Ninja
Meet Ninja at a Ninja Village
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.
ASHURA -
The Iga Ninja
Group
Ninja Museum of Igaryu［Mie Prefecture/Iga City]
ASHURA is a ninja corps that has clocked up more than 1,200 live action performances at the Ninja Museum of Iga-ryu. Featuring shuriken, sword-fighting, and kusarigama (sickle-and-chain), the tremendous excitement of their stage shows have you on their edge of your seat!
- Place: Ninja Museum of Igaryu (in Ueno Park)
An approx. 10-minute walk from Iga Railway Ueno-shi Station - Please see the Ninja Museum of Iga-ryu’s official website.
*There is a 500 yen admission fee to the show in addition to the museum admission fee.
What is Iga-ryu?
Iga-ryu is one of the most famous schools of secret Ninja arts. Unlike Koka-ryu Ninja, its practitioners do not serve one specific master but rather prefer to take a similar role to that of mercenaries, operating under contract.
Ninja Museum of Igaryu
Iga-ryu Ninja House
At Iga-ryu Ninja House, Ninja and Kunoichi (female Ninja) guide visitors around the house, showing and demonstrating various hidden traps and tricks.
Exhibition facilities
Here a variety of items are on display, including tools and weapons ingeniously crafted by Ninja and Ninjutsu texts crystalizing Ninja knowledge and know-how.
- Admission fees: Adults (High School Students and above) 800 yen/ Children (4 years of age to Junior High School Students) 500 yen
- Opening hours: Weekday 10:00–16:00 (Last entry15:30)
Saturdays and Sundays and Public holidays 10:00-16:30 (Last entry 16:00)
Popular Murai Banko-en Sweets Ninja Parfait
Operated by a Japanese tea store, this café features Japanese sweets. Make with top-quality matcha green tea and green tea ice cream, the “Ninja Parfait” is hugely popular! Perhaps good fortune will come your way when you meet Cha-Cha the Ninja cat?!!?
Ninja Drive-in
Cute Ninja mascot Nin-nyan is here to welcome you! The souvenir shops also sell a wide selection of Ninja goods that you could only find in the hometown of Iga-ryu Ninjas.
Nikaku Shokudo
This casual restaurant serves a rich variety of Ninja-themed set meals.
Ikezawa-yu Udon Noodle Shop
This noodle shop features a Ninja-themed menu and lots of Ninja tricks!
Iga-ryu Ninja Shop
This shop sells authentic Ninja goods.
Iga Dento Denshokan
Try your hand at making Iga Kumi-himo (braided cord), a traditional craft that is also used in Ninjutsu.
Koka-ryu Ninja
［Shiga Prefecture/Koka City]
Shinobi-no-Sato Koka
Like its neighbor Iga City, Koka City in Shiga Prefecture is known as a “Ninja homeland”. The city is dotted with facilities and leisure spots with connections to Koka-ryu Ninja.
What is Koka-ryu?
Koka-ryu Ninja became famous for their role in the Magari-no-Jin campaign during the Onin War (1467–1477)—which forced the Shogunate army to withdraw—in the service of the Rokkaku Clan, which had constabulary authority over mainly the southern region of Omi Province. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), some Koka-ryu Ninja scattered throughout Japan.
Koka Ninja Village
( Koka Ninja Museum )
Located in Koka Ninja Village, this museum displays representative Ninja weapons such as shuriken (throwing blades). Koka Ninja Village also provides a range of other attractions including a Ninja training hall and shuriken training hall.
- Admission fees: Adults 1,100 yen / Children 800 yen
- Opening hours: 10:00–16:00 (varies according to the season)
Koka Ninja House
The former resident of an actual Ninja, this authentic Ninja house is full of ingenious hidden traps and tricks that have been preserved to this day. Here you can experience and touch devices that were actually used in the past as well as solve riddles. Try your hand at shuriken (throwing blades) or dress-up in Ninja costumes!
