We have selected the best ninja experiences in Kyoto and listed them below. For groups and families, we recommend The Samurai & Ninja Museum’s ninja experience which costs approximately 2400 JPY and lasts 1 hour. If you are traveling solo and have a car, then, you may want to try the Koga ninja village in the Mie Prefecture.

#1 – KYOTO SAMURAI & NINJA MUSEUM

samurai sword lesson

At the Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto, you will find some of the best ninja experiences in Japan. By paying 2400 JPY,  you can throw ninja stars, use a ninja blowgun, watch a samurai sword show, dress up like a samurai warrior, and join the English guided tour about ninja history. You can also wear a full ninja uniform if you join the family ninja training plan.

Samurai & Ninja Museum’s ninja plan is the cheapest and most popular in Kyoto based on online reviews. All classes and the museum come with hundreds of five-star reviews on Trip Advisor.

At the Samurai and Ninja Museum, you can wear the traditional ninja uniform and learn how to use the weapons that made the ninja feared throughout Japan. Learn how to throw shurikens stars and use a ninja blowgun before discovering the discipline involved in handling a samurai sword. This is particularly fun if you are traveling as a big group.

You can book your ninja experience in advance by visiting the Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto websiteThe location is near the historic Nishiki Food Market,  walking distance from Gion and the Nijo Castle. Classes are available for all age groups. You can get directions from Google maps here.

The Samurai and Ninja Museum has amazing ninja instructors. Whatever your age or physical abilities, you will have a good time learning the history of the ninja and practicing with some of the weapons they used. This is a fantastic activity for children and those adults that would like to indulge in childhood fantasies.

  • Hours: 10:30 ~ 20:30
  • Full ticket including ninja experience: 2400 JPY (Around 22 USD)
  • Location: Near Nishiki Market, a 2-minute walk from the Kawaramachi Subway Station. Near Shinkyogoku Shopping Street.
  • Telephone (English OK):  075-585-5410
  • email (English OK): samurai@mai-ko.com
  • Tripadvisor reviews

 

# 2 NINJA KYOTO RESTAURANT

Update: The Ninja Kyoto Restaurant was closed on 12/31/2018. The location is near the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum. 

At Ninja Kyoto, you will find a more relaxed ninja experience. The entire Ninja Kyoto entertainment complex is dedicated to the ninja. You will discover ninja-themed restaurants where your ninja waiter will come and perform tricks at your table.

There is a theater where you will find stunning acrobatics performed by highly trained ninjas. This entertaining show lasts for about two hours and has something for all the family. Including wire walking, fire blowing, and stunning projections.

Ninja Kyoto Restaurant

The Ninja Kyoto Restaurant complex has an excellent selection of restaurants ranging from buffet-style canteens to fine dining. At some of the restaurants, you can even learn how to prepare your own Ramen.

The entire Ninja Kyoto Restaurant complex is excellent fun for all of the family. As there are lots of interactive attractions and games for children.

 

#3 The NINJA DOJO KYOTO

The Ninja Training Dojo Kyoto

The Ninja Dojo Kyoto is suitable for adults with real metal ninja weapons. You will learn how to handle samurai swords and daggers. As well as learning the meditation techniques that allowed a ninja to strike with deadly silence and precision.

At The Ninja Training Dojo Kyoto, you can book an experience that will last from one hour to one full day. It is a bit challenging to find this hidden dojo as it is located on the second floor of an office building. The Ninja Dojo costs about $100 per session.

  • Hours: The first lesson is at 10 AM, the last lesson is at 5 PM
  • Full ticket including ninja experience: 12,000 JPY (Around 110 USD)
  • Location: 2-minute walk from the Karasuma subway station.
  • Telephone:  075-585-5410
  • Reviews

 

#4 TOEI KYOTO STUDIO PARK

Kyoto Studio Park has a variety of studios. There is a lot more to this experience than practicing the ancient art of the Japanese ninja. At the Kyoto Studio Park, you will find a wide selection of activities suitable for all the family.  Toei Kyoto is a working film studio. This is where many drama and ninja films are made. Most of the studios are open to the public, allowing you to explore some of the many movie sets. Many of these sets resemble the traditional ninja villages of a bygone era.

The only problem with the place is it has a steep entry fee (2200 jpy) and you have to pay for ninja experiences and shows separately. It is also located in Uzumasa City a bit outside of central Kyoto.

  • Hours: 09:00 ~ 17:00
  • Entry Ticket only: 2200 JPY (Around 20 USD), about 10 USD additional fee for each experience or show
  • Location: You can only go there by bus or by taxi.  10 Uzumasa Higashihachiokachō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8161
  • Telephone:  075-864-7716
  • Reviews

 

#5 IGA NINJA MUSEUM

 

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum, Iga, Japan, Photo by blackest event 

Besides the ninja museum in Kyoto, there is another ninja museum in the region named The Ninja Museum of Igaryu. The place is located in Iga City, also known as the birthplace of the ninja tradition. It takes about 2 hours from Kyoto one way and you can go there by train.
Being located next to the Iga Uena castle this small ninja village attracts some attention among locals. You can see the ninja trick house and old ninja shurikens if you pay a visit.
There is also Koga ninja village where you can enjoy some ninja activities with Japanese locals. Koga is known as the real ninja town. The “Koka Ninja Village” is about 2.5 hours from Kyoto.
  • Hours: 09:00 ~ 17:00
  • Entry Ticket only: 800 JPY (Around 7 USD), no ninja experience or tour included.
  • Location: It takes about 2 hours by train from the downtown Kyoto area. 117 Uenomarunouchi, Iga, Mie 518-0873
  • Telephone: 0595-23-0311

 

#6 NINJA VR KYOTO

Ninja VR experience is a shop located in the arcade of the Higashiyama district. The venue is geared toward Japanese and specializes in the VR experience. You can put on the VR headset and play ninja VR games for about 30 minutes.

  • Hours: 11:00 ~ 20:00
  • Entry Ticket: 5500 JPY (Around 50 USD)
  • Location: Walking distance from the Sanjo train station. 
  • Telephone:  075-864-7716
  • Reviews

 

#7 WARAKU EXPERIENCE

The waraku sword experience is geared toward adults who want to use a metal sword and cut tatami rolls while wearing a hakama.

  • Hours: 10:00 ~ 17:00
  • Entry Ticket:  13000 JPY (Around 120 USD)
  • Location: Walking distance from the Omiya train station. 
  • Telephone:  080-4265-3100
  • Reviews

One of the most exhilarating experiences in Kyoto is spending the day as a ninja because there used to be actual ninjas hired by the rival samurai clans residing in Kyoto. Nowadays, you can throw ninja stars and learn the stealth moves used by the world’s most deadly assassins. A Kyoto ninja experience can last a few hours or a full day.   If you have time and budget you can take long intensive lessons, if you are visiting as a group or family then you may want to visit The Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience in the downtown area where you will learn the sacred arts that allowed Japans most feared assassins to step in silence and strike with deadly accuracy.

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