Samurai areas worth visiting

Been a fan of jidai-geki movies I think it is called, like Seven Samurai, Rurouni Kenshin, etc (just some examples of movies I have seen). Been to Japan several times mostly visiting Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido, but trying to find some places worth visiting for interest in jidai-geki, like towns, nature, etc.

I do not intend to dress up like a samurai and walking around, but trying to get the feel of samurai age.

In case you have not seen this page yet, it lists lots of samurai-related tourist spots:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html

@Uji, thanks for the page! I just discovered the existence of the Chiran Samurai District, and I'm definitely adding to my next trip's itinerary.

I haven't visited Himeji castle, but was very impressed with Matsuyama's. Highly recommended.

Among preserved samurai districts listed in the page, I liked the one in Hagi a lot (and it is not far from Tsuwano, also very nice). There is a bit less to see in Kakunodate (still worth the detour). Finally, he one is Matsue is very small, and near a busy car road.

From the linked list, I personally like Kakunodate, but that is not usually on too many schedules as it is a long way north. Easier would be Nikko Edomura (which is fun) or Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (both I have visited several times.
For something easier to get to, you could visit Sengakuji in Tokyo near Shinagawa. While more a historic place as the graveyard site of the 47 ronin, it is still interesting. (I ended up in the area a few years back as my partner's son was doing high school entrance exams nearby.)
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3000.html
One area that I see (and get requests for) is the samurai district in Kanazawa. Again, a personal opinion, not worth it. Ok if you have lots of time to fill or have not been in too many old Japanese houses.

Aizu ..
https://samurai-city.jp/en/
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7700.html

In the past, Japanese historical dramas(Jidai-geki) were shot on locations such as Himeji-jo Castle (exterior), Daikaku-ji Temple and Osawa-no-Ike Pond, and the approach to Myoshin-ji Temple in Kyoto.
Shoshazan Engyo-ji Temple, known as the filming location of "The Last Samurai," is also located in Himeji.

Why don't you tell us which cities you intend to visit and we can make suggestions on places close by

I agree with the Chiran village being lovely, but also it's important to know what areas the OP is considering.

If you do consider Chiran, remember it is a good distance from Kagoshima, already the southern most end of the Shinkansen. Definitely more accessible by car, but I did do the trip without. Recommend choosing a nice day, and going to the Tokko museum first, then the samurai village is a long but downhill walk. As buses are so infrequent, I did end up taking a rare taxi trip to a train station to get back to Kagoshima.

Have you seen the movie 'The Last Samurai'? There are lots of famous movie shots in Kyoto and also in Himeji. I would highly recommend going on the mountain top at Himeji where you can find the temple that they filmed in the movie. It takes a cable car to get up there, but worth it, not to mention an incredible view.

I wonder if you have visited the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum (Nihon Minka-En), which is way in the outskirts of Greater Tokyo.
https://www.nihonminkaen.jp/

Since "samurai" is a word that represents high-rank officials of the ancient era, it tends to lead you to castles and walled mansions. But it seems to me that you're more interested in the misfits that ended up in everyday atmosphere.

The Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum is like a big hill full of real folk houses that were relocated there to be preserved. These houses include inns that samurai rank would stay at. I was amused to hear from a volunteer guide that a room I was standing in was designed for horses so that the traveler could secretly stay there, if you know what I mean.

It's no Disneyland. It's just an extremely vast place where you can spend a whole day walking around on dirt like you're visiting real (but empty) homes. There is only one restaurant in the whole area, and there are a lot of areas where you find yourself all alone. You can enter from one end and exit another after exploring a real-life outdoor kabuki theater building.
https://www.nihonminkaen.jp/access.html
https://cdn.360-architecture.com/360/japan-folk-house/

It seems that there now is a Guided Tour in English you can book for yourself.
https://www.nihonminkaen.jp/guided_tours.html

You can also see footages here.
https://www.nihonminkaen.jp/index/movie.html

Highly recommended for anyone who are interested in old architecture and folk culture but not looking for typical theme-park attraction.

Kakunodate and Chiran are both very nice, and when we went there they weren't very busy. However, they're both a long way from anywhere else, unless you're in that region anyway as part of a broader trip (and there are many reasons to do that).

Matsue was also pleasant, and there's plenty of other things there to see also.

Nomura-Ke Samurai Residence located in Kanazawa's Nagamachi district. Also not entirely "Samurai" related, but Myouryuji ("Ninjadera") is a very cool place to visit in Kanazawa. It is a residence that has a bunch of hidden passageways/ traps to fool invaders. It was built as a place to shelter/ protect the Shogunate. It was given the nickname "Ninjadera" because of the tricks in its architecture, but has nothing to do with Ninjas.

You can also search online for places related to James Clavell's Shogun/ FX's Shogun (TV adaptation). I think there is a village somewhere that has a James Clavell or William Adams (real life person John Blackthorne is based on) festival.

Would u like this?
https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/nakasendo/