Nomura Samurai House Virtual Tour｜Funny Backstories by Local Guide (Not in Official Guides)

0. Welcome to the Samurai’s Secret Life!

Ever wondered how a real samurai lived behind closed doors? This isn’t a dry history lesson. In this 3-minute virtual tour, I’ll take you through the Nomura House with the “funny backstories” you won’t find in any official guide.

In this tour, we’ll solve these mysteries:

• The Tiny Armor: Was the samurai really that small?
• The Stag Beetle Helmet: What does a “closed horn” symbolize?
• The Hidden Garden: Why it’s more than just a pretty view.

Let’s step inside and meet the spirits of the Edo period!

1. What is Nomura House? (Quick Overview)

Before we step inside, here are three things you need to know about this house. Think of it as a time capsule from the Samurai era.

• A High-Ranking Samurai’s Home: Built about 200 years ago, this was the residence of the Nomura family. They weren’t just soldiers; they were senior executive-level officials who served their lord for generations.
• The Only One of Its Kind: While many samurai houses exist in this district, this is the only one where you can actually go inside, walk the original floorboards, and feel the “soul” of the samurai life.
• Beyond Kyoto Style: Unlike the quiet, Zen-meditation gardens of Kyoto, the garden here was part of a samurai’s daily life. It feels like another dimension—as if the master of the house just stepped out for a moment and might return at any time.

2. Virtual Tour: Exploring Each Exhibit

The following explanations are crafted to infuse a humorous touch into the usual descriptions, drawing on the unique characteristics of Japanese culture to captivate virtual foreign visitors like you and inspire them to visit in person.

👉 Rest assured, more detailed and conventional explanations await you on-site!

2.1 Entrance/ Entrance

Q1.Armor：What is this armor?

　As soon as you enter, you’ll be greeted by this suit of armor. But here’s the secret: this isn’t just for display. It was actually worn by the first head of the Nomura family in real, brutal battles!

1. This is the actual armor worn by the first head of the Nomura family.
2. He earned recognition for his valor in battles while wearing this armor, which led to his promotion as a senior samurai.
3. This board provides insights into the details of the battles he participated in.
4. The lord of Kanazawa Castle was in a period of significant instability at that time.
5. The head of the Nomura family was said to have fought with a spear, his specialty.
6. Unlike the ornate armor often displayed in museums, this helmet is both compact and practical.
7. In Japan, the helmet part of the armor is called ‘kabuto’, meaning ‘a beetle’, and its frontal ornament is called ‘kuwagata ‘meaning ‘a stag beetle’.
8. Generally, this ornamentation and size of ‘kuwagata’ indicate the status of the samurai, but unlike stag beetles that usually have a pair of horns, this one is closed at the end.
9. As he was a low-ranked samurai at the time, he likely felt he had no other way to survive but to make his way with his spear, equivalent to a beetle’s horn.
10. The closed circle of the stag beetle ornament on his helmet might symbolize the dilemma he faced at that time!

Q2. Armor：Was he really as small as this armor suggests?

This is the question we, local guides, hear often from visitors! Looking at this armor, it’s hard not to wonder if samurai were all tiny.

1. Samurai armor comes in two main types, each with a distinct purpose in both appearance and function.
2. One is the luxuriously conspicuous armor of a general or a high-ranking commander, intended to boost morale on the battlefield.
3. The other is functional armor for front-line soldiers, like infantrymen, which prioritizes agility and ease of movement.
4. This armor is made to be lightweight and simple, with minimal decoration.
5. According to many studies, the average height of a Japanese man during the samurai period was about 5’1″ to 5’3″ (155 to 160 cm).
6. Armor was custom-made to fit the individual’s physique, so it’s natural that the armor on display would seem small to a modern viewer.
7. Japanese proverbs say that just as a tiger leaves its skin behind when it dies, a person should leave behind a good name.
8. Although this ancestor might have been small in stature and unremarkable in appearance, he not only successfully left behind his name but also his armor, just as a tiger leaves its skin.
9. Even today, his spirit seems to reside in his armor, protecting his family.
10. As the English saying goes, he is literally in armor—ready to defend his legacy.

2.2 Onikawa Bunko (Ancestors’ Valuable Archives)

This library showcases treasures passed down through the Nomura family for generations. While official guides might focus on dates and names, I want to share the human stories behind these artifacts—stories of loyalty, betrayal, and survival.

👉Note: ”Bunko” means ”library” or ”archive”.

Q1. Background：Why is there an exhibition room here?

You might wonder why a private home has such a large collection of treasures.

When the samurai era ended 150 years ago, many families fell into poverty and were forced to sell their heritage. The Nomura family, however, managed to hold onto their swords and private letters.

1. In the samurai residence area, high-ranking samurai maintained close ties with lords, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants.
2. They amassed impressive collections of rare and valuable items.
3. When the samurai era came to an end, many of them faced financial difficulties and were forced to sell their land and family possessions.
4. As a result, numerous precious samurai treasures were dispersed.
5. The Nomura family, however, managed to preserve ancestral swords and letters.
6. Visitors here have a unique opportunity to admire these samurai-era artifacts, typically found only in renowned museums.
7. The best part? It’s more affordable than visiting those heavily advertised and staffed museums.
8. A descendant of the Nomura family successfully preserved their ancestral home, overcoming various challenges and choosing not to turn it into a large public museum.
9. Moreover, as local guides, we can offer captivating and compelling explanations at a fraction of the cost of expensive museums!
10. Perhaps this is because we share a similar mindset and position as the lower-class samurais of that time, who had no choice but to serve.

Q2. Letters:A：What kind of thank-you letter is this?

