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

Put on a traditional samurai outfit and wield a katana just like a real samurai! This is the only samurai sword experience in Kyoto where you get hands-on experience, unlike costume play. Come join us and fulfill your childhood dream of being a samurai!

The Kyoto sword-fighting lesson is offered every day except Tuesday.

The Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto is a unique, experience-based museum that lets you get up close and personal with history. Our special Samurai Sword Experience for Kids and Families lets you and your family become modern-day samurais-in-training for a day!

Book with us online to reserve a slot now!

What happens during the Samurai Sword Experience?

You will be given a hakama, a traditional uniform for the samurai to train in, and begin your sword lessons once you are ready. The lesson will be headed by an experienced swordmaster.

The class starts with a simple grip and posture check as a basic step and to ensure your safety. After this, you will be going through a series of poses and gestures that are used for certain techniques. Some portions of the lesson will be repetitive for you to build up your strength until you are ready for a more advanced session.

If you’d like, you can also dress like a ninja instead without any additional fee!

What happens during the tour?

• Go through the samurai and ninja exhibits while our knowledgeable tour guide will tell you all about the displays, from the technical aspects to the wonderful stories that these items carried in their past lives. Ask all the questions you have about the displays and learn about the histories of the samurais and ninjas and when they started. You’ll also learn about how the weapons, armor, and other tools are made.
• Enjoy an interactive tour where you will get to learn trivia and fascinating facts about Japanese history and culture.
• Experience history like never before as you try on full samurai armor and pose with a sword – like the pictures of our past guests! You will even get a selection of varied replica swords to choose from.
• Discover your ninja skills and talent as you throw shuriken stars, chopsticks, and use a blowgun in a friendly target practice game.
• Catch a sword demonstration show by a sword master descended from a samurai! 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.

All of the activities are included in this package without additional fees. Book with us online to confirm your reservation!

The samurais and ninjas have long been intertwined with Kyoto throughout history, from the early Heian Period to the fall of their rule at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The remarkable legends of Japan’s ancient and medieval warriors are brought back to life at the Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto!

Get up close and personal with history as you explore the glory days of the legendary samurais and mystical ninjas that have once roamed the streets of Kyoto.

Try out an immersive experience with us and wear full samurai armor and find your edge in target practice with ninja shuriken throwing stars and blow darts!

Kyoto sword cutting experience tameshigiri

Are you more interested in using a real samurai sword? Try out our tameshigiri or sword-cutting workshop!

Click here to book Samurai Sword Cutting Experience – Tameshigiri!

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.

Interested in more in-depth samurai workshops, ninja training and tea ceremonies? Check out our other events here!

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 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.

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.

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.

Book a ticket now to skip the lines!

Don’t forget to take photos of your memorable experience and adventures with us!

The Samurai & Ninja Museum is a family-friendly establishment that provides enjoyable activities for people of all ages!

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.

Skip the lines and book Samurai and Ninja Ticket with us online!

Simply fill up the form at the top of this page to schedule a tour and wait for a confirmation email from us. We hope to see you soon!

Need to cancel or reschedule? 

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

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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