Aizu Samurai Residence

【The memory of the warrior spirit, 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 pass through its gate, the life of the samurai during the late Edo period and their spirituality confront you on an overwhelming scale. The centerpiece is the grand architecture that has restored the residence of Saigo Tadayoshi, a senior councilor of the Aizu clan. Inside, the thirty-eight interconnected rooms bear the marks of the strict yet rich daily lives of those who lived for "righteousness" in this land.

■ The architecture speaks of "the norms and aesthetics of the samurai"

The 2,300 tsubo (approximately 7,600 square meters) grounds are a concentration of the authority and craftsmanship of the time.

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

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

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

• The aesthetics of parting: Before the siege, twenty-one family members chose to commit seppuku rather than be a burden. Their dramatic story still resonates heavily and nobly in the silence of the residence.
• Cultural inheritance: Surrounding the residence, a watermill that milled clan rice and the important cultural property "Old Nakahata Jin'ya" have also been relocated, allowing for a multifaceted understanding 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 forged through the currents of history, one reflects on their own heart. Would you like to experience such a "quiet dialogue" at the Aizu Samurai Residence?