This 400-year-old letter isn’t your average thank-you note. It was sent to the first head of the Nomura family by a powerful warlord, expressing shock and gratitude for a rather… gruesome trophy brought back from the battlefield. Let’s take a look at the gritty reality and dark humor of samurai life!

1. This letter was sent over four hundred years ago by a famous Sengoku‑period daimyo to the first head of the Nomura family. The ancestor of the Nomura household apparently fought in several battles as a subordinate of this warlord. 
2. In this brief message, the daimyo expresses both astonishment and gratitude for the fact that the Nomura ancestor brought back the head of an enemy commander from a particular battle. 
3. Remarkably, just a single line in this letter vividly conveys the values and customs of samurai life at the time. 
4. Overseas visitors, in particular, often react with great interest—or with a wonderfully wry smile—when they read it, so we guides tend to share it often. 
5. That said, I usually refrain from adding too many extra explanations. After all, topics involving the neck are not always ideal for light sightseeing conversation. 
6. The neck is, quite literally, a vital part of the human body, directly tied to life itself. Because of that, in both Japanese and English, it often appears as a symbolic expression for “social status,” “death,” or “responsibility.” 
7. But the real reason I avoid over‑explaining is simple: the Nomura family has preserved this letter with great care for centuries. That alone speaks for itself. 
8. It is a genuine piece of evidence of their ancestor’s martial skill and samurai spirit. 
9. A single line on a single sheet of paper is part of what gives this house its unique value. So once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude. 
10. As the daimyo himself wrote: “We are very happy that you brought us his head.” And even today, well… we guides are still very happy that he brought it too. 

Q3 .Letters：B：What is valuable in this letter of gratitude?

These look like ordinary letters, but they hold a massive secret. They contain a thank-you note from a samurai involved in one of the most famous betrayals in Japanese history.

1. This is a letter of gratitude from a samurai known for one of the most notable betrayals in Japanese history.
2. Just as “Judas” and “Brutus” are well-known examples in world history, he holds a similar position in Japanese history.
3. He sent his own troops to kill his boss, who was then the de facto king of Japan, while the latter was resting
4. He had been so obedient and loyal to that king up to that point that his betrayal is still considered a mystery.
5. At the time of the betrayal, before the lord of Kanazawa Castle assumed his position, he was subordinate to the murdered king and a colleague of the traitor.
6. If the king had not met his unfortunate end, there might not have been a Lord of Kanazawa Castle and its retainers, including the Nomura family.
7. The king’s tyrannical nature led to the punishment or forced removal of many of his subordinates who failed to meet his expectations, with the most severe consequence being ordered to commit seppuku (ritual suicide).
8. Experts suggest that fear, rather than respect or rationality, compelled many of his men to follow him.
9. Both the traitor and the subsequent lord of Kanazawa Castle might have faced their demise sooner or later.
10. It’s possible that it was the Nomura family, not the traitor that wanted to write a “thank you” letter for the betrayal.

Q3. Swords: Were these swords actually used?

To a samurai, a sword was never just a tool for fighting—it was his very soul. Even during long years of peace when the blade stayed in its scabbard, it remained a symbol of pride. While others might have traded their legacy for a comfortable life, the Nomura ancestors clung to these blades. Let’s explore why these “souls” were never for sale, even in the darkest of times.

1. The late Samurai period was marked by relative peace, leading to the creation of many ornamental swords.
2. It’s astounding that these swords are more than two or three hundred years old because they retain both functionality and beauty.
3. It could be considered the last source of pride for the Samurai that they didn’t sell these swords, even amidst the decline of Samurai families.
4. ‘A sword is the soul of a samurai’ held great value. So, no matter how dire their circumstances, it might have been unthinkable to ‘sell their souls’.
5. Samurai stood in contrast to merchants who prioritized survival, even if it meant ‘selling their souls to the devil’.
6. It could be said, then, that the contest for leadership between the samurai and the merchants was predictable from the beginning.
7. For samurai who had survived by the sword for nearly a thousand years, the weapon became a legacy of pride, even in peaceful times.
8. This recalls the famous biblical saying, “Live by the sword, die by the sword.”
9. One might argue that the samurai proved this true across time and space—not necessarily in the literal sense.
10. They didn’t just die by the sword; they clung to it, refusing to sell, even when it might have been wiser to trade their legacy for survival.

Q4. Stirrup：What was this display used for?

This is a stirrup—the part of the saddle where a rider places their feet. But look closer: does this look like something you’d use in a dirty, violent battle?

1. This is a decorative footrest that was placed on both sides of the saddle.
2. Stirrups were essential for maintaining posture during the violent movements of a horse in battle, allowing the rider to effectively attack opponents.
3. But this particular stirrup is decorated with embedded silver wire, not for practical use.
4. Similar to the swords mentioned earlier, stirrups also became adorned with decorative features during the peaceful samurai era.
5. It was designed and crafted by skilled artisans, a testament to Kanazawa’s long history of producing talented craftsmen.
6. While silver is commonly used for rings, it might seem extravagant to use such a valuable metal for stirrups, which are primarily for foot placement.
7. However, in Kanazawa, a well-known town famous for its gold leaf craftsmanship dating back to the samurai era, metals other than gold may not have been as highly valued.
8. Indeed, people in Kanazawa would never consider embedding gold in stirrups for ‘foot’ placement.
9. For the people of Kanazawa, gold holds utmost importance and is reserved for more significant applications.
10. This is perhaps why today we see many people delighting their taste buds and eyes alike with gold leaf ice cream!

Q5. Cigarette tray：Is this some kind of special craft?

Think smoking is just a modern habit? Think again. In the samurai era, smoking was as refined and social as the tea ceremony itself.