Aizu Samurai Residences

【The spirit of the warrior, the grandeur of thirty-eight thousand stones】 The lineage of righteousness residing in the "Aizu Samurai Residence"

In Aizuwakamatsu City, at the entrance of Higashiyama Onsen, lies the "Aizu Samurai Residence." Once you step through its gate, the life of the samurai during the late Edo period in the Aizu domain and their spirituality come at you on an overwhelming scale. The centerpiece is the magnificent building reconstructed from the residence of Saigo Tadayoshi, a senior councilor of the Aizu domain. Inside, with thirty-eight interconnected rooms, the strict yet rich daily lives of those who lived for "righteousness" in this land are etched.

■ Architecture speaks of "the norms and aesthetics of the samurai"

The site, spanning two thousand three hundred tsubo, encapsulates the authority and craftsmanship of the time.

• The grandeur of the senior councilor's residence: The entrance leading from the front gate, the "Onari no Ma" (room for welcoming the lord) to receive the domain lord, and the private space where the family spent time together. The building itself narrates the strict distinction between public and private life of the samurai and the underlying "order".
• Living scenes: Throughout the residence, intricate wax figures recreate the life of the time. Morning greetings, learning, and cooking. These scenes resonate with a reality that far exceeds textbook descriptions, appealing to the hearts of viewers.

■ The intersection of tragedy and pride: "Memories of the Saigo clan"

An essential part of discussing this residence is the fate of the Saigo family during the Boshin War.

• The aesthetics of scattering: Before the siege, twenty-one family members chose to commit seppuku rather than become a burden. Their harrowing story still resonates heavily and nobly within the silence of the residence.
• Cultural inheritance: Surrounding the residence, a watermill that milled domain rice and the important cultural property "Old Nakahata Jinya" have also been relocated, allowing for a multifaceted learning of Aizu's history.

The breeze blowing through the well-maintained garden seems to carry the spirit of "sincerity" that the samurai once valued. Encountering the indomitable spirit that has been upheld through the tides of history, one reflects on their own heart. Would you like to experience such a "quiet dialogue" at the Aizu Samurai Residence?