Practice in Hiroshima around x-mas and newyear

[Okami]

I'm going to be in Hiroshima from around 23:rd of December to 8:th of January and would like to take the opportunity to practice some while I'm there. Does anyone know of any dojo that has open practices during that period?

Also I'm looking for tips to good kendo-shops in Hiroshima and possibly Kyoto as well as I'm planning to pick up a new set of keikogi and hakama.

I would be very grateful for replies. :)

[nodachi]

I am not sure how to find them unless you are good with the internet in Japanese, but try to find budokans, every prefecture should have one, and frequently there are smaller ones floating around. They usually have a set practice schedule but the people practicing are random groups that are different each night, although lots of regulars. I think this would give you the greatest chance of finding a place in advance that is open and willing to having a random person join in the practice.

Try searching for (Prefecture Name here) Kenritsu Budokan. See what shows up.

[Fonsz]

I'm going to be in Hiroshima from around 23:rd of December to 8:th of January and would like to take the opportunity to practice some while I'm there. Does anyone know of any dojo that has open practices during that period?

Also I'm looking for tips to good kendo-shops in Hiroshima and possibly Kyoto as well as I'm planning to pick up a new set of keikogi and hakama.

I would be very grateful for replies. :)
Hi there lucky man,
If you are in Kyoto you can go to the Butokuden, there's Kendo practice every night from 1900h. round the corner and opposite the hall are 3 Kendo shops. Also Tozando has a shop in Kyoto so you got that covered rathere well if you are in Kyoto

[StuBear]

Depending on the city and the dojo, you might have trouble finding one that isn't closed for the New Year's break.

I train at the Suita (North Osaka) budokan and kendo practice finishes next Tuesday (13th) and doesn't start again till Jan 10th.

You might have more luck with the big city budokans, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima as they may take up the slack from the smaller schools.

As mentioned above Kyoto has 3 stores just around the corner from the Budokan on Marutamachi dori (very close to Heian shrine). All three of the stores are used to dealing with foreigners and the staff are really friendly.

If you need a map or better directions (bus stops etc) let me know and I'll post some links.

Stu

[Okami]

Thanks for the tips and pointers. I have some proficiency in japanese so searching for basic info on homepages is ok, sadly I had no luck googling for either "hiroshima kenritsu budokan" or "広島 県立 武道館" so I guess i have to keep searching. :p
I'm only going to be in Kyoto for a few days of sightseeing so I doubt I will have the time to practice (though the real obstacle might actually be to convince my girlfriend to allow me to ;) ) at the Butokuden altough it sounds really cool. I'll definitely go check it and the nearby stores out though.

If someone else has some other tips on dojo and stores specifically in Hiroshima I'd be very happy. I'm planning on buying a iaidogi as well so stores with iaido-eqipment are also of interest.

[StuBear]

This might help you find somewhere in hiroshima

http://kendojinko.com/dojo/hiroshima/hiroshima.html

Also supposedly next to the Rhiga Royla hotel is a sports complex called "Green Arena" that contains a budo-jo where they train karate, naginata and kendo, but I wasn't able to find anything like training times on the net.

cheers

Stu

[Ushio]

Prior to my trip to Japan in October, I was able to make arrangements to practice at various locations around the country). For the Hiroshima portion of my trip, my Kendo Federation's President made contact with the Hiroshima/Joge Federation, and in turn, arrangements were made with the Police Department's kaicho.

I recommend that you initiate contact via and inquiry from your sensei or regional federation. In my case, it may have also helped that my great grandfather was a Kendo sensei for the Hiroshima police in the late 1800s.

Good luck and enjoy your visit!

[Okami]

This might help you find somewhere in hiroshima

http://kendojinko.com/dojo/hiroshima/hiroshima.html

Also supposedly next to the Rhiga Royla hotel is a sports complex called "Green Arena" that contains a budo-jo where they train karate, naginata and kendo, but I wasn't able to find anything like training times on the net.

cheers

Stu

Yeah I also found that page after some googling, sadly it just seems like a list of dojo with kids practice (I went trough all listed homepages).
The "Green Arena" seems interesting but it seems I'm going to have to go with the trusty old "ask at the local kendo-shop" method, usually works wonders. ;)

Asking my federation to set up practice for me seems like overkill as my primary reason for going to Japan this time is not kendo practice. If I were to do it this way I would certainly want to attend every possible practice as not to be rude but I won't have time for that.