Chiran Samurai Village Tour with Soba Making Experience

Listed as a “Japan Heritage," the Chiran Samurai Village is a well-preserved relic of the samurai era. Chiran, known as the “Little Kyoto of Satsuma,” is a former samurai residence on Kagoshima Prefecture’s Satsuma Peninsula. Just one hour from Kagoshima City, Chiran is an easy day trip away to a peaceful and relaxing little town. About 250 years ago, the lord of Chiran summoned craftsmen from Kyoto and instructed them to design a beautiful village. Thanks to their skills and the residents’ efforts to preserve the village, there are still 7 residences open to the public today, showcasing the Karesansui (“dry garden”) style. During this tour, you will walk around the village and learn about the strategic design. In 2019, the samurai village was designated as “Japan Heritage," alongside other villages in Kagoshima. But don’t expect samurai costumes or kimono-clad ladies. The Samurai Village is not an amusement park, but a place where you can feel the genuine history and atmosphere of the samurai era. After a tour of the village, you’ll visit the Soba-Dojo restaurant for lunch, where you can enjoy soba (buckwheat noodles) made of high-quality buckwheat and pure water. The recommended dish is soba with “Kuro-Buta” (special Kagoshima “Black Pork”) dipping sauce, which has very thinly sliced pork in the sauce. Kagoshima Kuro-Buta is a local specialty, like the wagyu beef of the pork world. Love to cook? There is also an option to make the soba yourself, with the staff’s instruction.