserved samurai districts in Japan is the Nagamachi district of Kanazawa. You'll find many traditional attractions around Kanazawa, and the former samurai district of Nagamachi, with its distinct earthen walls, is home to many of them.
The district supported Kanazawa Castle as one of the most important feudal capitals during the Edo Period, but sadly Kanazawa Castle is mostly a modern reconstruction now. Not so for many of the residences found in Nagamachi — like Nomura-ke, a preserved and restored samurai residence at the heart of the district.
Admission to Nomura-ke is ¥550 for adults, and it's open daily from 8:30 to 17:30 (from October through March, it closes at 16:30).
Another popular attraction in the district is the Shinise Kinenkan Museum, one of many local museums, set inside an old pharmacy and showcasing crafts from the city.
What's New in Nagamachi
Good news for those visiting in 2025 and beyond: the Senda-ke Garden, located directly across from the Nomura Samurai Residence, opened to the public in April 2025. It's a serene and welcome addition to the district that rounds out what was already a rewarding afternoon's walk.
If you have extra time in Kanazawa, consider stopping by the Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center nearby — it offers a hands-on look at the city's renowned silk dyeing tradition and sits comfortably within the same neighbourhood stroll.
Kakunodate, Akita
Japan's Most Scenic Samurai Town
Kakunodate is a town in the Akita Prefecture of northern Honshu and is perhaps best known for its wonderfully preserved samurai district full of weeping cherry trees.
More than 160 ancient weeping cherry trees line Bukeyashiki Street, making this one of the most popular spots for hanami in all of Japan. In its heyday, around 80 samurai families lived in the district, and the homes here were relatively generous in size with large courtyards.
Which Houses to Visit
While many samurai homes in Kakunodate have been preserved, only six are open to the public: Aoyagi, Ishiguro, Odano, Kawarada, Iwahashi, and Matsumoto. The Aoyagi House is one of the best to visit due to its scale and displays full of family heirlooms. Over in the Ishiguro House, you can see a collection of samurai armour and clothing, though much of it is still used as a private residence today.
If you have extra time, consider visiting outside of cherry blossom season — the town takes on a quieter, more intimate atmosphere that feels closer to everyday samurai life during the Edo period, and you'll have the streets almost to yourself.
Usuki, Ōita
Found on the east coast of Ōita Prefecture, the small city of Usuki is home to an equally small, but pretty, samurai district. The area is known as the Nioza Historical Road, as there are many samurai residences along this paved street. Everything about this traditional area feels completely unchanged, making it perfect if you want to feel like you've stepped back in time.
Two of the most popular stops for visitors in the Usuki samurai district are the Inaba Residence and the Marumo Residence. The Inaba Residence is probably more noteworthy due to its traditional interior layout and garden. Elsewhere in Usuki you'll also find its merchant district along the Haccho Oji Shopping Street.
Hagi, Yamaguchi
Many samurai districts outlive the castles they once supported, as is the case in the town of Hagi where little of its signature castle remains. Situated on the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hagi may be small, but it's a fantastic place to visit if you like historical settings.
Because many of its local samurai transitioned to merchants, the town almost has a blended samurai/merchant district, and just as many samurai residences as old merchant homes. You can see this at the Kikuya Residence, which once belonged to a samurai turned merchant family, and is now a major local historical landmark.
There are other residences to visit as well, like the Kubota House and Kido Takayoshi House, but if you're interested in local history, head to the insightful Hagi Museum.
Kitsuki, Ōita
Last but not least, we have the two samurai districts within the city of Kitsuki in Ōita Prefecture. Either side of the city's merchant district, you'll find two distinct samurai districts that have been carefully preserved and left free of modern touches like power lines. As such, walking through both of these areas is a real treat thanks to their air of authenticity.
The northern samurai district is best known for two impressive residences, the Ohara Residence and the Nomi Residence, which offer charmingly traditional interiors and gardens. As for the southern samurai district, there you can visit the Kitsuki Castle Town Historical Museum, which features artifacts from the city's feudal past.
Samurai Experiences in Tokyo
Not every itinerary will take you to Kanazawa or Kakunodate, and that's completely fine — Tokyo has its own compelling ways to bring samurai culture to life. These experiences work equally well as a warm-up before heading to the districts, or as a standalone activity on a shorter trip.
The Samurai Ninja Museum in Shinjuku combines a strong collection of authentic armor with live performance shows and interactive workshops where you can dress in full hakama and handle a real katana. For something more performance-focused, the Tate Sword Action experience in Kagurazaka teaches the choreographed swordfighting style used by professional Japanese stage performers — instructors even record your final session as a proper movie-style clip. Those based in the east of the city can try the Shidenryu real katana handling workshop in Kitasenju, which also includes calligraphy and is suitable for all ages.
None of these replace the stillness of walking through Nagamachi's earthen lanes, but they're a genuinely engaging way to connect with the culture — especially if you're traveling with younger visitors.
Getting There with the JR Pass
Samurai districts aren't necessarily the easiest places to visit in Japan as they're mostly found in smaller towns away from more common destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima. Even the few we've mentioned are scattered among towns and cities from Honshu to Kyushu, so fitting all five destinations in your itinerary may be a challenge.
The good news is that they each have train stations on JR lines, meaning you can reach all of them with your Japan Rail Pass. It may simply be a matter of picking the ones that best work with your existing travel plans.
Start Planning Your Samurai Trail
Japan's former samurai districts are some of the country's most rewarding — and underrated — historical destinations. Whether you're drawn to Nagamachi's earthen-walled lanes, Kakunodate's cherry-lined streets, or the twin districts of Kitsuki, each one offers something genuinely distinct. All five are reachable by JR train, and none require more than a day trip from a larger hub. If you're tight on time, Nagamachi in Kanazawa is the most accessible and the easiest to pair with other stops along the Hokuriku route.
Pull up your Japan Rail Pass itinerary, pick the districts that fit your journey, and give yourself the chance to explore a side of Japan that most visitors never find.