- Admission fees: Adults 600 yen / Children 400 yen
- Opening hours: 9:00–17:00
Togakushi
Ninja Museum・
Togakushi
Folk Museum・
Ninja Trick Mansion
［Nagano Prefecture/Nagano City]
Discover numerous hidden tricks and escape from the mansion! On the mansion’s grounds are also the Togakure-ryu Ninja Museum, Shuriken Dojo (throwing blade training hall), and various other facilities.
- Three Museum Admission Fee: Adults 650 yen / Children 450 yen
- Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed during winter)
What is Togakure-ryu?
Alongside Iga-ryu and Koka-ryu, Togakure-ryu is one of the three major schools of secret Ninja arts. This school is characterized by its focus on defense rather than attack. The ultimate skill of Togakure-ryu Ninja is said to have been their ability to neutralize their enemies’ fighting capabilities without actively attacking.
Togakushi Kids’ Ninja Village
Ninja shows: Every 3rd Sunday (irregular schedule)
A Ninja-themed adventure course
- Admission fees: Elementary school Children and above 500 yen / Pre-school Children 230 yen
- Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays/during winter)
Soba restaurant with Ninja Togakushi Soba Yamaguchi-ya
The owner of this restaurant is a modern-day Togakure-ryu Ninja-in-training! Utilizing the characteristics of fresh home-ground buckwheat flour, these soba noodles taste superb.
Ninja Soba Noodles
Ninja Daimon
Kids’ Ninja Village Zenko-ji Daimon Shop “Ninja Daimon” is a Ninja-themed amusement shop. Here you can play, eat, and shop with a Ninja theme!
Ise Ninja Kingdom
［Mie Prefecture/Ise City]
A large-scale Ninja theme park!
Here at this theme park you can not only change into Ninja costumes and try hands-on activities such as tree-climbing, shuriken-throwing, and blowpipes, but also enjoy exciting Ninja shows.
- Admission fees: Adults 4,900 yen / Junior High School and High School Students 3,500 yen / Children 3,000 yen
- Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (Azuchi Castle Hot Spring is open until 22:00)
The Great Ninja Show
Exciting stage performance!
Ninja! Samurai! Heroes race around the confined theater in this exciting Ninja show. Enjoy real entertainment bursting with laughter and tears.
Ninja experience
Active enjoyment: hands-on
Here you can try your hand at shuriken-throwing, blowpipes, and archery training! The park also provides a one-kilometer-long tree-climbing course and many other attractions for you to enjoy.
Azuchi Castle Hot Spring
Ise Natural Hot Springs
Experience the physical and mental relaxation of soaking away the day’s fatigue in soothing natural hot springs. Azuchi Castle can be viewed from the Ladies’ outdoor hot spring bath (bathing fees are included in the admission fee).
Hattori Hanzo and the Ninjas®
Nagoya Castle［Aichi Prefecture/Nagoya City］
Meet this Ninja corps led by Hattori Hanzo, a charismatic real-life historical figure, at present-day Nagoya Castle! Incorporating acrobatic action, their Ninja performances are a must-see.
- Place: Various locations around Nagoya Castle
A 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Nagoya jo (Nagoya Castle) Station on the Meijo Subway Line - Appearance times: Please see the official website
Ninja shows: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Hospitality/commemorative photographs: daily
Ninja shows held on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays!
Combat display
Recreation of a dangerous mountain crossing with their master, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Can the Ninja band escape the approaching enemy?!?
Sword dance
The highlight of this dance is a realistic sword fight using Ninja swords. Pay close attention to the magnificent swordsmanship.
Ninja Calisthenics
Even small children can become Ninja?! “Ninja Calisthenics” incorporating six ninjutsu (Ninja combat skills) are performed before each Ninja show on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
Kinshachi Yokocho Ninja Ice Cream
This adorable ice cream cone can be purchased in Kinshachi Yokocho (¥550). Too cute to eat?!
Kinshachi Yokocho’s Muneharu Zone “POP OVER”
