This site requires Javascript to function properly - please enable Javascript in your browser

community
@community

【Aikido × Journey】Three Days in Kobe – First Visit to the Hombu Dojo, and Onward to Shin-Kobe

6 days ago
By: Community
Posted in: Updates

In January 2025, Nakao Sensei of Seibukan held a seminar in Auckland, New Zealand. The event was organized by Ivan Neziri, who runs a dojo in Auckland. Having once lived in Kobe and trained at Seibukan himself, Ivan was deeply motivated to share Sensei Nakao’s aikido with New Zealand, which led to the realization of this seminar.

Inspired by the seminar, my New Zealand friends decided to visit Seibukan during their trip to Japan, and we were fortunate to join them.

Their itinerary included training at the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo from the beginning of September, traveling through Kyoto and Kobe, and returning to the Hombu Dojo once again. After coordinating schedules, we settled on September 13 (Saturday) to September 15 (Monday, a public holiday) for a two-night, three-day visit.

Although it was my first time visiting Seibukan, some students had previously moved from Seibukan to the Hombu Dojo. One of them, I-san, had also attended the New Zealand seminar and kindly agreed to accompany us. This was truly reassuring.

On September 14, the Kansai Aikido Joint Training Session was scheduled, with Hombu Dojo Head Instructor Mitsuo Ueshiba leading. Some dojos planned to close that day, but Seibukan continued its regular practice, which was a relief. Moreover, September 15 was a public holiday, and when I-san confirmed with the dojo, the response was warmly encouraging: “If you’re coming, we’ll train.” I was deeply grateful for this kindness.

The Challenge of Finding Accommodation

Initially, I hoped to ask I-san for hotel recommendations. However, this period coincided with EXPO 2025 Osaka–Kansai and a busy three-day weekend. Hotel prices had skyrocketed, likely due to both the expo and inbound tourism.

My husband and I were fine with a double bed, but our friends were two men and one woman. Naturally, two men sharing a double bed was not ideal. Even when we managed to find affordable double rooms, twin rooms were much harder to secure. After much searching, we finally settled on this hotel: Hotel Sunroute Plaza Kobe Anessa

🏨 Check the Best Hotel Deals in Kobe City on Trip.com

I-san reassured us: “It’s inexpensive, easy to reach by train, and not too costly by taxi.” With that endorsement, we booked immediately. Still, our New Zealand friends later remarked that this was the most expensive accommodation of their entire trip.

Training and Daily Life in Tokyo

In early September, my friends arrived in Japan. It was their first time in the country, their first time at the Hombu Dojo, their first time using Suica, and their first time traveling together as two men. Their female friend was scheduled to join later.

They rented a small apartment in Shin-Okubo to be close to the Hombu Dojo. Though surprised by its size, they quickly grew fond of it, eventually calling it “home.” Tokyo was still sweltering, with temperatures exceeding 35°C, so the air conditioning was running constantly.

On their first day of training, practice began at 8:00 a.m. We had agreed to meet at 7:30 in front of the dojo, but their habit of arriving early meant they showed up at 7:00.

“What were you doing so early?”
“Waiting for you, Kaori. You’re late.”

…Honestly, I couldn’t understand the point of arriving an hour before practice.

Because they needed to register for membership, I arrived 30 minutes early—earlier than usual—but they had already completed everything while waiting.

I spend several months each year in New Zealand and often train at different dojos, but my main dojo is the same one they attend. There, mats must be laid out in a civic hall before practice, so arriving early is necessary. They seemed to assume the same applied in Japan. After experiencing it firsthand, they realized: “We don’t need to come so early.” I was glad they understood.

✈️ Search hotels & flights on Traveloka

Training at the Hombu Dojo was strict yet respectful. I was delighted that they could experience the discipline and etiquette firsthand.

From Kyoto to Kobe

After about a week in Tokyo, their Japanese female friend joined them, and together they traveled to Kyoto. Having a Japanese companion eased my worries considerably. The next time we would meet was in Kobe.

Schedule in Kobe

Finally, September 13 arrived—the day we would head to Seibukan. Our schedule was as follows:

September 13 (Sat) 18:00–19:00 Training with Shimada Sensei → Dinner at “Sakonadaya,” run by Nakao Sensei
September 14 (Sun) 10:00–12:00 Training with Nakao Sensei → Lunch gathering
September 15 (Mon, public holiday) 8:30–9:00 Zazen session → 9:30–11:30 Training with Nakao Sensei

Seibukan official site: https://seibukan-kobe.org/

Though brief, we looked forward to making the most of this intensive schedule.

Journey to Kobe by Shinkansen

Around noon, we left home for Tokyo Station. The crowds were overwhelming—so dense that even in a small group of two, we nearly lost each other. Carrying suitcases filled with aikido uniforms made it even harder, bumping into people and struggling to find space to walk.

At last, we reached the Tokaido Shinkansen platform. The trains were so crowded that we had to wait for several before boarding.

Finally seated, we could breathe a sigh of relief. The ride to Shin-Kobe offered a precious moment of rest.