KYOTO
Kyoto’s most-loved days out.
The 15 most popular samurai & ninja experiences in Kyoto. What each one involves, how long it runs, what it costs, and who you book with.
Practice samurai sword basics in a Kyoto house, try on a kimono, learn Bushido, and finish with Zen meditation in a small group.
Most Popular“My husband and our son had a great time at this class. They both had lots of fun spending quality time together. Thank you 🙏🏻 highly recommended.”
Practice kendo like a samurai in a 100-year Kyoto machiya. Suit up, learn safe sword basics, spar, and get photos and videos.
“Amazing activity!! Taka did an amazing job with the explanation and the experience! He has a great energy and explains everything with patience and happiness! 100% recommend coming here and doing it!”
Learn Kenbu in Kyoto with a small-group samurai sword class, costume photo session, and a bonus sword-dance performance.
“I liked Kazu and his attitude, you could pick your costume and practice very beautiful and interesting culture. The show was even more captivating as the masters showed the moves. Highly recommend it even for those who think that they are not into swords and fighting. Because this is art and it gives you a…”
Skip the lines at Kyoto’s Samurai Ninja Museum for a 1-hour guided, hands-on intro to samurai and ninja culture, with armor and shuriken.
“The museum was fantastic! It was a short and fun experience. If you are a history or samurai enthusiast I highly recommend it. Our guide Saku was great friendly and energetic!”
A 1-hour Kyoto dojo ninja lesson with outfit rental, meditation basics, and hands-on throwing and sword practice in a small group.
“We had a blast. When we first signed up, we thought it might be a little cheesy but once you get in there and they help you put on your ninja outfit you can start to tell that this is actually going to be fun. They allow you to throw multiple different types of weapons…”
Forge a Kyoto ninja shuriken or kunai in 150 minutes with real steel, kanji engraving, blackening, and a take-home box.
“This was fascinating. We had never done anything remotely like this before and it was so cool coming away with your own item at the end that you forged yourself!”
Kyoto’s Samurai Kenbu sword-dancing show blends English storytelling, katana technique, and a short hands-on lesson near Sanjo for $32.
“It was amazing. We got to discover Kenbu with different type of performances, and we also learn the basic stances and wielded the katana. It is very worth it and impressive. The price is good. The explanation were great. Well done !”
Train in Kyoto’s real samurai dojo with modern Musashi-style instruction, practice katana drawing and kata, then watch a two-katana display.
“I have learned the safety of how to handle the Samurai Sword, the history of it and what it was used for and who was able to use the Samurai swords. The training was very informative and fun. Our senses was very friendly and informative and very knowledgeable. A lot of important information on Samurai…”
Small-group ninja training in Kyoto with Kuji-In meditation, breathing and weapon skills, plus ninja outfits and same-day photos.
“Amazing experience! Kids had so much fun and the instructor was awesome. It was a lot of hands on. My kids are 10,8,6 and it was so cool.”
Train at a Kyoto dojo to learn samurai bowing and sword-draw basics, try costume photos, and optionally extend into kenbu stage choreography.
“This was a great activity. They did an awesome job explaining some of the history of the samurai. We learned a few basic sword moves. Everyone got dressed as a samurai and took some photos. And finished with watching a performanRead more”
Private tea ceremony in a 300-year-old Kyoto samurai house, plus matcha and sake or whisky tasting, with kimono and katana photos.
“The tea ceremony was beautiful and meditative. Such an incredible cultural experience that was definitely the highlight of our trip. The sake tasting afterwards was really great as well. We did the kimonos as well which I highly recommend! We loved that it was a private experience where you could relax, enjoy, and ask any…”
Kyoto Samurai Sword Experience at the Samurai Ninja Museum: Iaido with a safe replica, ninja star throwing, and museum tour ticket included.
“Great experience! We we to a sword training (good for pictures, very basic), went through the samurai museum, threw ninja stars, and took photos in samurai gear. A great time!”
Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum guided tour with samurai dress-up, real helmet, shuriken throwing, and English commentary in a small group.
“Akiko is an amazing guide. The museum is fantastic!”
A family-friendly ninja and samurai workshop in Kyoto with hands-on shuriken and blowgun practice plus a museum tour.
“the instructors were nice but we were sold a 75 minute experience but it only lasted 40 minutes . Not really an authentic experience by any stretch of the imagination. Definitely not good value for money”
Watch Kembu sword-performance in downtown Kyoto, then try moves and take photos with performers holding a sword and fan.
“The staff was so friendly and made this experience so fun. The whole room was cracking up from laughter at their jokes.”
Every district, every season, and every way to see the old capital.
