Ninja culture in Japan has always been fascinating and full of secrets. With their hidden moves, special codes, and ninja weapons, these ancient spies have a mysterious world that captivates us. In this article, we’ll explore the best five ninja schools in Japan, where you can learn about their intriguing history and admiring techniques.
Ninja Dojo and Store (Kyoto Prefecture)
This place is voted as one of the best experiences when visiting Japan. The Ninja Dojo and Store in Kyoto offers an exciting opportunity to explore the intriguing world of ninjas, which combines ancient techniques with real-life adventure.
This place combines its museum and souvenir store all in one location called Ninja Store and Museum. It displays items like ninja weapons, gear, and unique pieces from the master’s collection. Additionally, there are also numerous age-old tools. Some of them were made by skilled Japanese craftsmen over 200 years ago. You can buy these ninja items and take them home or order them online.
As for the ninja hands-on training here, you can choose between one-hour (entry-level) and two-hour (elementary-level) lessons. In the 1-hour lesson, you’ll get a taste of basic ninja training, including meditation, breathing techniques, and throwing shuriken (ninja stars). The two-hour lesson takes it further, adding techniques like swords, kunai (daggers), blowguns, ropes, and kusarigama (sickle with chain).
In addition to those training classes, you can register for a Ninja Trekking tour at Mt. Daimonji. This exciting trek allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature while learning about ninja history, survival methods, and mountain hiking techniques.
Igaryu Ninja Museum (Mie Prefecture)
The Igaryu Ninja School, based in Mie Prefecture, was one of the prominent schools of ninjutsu (ninja techniques). The school focused on being good at fighting and specialized in unique ninja skills. Even though traditional ninjas aren’t around anymore, their legacy and impact are still a big part of Japanese culture. One of the simple ways to explore these Igaryu arts is by visiting the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum.
Located in a calm, greenery place of Iga City in Mie Prefecture, the museum is like a hidden gem for ninja fans. It’s filled with ninja history and cool ninja stuff. You can do lots of fun things here; for example, take tours of a ninja house, discover all about how ninjas survive, and watch ninja experts do their ninja tricks with genuine ninja weapons.
There are three zones inside the Igaryu Ninja Museum:
- Igaryu Ninja House: You will see all kinds of tricky devices and traps that ninjas used
- Ninjutsu Experience Hall: You can watch videos about how ninjas sneaked into castles and see over 400 different ninja tools they used.
- The Ninjutsu Teaching Hall: You can learn fantastic ninja skills like reading secret messages and understanding people’s faces
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Kokaryu Ninjutsu House (Shiga Prefecture)
The Koka School was one of the top ninja schools in Japan, alongside the Igaryu Ninja School. You can easily explore the Koka ninja world by visiting the Kokaryu Ninjutsu House. It used to be the residence of Mochizuki Izumonokami, one of the most essential Kokaryu ninjas.
The building is more than 300 years old and looks normal. However, inside, it’s cleverly designed traps and devices to ensure safety and swift escapes for those. Furthermore, visitors can also investigate the hidden features of the ninja’s home. You can try finding secret doors and hidden pathways.
Next to Kokaryu Ninjutsu House is Koka Ninja Village, which looks like a ninja theme park. You can come here to learn about history, admire artifacts, and participate in the Ninja Dojo to transform into real ninjas with nine unique types of training.
Edo Wonderland (Tochigi Prefecture)
Edo Wonderland, situated in Nikko, is a unique theme park where the past comes to life. It’s a spot where you can discover streets and houses in the Edo era. While you explore the wonderland, you’ll find exciting shops that recreate how traditional artisans work.
Moreover, you can have a fantastic chance to dress up like a real ninja and learn incredible skills. The park offers ninja lessons to help you become a real ninja, teaching you not only to protect yourself but also to be a master of disguise and deception. In addition, there’s also a giant maze waiting for you to explore and conquer at Edo Wonderland.
Also, visiting the Grand Ninja Theater to see impressive sword fights and ninja tricks is something you can’t miss. And make sure to check out the wax museums displaying scenes from prison life, torture, and battles.
Ninja Village Hizen Yume Kaido (Saga Prefecture)
Ninja Village Hizen Yume Kaido is a large-scale theme park where you can experience the life of ninjas as there are more than 60 attractions. Here, you can experience ninjutsu and ninja horsemanship, as well as witness exciting street performances and ninja shows. Plus, you can improve your ninja skills inside this theme park, such as throwing shurikens, shooting blow darts, and exploring big houses with tricky mazes and secret rooms.
On the streets of the park, you’ll surely meet lots of exciting puppeteers and fortune tellers who may brighten up your day. For a calmer thing to do, you can also try pottery painting. You can create your plate or teacup and make it memorable by adding your ninja clan symbol. Since Hizen Yume Kaido is located in Ureshino Onsen, you can enjoy numerous traditional restaurants or relax at the local hot springs after a day full of ninja adventures.
Exploring the world of ninja and their incredible weapons is an adventure that takes you back in time. Each of these five ninja schools offers a unique experience, from hands-on training and ninja history to thrilling performances and mazes filled with secrets. If you’ve visited any of these ninja spots or have your own ninja stories to share, please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear about your ninja adventures!
Author
Thuy Fang
─Article from Tokyo Treat Japanese Snacks Blog
