The Practice of Iaido

The Japanese katana sword has captivated people far beyond Japan: a finely forged instrument designed for extraordinary precision. But behind the sword’s power is Bushido, the samurai warrior code that placed value on restraint as much as readiness to draw it. The story begins at a 300-year-old shrine, where your expert host explains the cultural, ethical, and philosophical ideas associated with Bushido. Your next stop is the dojo of a master of iaido, the art of drawing, attacking, and sheathing a Japanese sword, where you take part in a private hour-long lesson in this crucial samurai discipline. After the lesson, you visit the Japanese Sword Museum, where your guide introduces some of Japan’s celebrated blades along with the owners and makers connected to them. The experience ends with a look at the sword’s place in modern Japanese culture at a shop selling top-quality dolls and replica armor used in traditional celebrations for children.

While the highlight of this experience is learning the art of iaido from a master swordsman, it is designed to help you understand the place of the Japanese katana sword in the age of the samurai, and why the discipline surrounding it mattered as much as the blade itself. Through the master’s insights, you experience iaido not only as a martial art, but as a meditative discipline of concentration, control, and restraint. You gain a deeper appreciation of what the katana has represented in Japanese culture and society through the full arc of the experience. It begins with the context of Bushido, moves into the physical discipline of iaido, then widens at the sword museum and doll shop to include the makers, owners, and histories connected to the blade. For guests seriously considering buying a high-quality replica sword, the sword museum visit can be replaced with a visit to a specialist shop recommended by the iaido master, who may accompany you if available.

Midori (Dory) Okada lives in Kawagoe, just outside Tokyo, and brings to her work both lived familiarity with Japanese traditions and experience across cultures. A licensed English-speaking guide, she has worked with a wide range of international guests, from families to corporate travelers, and is known for introducing Japanese history, culture, and custom in a thoughtful, accessible way. Educated in both Japan and the United States, where she earned a degree in International Business, Midori combines cultural fluency with a strong grounding in communication. Her previous work has included international coordination, marketing, and cultural guiding, all of which shape the clear and considered way she hosts her experiences. Her approach to katana is informed by direct contact with the craft and the people who sustain it. Together with Azusa, she helps place the katana within a wider cultural world.

Comfortable clothing is recommended, especially for changing in and out of iaido practice wear. You may be asked in advance for your height, and possibly clothing size, to prepare practice wear and equipment for the iaido lesson. ** If you are considering purchasing a replica sword, please bring your passport for the purchase process and any applicable tax refund.