History, Aesthetics, and Philosophy of the 15th Mito Tokugawa Family: Experience the Tokugawa Collection and Tea Ceremony

Meet the descendants of the Tokugawa Shogun’s family and see some cultural treasures up close. Take a journey into the depths of samurai culture, full of beauty and valor.

The Tokugawa family ruled Japan for about 260 years after succeeding the other shoguns. This makes them comparable to a royal family in European terms. The Tokugawa Museum in Mito houses about 30,000 precious samurai helmets, famous swords, and other heirlooms passed down from generation to generation within the Tokugawa family. This event is a unique opportunity in which the 15th generation Mito Tokugawa family will welcome visitors, talk about the history of the Tokugawa family, and introduce some of their family treasures. You may select three items from the collection not on display, such as tea bowls, maki-e lacquerware, or hanging scrolls, and view them in private in the VIP guest room with explanations provided. You can also try on a samurai helmet and armor or a high-quality kimono made by artisans in Japan and enjoy an authentic tea ceremony in a privately-owned tea house. This is a truly unique event where you can fully immerse yourself in Japanese history and culture rather than simply viewing cultural properties. We are also offering tours of Mito City and its surrounding areas, including a visit to the oldest sake brewery in Japan, which began making sake in the 12th century; a tour of a multi-award-winning plum wine brewery; a visit to Nishiyama-Goten Heritage, which was a retirement residence of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the second lord of the Mito domain; and a ride on a charming sailboat on Kasumigaura Bay.