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Foreigner friendly Iaido dojos in Tokyo ?
Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers for some foreigner friendly dojos? The only thing I could really find online was Isoukai association dojos, but I really struggle to understand if it would be possible for me to be accepted while being a foreigner and a complete beginner.
Also I live in Bunkyo city so if it's close to me it would be even better.
Thanks to everyone who might take time to answer.
Since you're in Bunkyo, you might want to check out the dojo at Yushima Seido. It's a Confucian shrine, and they have iaido practice on Sunday mornings. It's about a 15 minute walk from Ochanomizu station, so it's close to you. The group there is called the Tokyo Kendo Iaido Renmei or something similar, and they've had foreign students before. The main sensei doesn't speak much English, but there's usually a younger student who can help translate a bit. Just show up early and bow politely when you enter, they'll figure out you're a beginner pretty quickly.
the tokyo university iaido club might be worth checking out since you're already in bunkyo. they're part of the university but i've heard they sometimes let grad students from other schools join if you ask nicely. the language barrier is a thing but iaido is mostly visual learning anyway, lots of watching and mimicking
there's also a small dojo in ogikubo called shinbukan that takes beginners pretty regularly. it's about 25 mins from bunkyo on the chuo line but the sensei there is used to teaching people with zero japanese. they do a lot of hand gestures and broken english mixed with japanese which honestly works fine for iaido
if you're willing to travel a bit more, the jidai club in asakusa runs weekend sessions in english. they're more about the cultural side of things and less competition focused. costs around 3000 yen per session which is reasonable for tokyo
honestly for iaido in tokyo as a beginner with no japanese, your best bet might be the tokyo iaido club they practice at a gym in shinjuku and the sensei speaks english, i think they take complete beginners too. it's not super close to bunkyo but it's like 20 mins on the chuo line which is easy enough
3 Days in Tokyo: Itinerary 2026
Start your morning at Shibuya Scramble Crossing, then walk to Meiji Jingu for a serene shrine visit. After lunch in Harajuku, head to Shinjuku for the Tokyo Metropolit… 🗼 Day 1: Shibuya & Shinjuku
Start your morning at Shibuya Scramble Crossing, then walk to Meiji Jingu for a serene shrine visit. After lunch in Harajuku, head to Shinjuku for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's free observation deck. End the day exploring Omoide Yokocho for yakitori and drinks.
🏯 Day 2: Asakusa & Ueno
Begin at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, arriving by 8am to avoid crowds. Stroll down Nakamise Street for snacks, then take the Tokyo Metro to Ueno Park for museums and a pond-side walk. In the afternoon, visit Ameya-Yokocho market for street food and bargains.
🌆 Day 3: Tsukiji & Odaiba
Arrive at Tsukiji Outer Market by 7am for fresh sushi and grilled seafood. From there, take the Yurikamome Line to Odaiba for teamLab Borderless (book tickets in advance) and a stroll on the beach. End with a view of Rainbow Bridge at sunset.
🚇 Getting Around
Use a Suica or Pasmo card for seamless travel on Tokyo Metro and JR lines. Most trips cost 180-300 yen, and a 72-hour Metro pass (1,500 yen) covers unlimited rides on 13 lines. Google Maps is reliable for real-time routes and train times.
🍜 Where to Eat
For budget ramen, try Ichiran in Shibuya (1,000-1,500 yen). For a sushi splurge, book a counter seat at Sushi Dai in Tsukiji (5,000 yen for a set). Convenience stores like 7-Eleven offer cheap onigiri and sandwiches for a quick breakfast.
🏨 Where to Stay
Stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya for easy access to nightlife and transit. Budget options include Capsule Hotel Anshin Oyado (3,000-5,000 yen per night). For mid-range, the Citadines Shinjuku offers studios with kitchenettes from 12,000 yen.
💡 Local Tips
Carry cash, as many small shops and restaurants don't accept cards. Download a translation app like Google Translate for menus and signs. Avoid rush hour (7:30-9am and 5-7pm) on trains to stay comfortable.
solid itinerary, the teamLab tip about midday slots is spot on. for day 3, instead of heading straight to Odaiba from Tsukiji, take a 10-minute walk to Hamarikyu Gardens. it's this old daimyo garden right on the water, total contrast to the market chaos. you can catch a water bus from there to Odaiba, it goes under Rainbow Bridge and drops you right by the ferris wheel. costs about 600 yen extra but the boat ride is worth it on a clear day.
also for day 1, the Met Govt Building deck is free and has solid views but the queue for the elevators can get long around sunset. there's a smaller viewing spot on the 45th floor of the Shinjuku Center Building that most tourists miss, same free entry and way shorter lines. just a 5 min walk from the station west exit.
This is a solid itinerary. I'd suggest swapping the order of day one a bit. Meiji Jingu is right next to Harajuku, so you can hit the shrine first thing when it's quiet, then walk through the grounds and come out right at Harajuku station to avoid backtracking. The Yurikamome Line ride to Odaiba on day three is a great call, the views from the driverless train over Rainbow Bridge are a highlight in themselves.
One thing the guide doesn't mention is that the Tsukiji Outer Market has really pushed up prices for tourists, especially for sushi. If you want a more local and less crowded experience, head to the Uogashi area right behind the main market stalls. You'll find the same quality grilled seafood and tamagoyaki for a couple hundred yen less. Also, for the teamLab booking, the 9am or 10am slots sell out first, so grab a midday entry if you want to avoid the school groups.
for day 2, if you're at sensoji that early, walk through the back of the temple grounds to the small cemetery area. it's quiet and has a great view of the pagoda without all the selfie sticks. also, ueno park's museums are good but the national museum of nature and science has a really cool exhibit on the history of tokyo's subway system with old train cars you can walk through. my kid loved it more than the zoo.
the guide mentions cash but i'd add that some of the best food stalls in ameyoko only take coins and don't have prices posted. just point at what looks good and hand over a 500 yen coin, they'll give you change. i got a huge plate of grilled scallops that way for 400 yen and it was better than any sit-down place i tried