Samurai & Ninja Museum Basic Ticket

Due to the covid-19 situation, we recommend you make a reservation in advance if you are interested in the experience at Samurai Ninja Museum.

The Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto is a unique, experience-based museum that lets you get up close and personal with history. Our basic ticket lets you experience being a samurai and a ninja for a day with fun-filled activities for the whole family!

We make sure that our activities and displays have a little something for everybody, from kids to adults and Japanese history enthusiasts. The tours and activities are hosted by our friendly museum guides in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

Book with us online to reserve a slot now!

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 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 Samurai & Ninja Museum tour is available all year-round in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

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The Samurai Experience

The samurais may have disappeared or integrated into the modern age of Japan, but their legacy lives on. Experience their legendary tales through the tours guided by the knowledgeable staff at our museum! Not only that, but you’ll also get a glimpse of what it was like to be one of the most prestigious ruling classes of old Japan. Bear the honor of the samurai as you learn how to hold and sheath a katana, just like the samurai and their two swords – one for the enemy, and one for their honorable punishment.

You will be trying out a lightweight replica armor! This can easily be worn by kids and everyone in the family with no problem. The armors are meant to fit multiple sizes and are easily adjustable. You will also be putting on a metal samurai helmet and use a model katana sword!

This experience is the perfect opportunity to take pictures to take home as a souvenir from your trip.

Don’t miss an amazing performance by a swordmaster descended from a samurai clan! Here, you’ll get to admire the graceful and deadly dance performed by the samurai during battles and practices. You may also catch a recreational performance depicting a fight scene against the samurais and ninjas.

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The Ninja Experience

Embody the thrill of being one of the famously mysterious covert agents in medieval Japan! The ninjas are some of the most intimidating and formidable characters from the Sengoku Period or the Warring Stated Period to the Edo Period. The traditions and practices of the ninjas may have lost their glory days, but the Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto keeps the history alive.

Just like in the movies, our ninja experience lets you try out the famous ninja stars! Also known as shuriken, these are small hand blades that are used for throwing. But don’t worry – our ninja stars are perfectly safe.

The second part of your experience will also include using the ninja blowgun, also known as the fukiya. These can also be referred to as blow darts! You can have a friendly competition among your group during a target practice game too.

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All of the rooms and exhibits at the Samurai & Ninja Museum are designed to embody 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. Our armors come in unisex styles and a variety of sizes for everyone, including children!

The Samurai & Ninja Kyoto 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.

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A Brief History of the Samurai

The samurai are known as the best warriors in the world in their time, and stories about them still circulate to this day, staying as one of the most popular aspects of Japanese history and culture. These warriors were known for their bravery, military tactical prowess, and the “Bushido” or code of honor.

The samurai class rose to power around the 11th century, leading to the feudal age of Japan. They held control over the country and the Imperial court as one of the most powerful and intimidating classes until the abolishment of the feudal system in 1868. Since then, the samurai culture has greatly influenced modern Japanese society, with ideals of honor, respect, and loyalty deeply ingrained into ordinary everyday lives.

The samurai were known to wield a variety of weapons from bows and arrows to swords. One of the most well-known weapons of the samurai is the katana. The katana is an unrivaled quality sword and considered the most deadly and efficient weapon during battle. And although the weapons evolved throughout the time periods, the samurai kept the katana close, believing that it held the soul of the bearer. They also carried a short sword or knife known as a tachi. Wearing a katana and a tachi combination was called daisho, which became the hallmark of the Samurai.  The two swords represented the path of the samurai: The katana was the symbol for fighting a righteous battle, and the tachi was a reminder of personal honor.

As the samurai class dissolved into modern society, their previous skills and education were passed through generations. This lead to the creation of some of the most successful Japanese companies and industries. Tactical skills were applied to managerial positions, and practical skills directly influenced the high-quality manufactured goods in the country. One of the most notable products is the unrivaled Japanese knife, which applied the same techniques and methods as when the katanas were made.

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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.

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All of the activities are held at the Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto under the supervision of our watchful staff to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

The Samurai and Ninja Museum is located in central Kyoto, right by the famous and historical Nishiki Market in the Gion District.

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FAQs

Check out our other workshops and classes!

Samurai Sword Cutting Experience in Kyoto: Tameshigiri

Samurai Sword Experience for Kids and Families (Ninja experience and Museum Tour included)

Ninja Experience in Kyoto for Kids and Families (Wear Full Ninja Outfit)

Ninja Cooking Class For Kids & Families in Osaka with a Souvenir