Your teacher is ISAO MACHII, a worldwide celebrity who appeared on History Channel, Discovery channel, dozens of documentaries, and TV programs both in Japan and outside of Japan. As cited on Wikipedia he holds several Guinness Records “including “Most martial arts katana cuts to one mat (suegiri)”, “Fastest 1,000 martial arts sword cuts”, “Most sword cuts to straw mats in three minutes”, and “Fastest tennis ball (820 km/h) cut by sword”. He will teach you the sword fighting skills in addition to Aikido moves that help you become better at martial arts. You have a chance of taking a picture with him after the lesson.
Itinerary
18:00 Arrival at the museum (We are located in downtown Kyoto; walking distance from Gion and Nishiki Market)
18:00 Taking a history tour (optional, included in the reservation fee)
18:30 Ninja experience and armor trial (optional, included in the reservation fee)
18:45 Putting on the traditional samurai outfit
19:00 Private 1-hour Lesson with Machii sensei
20:00 Picture taking and finish
PS: Machii sensei will teach you basic sword techniques by using a bokuto (wooden katana), and also some aikido moves. Since this is a private lesson, you can kindly request if there are specific techniques you’d like to practice. Machii-sensei speaks limited English, there will be an interpreter to make sure everything goes smoothly.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A hands on lesson about the basics of iaido. I aido is a form of martial arts that increases self-awareness and teaches the techniques of responding to a sudden attack by a sword
A free tour of Samurai and Ninja Museum of Japan Kyoto
Wearing a hakama or kimono
Wearing a samurai outfit and samurai helmet (included in your ticket price)
Posing with swords in front of a studio or samura-themed backgrounds
Ninja star throw and blow gun experience
Not Included
Transportation to/from attractions
Maps
Organizer
Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum
The Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto is one of the leading samurai museums in Japan, with a wide range of displays from all throughout Japan’s rich history. We are the only experience-based museum that specializes in providing in-depth and immersive activities that provide our visitors with new perspectives on Japanese history.We have displays ranging from armors and weapons of the great samurai warriors and the mystical ninjas to everyday tools and artifacts from medieval and ancient Japan. Our souvenir gift shop features replica swords, tabi socks, and tabi shoes. We provide guided tours every day, lead by friendly staff who are fluent in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Join us as you explore the glorious history of the legendary samurais and the mysterious ninjas!
