Ninja Experience in Tokyo (Family & Kid Friendly)

About Samurai & Ninja tour

Explore our collection of ancient artifacts and historical samurai swords and ninja weapons from feudal Japan. You will even get up-close looks at the uncanny replicas inspired by the Sengoku Period up to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The  TOKYO SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM is Japan’s largest experimental museum and offers unique experiences where you can tour around the medieval exhibits while wearing a kimono, yukata, or samurai armor – a fitting combination for the time period you’ll be exploring. Aside from this, there are also authentic Japanese tea ceremonies and Zen meditation workshops available for individuals and groups. The Tokyo Samurai Museum with Experience tour is available all year-round in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
The true ninjas of old Japan may have disappeared in today’s society but the stories and legends of their deeds live on. Experience what it was like for these covert agents through the tours guided by our knowledgeable staff at the Tokyo Samurai Museum with Experience Tokyo!

All of the rooms and exhibits at the  TOKYO SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM are designed in the styles of the Sengoku Period, also known as the Warring States Period in Japan. This era was the time when the samurai held extraordinary power over the politics in the country, enough to eventually trigger the reunification of Japan. Your adventure with us will transform you and your friends and family into a modern rendition of the ancient legendary warriors.

The  TOKYO SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM also hosts its activities outside the museum upon request. All you need to do is contact us so we can arrange for our affiliated dojos! Don’t forget to check out the museum gift shop for a souvenir. There are also antique samurai swords and armor for sale if you’re an avid collector, along with ninja tabi-socks.

A Brief History of the Ninja

The ninjas, also called shinobi, were covert agents, spies, and mercenaries during the feudal periods in Japan in the 15th century and as early as the 12th century. They were tasked to perform espionage, surprise attacks, and undercover warfare which was deemed beneath the honor of the samurai, the ruling class at the time.

The ninjas, unlike the samurai, were normally common folk or farmers by day who were hired as mercenaries and spies at night. The lack of records of their origins along with their undercover work gained the ninjas a reputation of being mysterious enough that rumors believed that they possessed supernatural powers and abilities. Folklores along with popular media even portray the ninjas as being able to fly, become invisible, walk on water, shapeshift, and even be able to control the elements of nature.

The existing records of the ninjas were only passed down through generations, and any historical records are extremely rare! Ninjas were typically born into the tradition, carrying on the secrets and missions of their predecessors.

Their training starts from childhood, similar to the samurai. However, the samurai follow the Bushido code of honor while the ninjas did not have any such thing.

There were two clans, the Iga and Koga clans in the modern-day Mie Prefecture that had entire villages dedicated to training professional ninjas. They were so good at what they do that the great Oda Nobunaga marked the Iga clan as a threat and almost completely wiped the area.

A famous ninja, Hattori Hanzo, was one of the ninjas from the Iga clan who survived and became a bodyguard for Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Fun facts about the Ninja

• The only way to become a ninja was to be born in Iga or Koga clans.
• Ninjas could tell the time by just looking at a cat’s eyes.
• Ninjas used the fukiya or blowgun tubes as snorkels when they have to hide in the rivers or lakes
• Recovered ninja manuals focused on avoiding detection and how to escape if captured. Most ninja skills and training were passed down from generation to generation and started at an early age.
• Ninjas had vegetarian diets to avoid having body odor.
• Some parts of ninja education consist of physical training, martial arts, climbing techniques, and castle infiltration.
• Rumors and folklore believe that ninjas could walk on water!