If you are a practitioner of Aikido, this is a must place to visit in Japan. O Sensei spent his years from around the WWII time, where he build his second Aiki Shrine and focused on his training. There are several high ranking Shihans as care takers of the Ibaragi Shibu Dojo as well as Doshu and Hombu Dojocho also come to teach classes here.

A beautiful shrine, located just in front of the Iwama Shinshin Aiki Juku, best Aikido school in the world, owned by Aikido teacher Saito Hitobira Sensei.

The Aiki Jinja or Aiki Shrine commemorates the birthplace of Aikido by O'Sensei. O'Sensei regularly practiced there and there are many photos of him practicing bokken strikes on the same tanren that are still there today. Some of these photos of O'Sensei practicing with Morihiro Saito Sensei were taken here. The shrine is still cared for daily by students of the Iwama dojo and ceremonies are still held at the shrine. Worth a visit for any student of Aikido.

Don't forget to bow from the floor, clap four times with your hand when entering and do the same when going out.

I have been ueshi deshi twice (live in student). The shrine is maintained by UchiDeshi.

Great history here. Ueshiba, Saito, Going Sensei's and more.

Cool little shrine near Iwama station.

A moving experience an easy train trip from Tokyo easy to find.