Samurai Sword Cutting Experience in Kyoto – Tameshigiri

Samurai test-cutting tameshigiri experience in Kyoto (Tameshigiri). Use a real samurai sword and feel like a samurai.

Your childhood dream now comes true. You will be wearing a hakama or samurai armor (only available at the samurai and ninja museum) and use a real samurai sword to cut tatami mats. This centuries-old samurai practice is called Tameshigiri. It was born as a form of martial arts since the samurai always had to train to perfect their skills especially during the time of peace. Test cutting is used to check both the quality of a samurai sword and also the sophistication of the sword using skills of the samurai. There are many different materials to test the quality of cuts including thin steel, rice straws and tatami mats. In this experience you will use a material shown in the picture (tatami mats made out of bamboo).

• • Use a real samurai sword
  • Short sword lesson and sword practice included
  • Dress up like a samurai (you will put on a traditional hakama like a samurai)
    
  • Chop the tatami mat 
  • Once in a lifetime experience
  • Feel like a real samurai
  • Free tour of the samurai and ninja museum included 
  • Ninja experience included
  • Convenient location in the Downtown area right by the Nishiki Market

Click the NEXT button see all the pictures from this sword cutting experience.

This activity takes place inside the Kyoto samurai  & ninja museum (rated #1 museum in Kyoto) that is located right next to the Nishiki Market. You get a free guided tour of the samurai museum that is full of ancient artifacts, authentic samurai swords and tons of replica armors from the feudal Japan. You also get a tour of the ninja exhibitions. Being Japan’s largest experiential museum, the venue also provides kimono and yukata experiences, tea ceremony services and zen meditation services in case you have a friend or a family member who is coming along. You can have this experience on any day of the year.  Don’t forget to check out our samurai and ninja gift shop the only English-speaking place in downtown Kyoto that sells real samurai swords, replica swords, and antique samurai armors. We don’t make you just cut the tatami mat with a sword, we make you feel like a samurai and learn everything about the samurai culture and history. Come step into the ancient Japan and become a samurai for a day.

Sword display at the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum

※Minimum age 15 (There is no height requirement for those older than 18 years of age. If you age between 15~18, you must be at least 150 cm tall to participate in this experience and parental supervision is necessary.)

Review

SAMURAI & NINJA MUSEUM with EXPERIENCE

4.7

Jonathan Handke

10:31 17 Mar 20

It’s a must visit if you’re in Kyoto. The guides are absolutely amazing and speak good English. They even have a fully fledged samurai which gives you a brief show with his katana!read more

Edmund Rosewright

10:41 10 Mar 20

This was a great experience for my family and I. We got to wear armor, play with weapons, and learn alot about Japanese history. Everything was in English. Our tour guide Yuko was enthusiastic and awesome. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Kyoto as a tourist.read more

Adly Almanzo Adnan

06:48 02 Mar 20

An excellent experience I would recommend. Not just for those with interest in samurai and ninja but to learn about Japan's history with the samurai in general! Trying on the armour was an IG-worthy moment and I actually learnt a lot about ninja and samurai! 2 thumbs up!read more

Kelly Moore

02:22 11 Feb 20

Worth every penny!!! My partner and I did the value pack. First, we were dressed in traditional Japanese attire (kimono), then we attended a traditional tea ceremony. After that, we were dressed in samurai gear, learned about their history, and then learned about ninjas and threw ninja stars. At the end, we observed a professional swordsman. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and funny, and hospitable. Our favorite part was the tea ceremony. The hostess was absolutely incredible. Book your visit online ahead of time, and make sure you know if you need to go to the museum or the tea ceremony first. They're only about 5 min apart by walk. Be careful- the museum is mixed in with a large, lively market. We actually showed up a few minutes late because we didn't fully prepare to find the place in all the hustle. Both places have maps to help you get to the other location. Please don't pass this up!read more

Stephanie Hunt

05:51 16 Jan 20

Loved this experience! Great balance of information and history, dressing up as samurai was fun and trying to throw ninja stars and blow darts was awesome. Reasonably priced and we didn't have to wait at all. Took about an hour all up.read more

J C

21:24 14 Jan 20

Great place to learn about the history of the samurai & ninja. A great place to entertain the kids too as we got to dress up and practice throwing ninja stars and blow darts. We were also lucky to see a martial arts demonstration. Spent a couple of hours here.Glad we came here before visiting the palace.read more

Kianosh Keyvani

23:38 05 Jan 20

My husband and I had so much fun here. We chose the tatami mat cutting package. Sensei was patient and encouraging in teaching us how to use a katana and some basic techniques. The rest of the staff were really friendly and informative in samurai history as they walked us through the artifacts. It was just a great experience.read more

Isaac Petrie

05:24 03 Jan 20

The guide was fantastic and we had a great time. It was really informative. Throwing shuriken, blowing darts and dressing as a samurai was a blast. Would recommend.read more

Nikita Gohil

04:21 25 Dec 19

An incredible experience! Got to witness proper samurai fighting and even attempt to try on samurai gear ourselves! We got to throw ninja stars and try blow darts too! The history tour was also very educating and entertaining. Also the staff was very friendly!read more

Brett Vannier

13:55 07 Dec 19

Doesn't look like much from the outside, don't be fooled. This place is awesome and worth every penny. I paid extra to cut tatami mat with a real sword. It was a legit 300 year old samurai sword. They are also extremely English friendly.read more

Natalie Golding

18:47 07 Oct 19

A lighthearted introduction to Japan's alluring history of samurai and ninjas. As well as sorting the fact from the fiction using a combination of written and spoken guides. The lovely guide we had also introduced the group to some of the lesser known elements of Japanese feudal history before we were all treated to a display from a samurai and then hands on ninja lessons (including throwing stars and blowpipes!) A tongue-in-cheek experience, but genuinely interesting for kids and adults alike - a great rainy day experience.read more

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