Ninja Experience Kyoto: Training for Kids and Adults

Japan Web Magazine
Update: Oct 16, 2023

+15 15

Ninja is one of the legendary symbols of Japan, and there are several nice spots where you can experience and learn about Ninja in the historical city Kyoto. This Ninja Kyoto Guide introduces best Ninja spots including the museum, restaurant and souvenir shop which offer you wonderful Ninja experiences in Kyoto. These Ninja spots are also recommended for family with kids.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

1. Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum with Ninja Experience

The Kyoto Samurai & Ninja museum with Experience is way beyond a ninja museum that offers fun ninja experiences for families and groups. In addition to historic artifacts, the interactive museum has a small dojo for ninja training which makes it the most affordable option to become a ninja in Kyoto, Japan.

At the museum you can take the ninja training lessons, watch a ninja show, have a special ninja training and learn how to use ninja weapons. The building itself is located near the Nishiki Market right in the middle of downtown Kyoto, walkable from Kawaramachi, the geisha district and Kiyomizudera Temple. You can take hourly history tours and have a unique ninja experience every hour. There are two types of experiences, if you buy a standard ticket (2,400 yen) it comes with a history tour, samurai armor trial, ninja star throw, ninja blow gun use. If you pay a small fee you can wear the full ninja costume, have a long secret ninja training session, and, for kids, join a ninja treasure hunt. Kyoto samurai & ninja museum also offers Ninja VR experience.

On the way out you can purchase ninja stars, tabi shoes or secret ninja veapons sold in the gift shop and bring back home unique ninja souvenirs from Kyoto.

▶︎Book the Ninja activity at Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum!!

2. Ninja Kyoto Restaurant Labyrinth (Permanently closed, read below)

For ninja fans and families visiting Kyoto, what can be better than stopping by a ninja themed restaurant and labyrinth with the ninja show? The place serving the ninja food, featuring a ninja trick house, ninja themed sweets and offering a daily ninja show. The Ninja Kyoto restaurant and labyrinth unfortunately went out of business and CLOSED for good on December, 2018.

Luckily the location of the Ninja Kyoto restaurant is right next to the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja museum so you can go there instead. If you want to go to a ninja themed restaurant in another city, then, you can try the ninja restaurant in Tokyo which has been owned by the same ninja restaurant group.

You can still see the building of the Ninja Kyoto Restaurant and Labyrinth which is about 100 meters away from Kyoto samurai & Ninja Museum with Experience.

3. Ninja Dojo and Store

The Ninja Dojo and Store is in the Karasuma area of Kyoto located on the 2nd floor of a building as you can see in the below picture. Compared to similar ninja experiences in Kyoto The Ninja Dojo Kyoto is a bit expensive as it approximately costs 12,000 yen per person which is about 3 times more than the same experience at the Kyoto Ninja and Samurai museum.

At Ninja Training Dojo Kyoto you will learn the secret ninja techniques that have been handed down through 500 years of ninja training. 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 two hours. You can also join the ninja walking tour for an additional fee.

4. Ninja Museum of Igaryu

Ninja Museum of Igaryu is located in the Mie Prefecture. From Kyoto to the Igaryu Ninja Museum it takes about 2 hours by car. This place is special because in the past you had to be from Iga or Koga to become a ninja. There is also a nice castle named “Iga Ueno Castle” right next to the museum where you can see some old artifacts.

Ninja Museum of Igaryu consists of a few old ninja houses, one exhibition room and one show area. The shows are limited and there are not many interactive experiences like the ninja museum in Kyoto. If you have a car and you want to see some old items, you may want to drive to Iga.

Not far from Iga, there is also the town of Koga. There is another ninja museum that offers ninja experiences in Koga which is called “Koka Ninja Village“. It takes about 2.5 hours from Kyoto to Koga.

For more info about cultural experiences in Kyoto, check out these articles below, too!

Kyoto Tea Ceremony: 5 Best Experiences5 Best Tea Ceremonies in Kyoto in Englishjw-webmagazine.com