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Museum · Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima
Aizu Samurai Residence (Aizu Bukeyashiki)
Reconstruction of the large residence of Saigo Tanomo, chief counselor of the Aizu clan, with dozens of rooms, scenes of the Boshin War, a rice mill and other old buildings brought to the grounds.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Aizu Samurai Residence (Aizu Bukeyashiki) in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Discover
About Aizu Samurai Residence (Aizu Bukeyashiki)
Aizu Bukeyashiki is an open-air museum in the east of Aizuwakamatsu, near Higashiyama Onsen. The main building is a reconstruction of the residence of Saigo Tanomo, the chief counselor (karo) of the Aizu domain at the end of the Edo period. The original house stood near the castle and was destroyed in 1868.
The residence has about forty rooms and shows the hierarchy of a high-ranking samurai household: separate entrances for the lord, for visitors and for servants, reception rooms, family quarters, a kitchen with an earthen floor and toilets. Life-size figures portray everyday scenes and the house’s saddest moment: during the 1868 siege, women of Saigo Tanomo’s family took their own lives there to avoid capture.
On the grounds are other old buildings brought from various parts of Aizu, such as a teahouse and a water-powered rice mill, plus a museum with weapons, armor and domain artifacts. There are also workshops for painting akabeko dolls and for making decorated candles, local crafts.
The visit is on foot, with shoes removed in part of the buildings, following a marked path. The museum helps to understand Aizu samurai society and the Boshin War, and pairs well with Mount Iimori and Tsuruga Castle on the same day, using the circular buses.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour 30 minutes.
Best time
At any time of year; mornings have fewer groups. In winter the grounds are snowy and some outdoor areas may have limited access. Confirm opening hours before you go.
How to get there
From Aizuwakamatsu Station, the circular buses stop in front of Bukeyashiki in about 25 minutes. From Higashiyama Onsen it’s a few minutes by car or taxi. There is parking.
Tip
Follow the route in the indicated order, which reproduces the circulation of the house. See Bukeyashiki before Mount Iimori or the castle so you arrive at them already with the context of the Boshin War.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Aizu Samurai Residence (Aizu Bukeyashiki)
Is Aizu Bukeyashiki an original house?
Saigo Tanomo’s residence is a reconstruction of the house destroyed in 1868. Other buildings on the grounds, such as the rice mill, are old and were brought from other places in Aizu.
Who was Saigo Tanomo?
He was the chief counselor of the Aizu domain at the end of the Edo period. During the 1868 siege, women of his family took their own lives in the residence.
How long does the visit to Aizu Bukeyashiki take?
About 1 hour 30 minutes for the residence, the other buildings and the museum.
Can you do crafts at Aizu Bukeyashiki?
There are workshops for painting the akabeko doll and for making decorated candles at set times. Confirm on arrival.
Beyond the guide
