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Find out more about central Japan's Samurai and Ninja culture
During the Warring States period in Japan, the late 15th to late-16th century, many military commanders in Japan battled to unify the country. Some of the most powerful samurai were from central Japan. From among these powerful samurai, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, known as the three great heroes, became the ultimate champions of the warring states period and brought peace to Japan.
Ninja who worked alongside them as specialists in information gathering and battle, and together they left their mark on Japanese history. Many of the castles, mansions, and roads they used are waiting for you in central Japan, keeping the atmosphere of those days alive and well today. Travel to the center of samurai and ninja history in central Japan, a short step away from Chubu International Airport.
Popular tourist destinations in Central Japan, filmed using Matterport and 360-degree cameras. Sites include the World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go and the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum. Experience samurai and ninja tourist destinations in VR from the comfort of home.
Shirakawago
Ninja Museum of Igaryu (in Ueno Park)
Zenkoji
Inuyama Castle
Hikone Castle
Central Japan’s samurai, ninja, culture, and history
Samurai is a general term for warriors — mainly military soldiers — who existed from the 10th century through until the 19th century. These warriors served under commanders known as busho, and the Central Japan region is famous for having produced many notable military commanders.
Ninja collectively refers to fighters whose primary responsibility was to carry out intelligence-gathering and sabotage operations. In the Central Japan region, there are three major schools of secret ninja arts: Iga-ryu, Koka-ryu, and Togakure-ryu. There are various facilities scattered throughout each area where visitors can become a ninja through “Ninja Experiences” such as shuriken (throwing star) and archery training, as well as see live demonstrations of secret ninja arts close-up.
The Central Japan region is home to three castles designated as national treasures: Matsumoto Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Hikone Castle. The original keeps of these castles remain intact, preserved for hundreds of years. You can experience Japan’s past, going back in time over 400 years, in their historical castle town streets, as well as along the major roads which connected the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto at that time.
In the age of the Samurai, the Nakasendo acted as an important highway linking Edo and Kyoto. Take a trip from Matsumoto to a post town steeped in Japanese tradition.
Centrair is the gateway to “SAMURAI × NINJA”. Travel to various areas around Central Japan, basing yourself in Nagoya
Learn more about samurai and ninja
Find out more about central Japan's Samurai and Ninja culture
Centrair as the gateway to Central Japan region is making an efford to introduce the rich history of Central Japan to international visitors.
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