where to go

[Atika]

Hi,

I'm planning to go in Japan next summer and I would like to practice kendo there. Since it will be the first coming in Japan for me I don't know where I could go... So if some of you had some contacts or advices I will listen carefully for them.

Thank you

[Anime12478]

While I haven't been to Japan myself yet, I believe that you could find Kendo wherever you go. Unlike the rest of the world, Kendo is easier to find. You could check out nearby colleges for clubs and such. If you are looking for a particular dojo, then let us know of the city that you are going to and that will help others find the dojos that are close.

[kanyil]

Kendo Nippon's website has a nice dojo search engine. The bad news is that you need to be able to input Japanese. The search engine is the 2nd option on the left.

http://www.skijournal.co.jp/kendo/

[chidokan]

decide which city or town you want to go to, then work from there...you may find in the smaller places there are only senior school dojos, and standards may not be as high as you would like or need. I fell in lucky and visited the junior high school dojo at Saga (they had just won the all japan under 18's). If you are looking for older people, no kids, that may be harder to get into. Ask your teacher for an introduction, that is always best.
Iaido dojos are the same, you can end up with an obscure ryu with two or three old guys training together, or a dojo purely focussed on seitei iaido.
You really have to look and research carefully....