1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Shadows of a Shogun — Sekigahara Battlefield & Historic Castles

Step beyond fiction and into the real power struggle that inspired stories like Shōgun. 

This tour is designed for travelers who want to understand the history and drama of Japan’s samurai past. You will explore how alliances were formed, how betrayals changed the course of history, and how power was ultimately secured.

Trace the full arc of Japan’s transformation from the warring state period to where the foundations of 260 years of Tokugawa rule were established on this one-day guided tour from Nagoya 

Highlights

• See the real locations of the events that inspired stories like Shōgun. 
• View Sekigahara Battlefield, site of Japan’s decisive battle
• Visit Japan's Victory Shrine and make your own lucky charm
• Enjoy insights into samurai-era politics from a professional guide
• Travel comfortably in our company’s tour vehicles

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 8:30 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. We will then head off to our first destination, Kiyosu Castle, via our company’s tour bus.

At Kiyosu Castle you will have the chance to learn about the first of the “three great unifyers” of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, as your guide leads you through the castle which was once his home. The interior of the castle is now a museum where you can see historic samurai armor interactive displays. Your guide will explain the time period in which Nobunaga lives and the events leading up to the unification of Japan.

You will also be able to walk around the top of the castle which provides views of the surrounding town and the nearby river. The castle grounds themselves are small but picturesque. Your guide will be happy to take pictures of you to make your friends and family back home jealous of your time in Japan.

Back in our tour vehicle, we will travel roughly along the same route as Nobunaga as he fought to unify Japan before arriving at our next location, the Azuchi Castle Museum's Nobunaga Hall. Azuchi Castle was Nobunaga's crown jewel and the castle that changed how Japanese castles were constructed.

At the Nobunaga Hall, you will discover the height of Nobunaga's rise to power and see for yourself the huge amount of wealth and power he held through the reconstructed castle keep and the collection of preserved artifacts from the Sengoku era.

After exploring the gilded castle and learning about the rise (and subsequent fall) of the first of "Japan's Great Unifiers," we will continue our travels through Omi, an area with deep ties to the second unifier, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Here we will have a quick stop for lunch at a service area serving local dishes (including the region's famous wagyu) before arriving at our next destination, Tarobo-gu—Japan's "Victory Shrine."

Your guide will explain the history of the shrine and why it is visited by many professional athletes, business leaders, and, historically, samurai warlords. You will have a chance to test your virtue by walking through the mythical Tengu rocks and predict your future success through "kawarake nage" or disc tossing.

You will also have the chance to make your own amulet/lucky charm to help bring you victory in your future endeavours.

A Japanese shinto priest will lead you through the process of making the charm. You will be able to select the colors and patterns and write your wish for the future inside before the priest blesses it.

Victory charms in hand, we will make our way to the final stop of the day, Sekigahara Battlefield.

Here you will explore one of the most important historical sites in Japan, where the decisive battle in 1600 A.D. cemented the rise of the third unifier, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Your guide will lead you through the Sekigahara Battlefield Museum. This impressive museum provides detailed exhibits, maps, and interactive displays explaining the strategies and outcomes of the battle. From here you will also have a sweeping view of the battlefield and your guide will point out locations where decisive actions took place.

At the Sekigahara Battlefield Museum you will also have free time to shop for samurai memorabilia. The shop is full of exclusive samurai-themed merchandise and locally made products including “Seki no Hamono” (knives and cutlery from Seki), “Mino Washi” (Japanese paper from Mino), “Tono no Tojiki” (pottery from Tono), and “Hida no Kagu/Mokko” (woodwork from Hida). 

Your guide will then accompany you back to the tour bus to start the drive back towards Nagoya. During this ride, you will have plenty of time to rest, look through your pictures, or ask your guide for recommendations in the area.

The tour concludes at Nagoya Station, where the guide will say their goodbyes. *We cannot guarantee the end time as traffic could cause delays. For guests booking onward tickets to other destinations, we recommend doing so for times of 19:00 or later from Nagoya.

Meeting Point

NAGOYA STATION @ 8:30 A.M.

The meetup point is at the base of the SILVER clock tower outside of the Shinkansen gates. 

If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the clock tower should be located directly in front of you as you exit the gate.

If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the Sakura-Dori gate (the side with the gold clock). In this case, please walk straight through the station towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 8:30 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We highly recommend arriving early as Nagoya station can be quite crowded. 

Notes

Included

• English speaking guide
• Transportation during the tour
• Entry fee at all locations 

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Transportation to/from Nagoya Station before/after the tour

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.

• In the summer, temperature highs are around 35 °C (95 °F) and above with extreme humidity. We recommend wearing something light and airy while minding sunburn and heatstroke. A parasol is highly encouraged.
• Winter temperatures in Nagoya average between 0℃-10℃ (32°F-50°F). Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for cold conditions.
• There will be free time along the way for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.