Dojos and classes¶
You can and should train every day to maximize the benefit of your stay. The following is the schedule at the time of my visit. It rarely changes, but it might, so be sure to verify before traveling to the different dojos.
There are several dojos around. I haven’t been to all of them, please help me to complete this list.
Higashi-Totsuka¶
The main dojo for AKI. It’s about 3.5 km from the house, and takes about 40 minutes to walk. You can also take the 33 bus to Higashi Totsuka. Should take about 15 minutes on the bus. I’ve never taken the bus that way, so I’m not sure where the stop to get off - please let me know if you do.
Be sure to be at the dojo 30 minutes before the designated class time for changing, cleaning and warm up.
Schedule:
- Monday
7pm, Yasu Suzuki sensei
- Tuesday
7pm, Takeda shihan
- Wednesday
10:30 am, Seniors class, no Hakama, Daiyu Sensei
6 pm, Kids class, Daiyu Sensei
7 pm, Basic class, Daiyu Sensei
- Friday:
7 pm Takeda Shihan
- Saturday:
6am Takeda Shihan
- Sunday:
10am, Kids class, Daiyu Sensei
11am, Takeda Shihan
All classes are 800 Yen. You can pay 8000 yen for a whole month if you intend to do more than 10 classes.
Yasu-sensei’s class is a 1000 Yen, but he usually does not charge foreigners. Please don’t assume he won’t charge you and ask him how much is it after class.
The 6am class on Saturday is not included in the monthly fee, and costs 800 Yen.
There is a shower at the dojo, but there is no hot water.
The mats are hard but the floor is on springs. You’ll thankfully remember the springs when you take some hard ukemi.
The recorded route follows the riverbank and quiet neighborhoods as much as possible. It’s also the shortest we found.
For the way back, you can simply walk, or take the bus. See the next section for more details about taking the bus back home.
Route |
Totsuka House to Higashi Totsuka Dojo (via river bank) |
Start |
Totsuka House |
End |
Higashi Totsuka Dojo |
Distance |
3.3 km |
Duration |
36 minutes |
KMZ file |
|
GPX file |
See Using the provided routes for information on how to use the route.
Back to Totsuka House¶
You can follow the route on the previous section for a nice relaxing walk home after class.
Alternatively, you can take a bus. It’s sometimes a good option after an exhausting class. From the dojo go down the stairs and down the street. Take a right and cross the highway on the bridge. Go down on the stairs on your right immediately after the highway, and go up the street to the light. Cross the street in the same direction you were going and at the flower shop take a right. After 20 meters there’s a bus stop (marked on the map)
Take the bus that goes to Totsuka-Eki (See also Bus). The front of the bus should say 戸塚駅 (Totsuka-station. Totsuka is 戸塚, Station is 駅). It’s also good to double check with the driver. The numbers of the buses are not a good way to tell if it’s the correct bus. We could not figure out how to read the time table on the bus stop, so just wait for the bus. If it’s after 10pm, there’s a good chance there are no more buses, so make sure to ask the first bus driver you see. They will often tell you if there’s another bus coming or not.
On the bus, get off in front of the Bridgestone factory (Bridgestone-mae). The name of the station is shown in English too on the screen at the front. The station name will be announced, but in the Japanese pronunciation (Bu-Li-Gi-Su-To-N-Ma-E) – it will take some time to get used to it, so follow the written sign on the front of the bus.
Be sure to press the ‘Stop’ before your stop, as you might be the only one on the bus at that time.
After getting off at Bridgestone, follow the route from Aeon store to the Totsuka House and you should be home in about 7 minutes.
The bus stops are marked on the map in the previous section.
Kamakura¶
Hachimangu¶
From Totsuka take the Yokosuka line to Kamakura (bound for Zushi or Kurihama) from platform 4. Get off the train at Kamakura, exit at the east exit, and follow the route north. The dojo is located within the Hachimangu shrine. It is a beautiful place, and it is recommended to come ahead of time and walk around the shrine before class. The walk from the train station to the dojo is 1km, and takes about 10 minutes.
You will need to identify yourself as an AKI member from Higashi Totsuka. You will then be required to fill in your name and pay 500 Yen, in exact change.
