What this is
Held inside the sacred grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — the very shrine at the heart of the manga's setting — this three-day-only exhibition marks the conclusion of Yusei Matsui's manga series The Elusive Samurai. Rather than a standard anime expo setup, the exhibition presents the world of Hojo Tokiyuki and the Nanboku-cho period through traditional Japanese art forms: folding screens, hanging scrolls, Japanese-style paintings used for the manga's volume covers, and actual historical artifacts including the Hojo family's treasured sword Onimaru and imperial decrees. AR content lets visitors examine 3D-recreated weapons from the series, and calligrapher Kamari Maeda contributes an original work specifically for the show.
Who should go
Fans of The Elusive Samurai manga or anime who want a genuinely unusual send-off for the series. History enthusiasts interested in the Nanboku-cho period will find the real artifacts and documents worth the trip even without prior knowledge of the manga.
Good to know
Advance tickets can be purchased online — check the official event page for the ticketing platform (likely eplus.jp or pia.jp), both of which accept foreign credit cards; convenience store pickup at Lawson is the most reliable option for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. Same-day tickets are sold at the venue only when time slots have remaining capacity and are strictly cashless — no cash accepted at the door. The ticket-with-merchandise bundle (¥3,850) is only available for advance purchase and will not be sold on the day. Naoraiden Hall is a traditional hall within the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine complex; the venue is compact, so timed entry helps manage crowd flow — arriving at the start of your designated slot is advisable. The shrine grounds themselves are free to explore before or after the exhibition, making it easy to combine with a broader visit to Kamakura.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.