Iwama dojo, Shinto shrine in Japan
Iwama dojo is a simple training facility for aikido located in a small town in Ibaraki Prefecture. The space has an open layout with wooden swords hanging on the walls and sits surrounded by trees in a quiet setting.
The dojo was founded in 1945 when Morihei Ueshiba, the creator of aikido, settled in Iwama and built both the training facility and a nearby shrine. These two sites remain the center of original aikido teachings today.
The dojo is named after its founder Morihei Ueshiba and embodies the philosophy that martial arts serve spiritual growth and peaceful coexistence. The space is used daily by practitioners from around the world who follow a routine emphasizing mutual respect and harmony in their practice.
The dojo welcomes visitors daily and offers evening classes for beginners as well as intensive multi-day training programs for serious students. Registration is handled through the Aikikai Foundation, and the walk from Iwama Station takes just a few minutes.
The Aiki Shrine across from the dojo is the only shrine in the world dedicated to aikido and its founder, decorated with a bronze statue of the master. The shrine features gravel paths raked into calming patterns that create a space for inner reflection.
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