After paying take off your shoes and go down the stairs for the change rooms. Men on the right, Women on the left.
The kids class at hachimangu is quite an experience. Be sure to watch it, or even better, join it. The kids love it when foreigners join and you are bound to be smiling for the whole time. It’s also a good warm-up for the upcoming adults class. As with the adults class, be on time, and check with one of the teachers if it’s okay to join the kids classes.
It’s a beautiful dojo. Don’t forget to bring your camera.
The bow before class is different here. After the drum is beaten, you bow twice, then clap twice (together), then bow again. The same happens at the end of class.
Schedule:
- Wednesday
6pm, kids class, Yumiko-san
7pm, adults class. Teaching rotates between Takeda shihan, Daiyu sensei, Numata Sensei and Takeshi-Suzuki sensei. You can ask at Higashi Totsuka after the Tuesday class who teaches tomorrow.
While the kids class is going on, you can also go upstairs, to watch kiudo (Japanese archery) practice.
There is a nice shower there, so be sure to bring a towel.
In the map below, it is the route that goes north.
Seino Sensei¶
Seino sensei teaches at Kamakura on Sunday at 1pm. It’s an hour long class. Exit the Kamakura train station on the east exit, and follow the route that goes south.
There are two possible locations for this class, both are very close. If you don’t know, go to the first location and ask about “Aikido-no Keiko”. The recorded route includes entering the first building and then going to the other place, so if you follow it you are sure to find the class.
Schedule:
Sunday, 1pm, Seino Sensei.
There is a shower in the second place, I don’t know about the first.
I do not know the cost for this class.
The group will probably go drinking after class, but even if not, they will walk together to the train station after class. Be sure to wait for the rest of the group if you’re quick at changing, or be aware that they will wait for you if you’re slow.
Route |
Kamamura Dojo |
Start |
Kamakura Station East Exit |
End |
Dojo for Seino Sensei’s class |
Duration |
11 minutes |
KMZ File |
|
GPX File |
See Using the provided routes for information on how to use the route.
Numata Sensei’s Dojo¶
The dojo is at his house, and is quite small (30 tatami).
To get there, from Totsuka take the Blue Line of the Subway (notice, go downstairs for the subway, not to the regular JR line) bound for Azamino and get off after 5 stops at Kamiooka (B11). Exit the subway gates, go upstairs and take the Keikyu line bound for Uraga. Get off after 8 stops at Keikyu-Taura (KK55).
There’s only one exit to the station. From there turn left and follow the main road. Cross it at the crossing, and keep going. Before you get to the underpass, there will be stairs on your right. Take the stairs in the same direction you were walking. Keep climbing the stairs – it is the first house to the right (see marker on the map). There is a small sign that says Aikido – 合気道.
The map below contains markers for the train station, the beginning of the stairs and the location of the dojo. Unfortunately there is no complete recorded route – if you end up recording one, please send it to me.
Schedule:
Tuesday: 7pm, Numata Sensei
Thursday: 7pm, Numata Sensei
Saturday: ??, Seino Sensei
Sunday: ??, Numata Sensei
There is no shower, bring your own water, it’s not readily available.
Hakkei¶
From Totsuka, follow the same train route as to Numata Sensei’s Dojo, but get off at Kanazawa-Hakkei (KK50).
If you are coming from Kamakura, you can go around the other side - go to Zushi on the Yokosuka line, walk over the Shin-Zushi station, and take the Keykyu line north, up to Kanazawa Hakkei.
From the train station, follow the route north. It’s a 5 minutes walk and you will see to your left the entrance to the university building.
Once in the building, the change rooms are on your left, and the dojo will be straight ahead, one of the doors to your right.
The route on the map was not recorded, rather drawn by hand later. Please send me corrections if you find any mistakes.
Schedule:
Thursday: 7pm, Yamamoto Sensei
Ōfuna¶
There is a dojo in Ōfuna in the sports centre. Satoshi-Takeda (AKA kametake sensei) teaches there. This might be a women’s only class. I do not know the cost nor the schedule.
There is a shower there.
I’ve recreated the location and the route from memory, I hope it is correct.