Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum in Kyoto – Highlights & Personal photos.

2023-12-202024-08-31

Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum is an experiential museum where you can experience samurai and ninja experiences. This is a particularly popular spot for tourists visiting Japan. You can take photos of real swords and armor inside the museum. The unique and special experience at the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum is sure to become a lifelong memory of your trip to Kyoto.

This article will share the highlights of Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum, along with some personal photographs.

Geting to Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum from Kyoto Station

The most convenient way to reach Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum from Kyoto Station is by bus.

STEP

Board bus 4, 17, or 205 from bus stop A2 at Kyoto Station Bus Terminal.

The bus terminal is located right next to the central exit of Kyoto Station on the north side. Follow the “Bus” signs located throughout Kyoto Station to the bus terminal. The photo above is the bus terminal.

Look for the pillar marked A2 and the bus number is 4, 17, or 205. Please be careful not to board the wrong number bus.

STEP

Disembark at Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop.

It takes approximately 15 minutes to get here from Kyoto Station.

STEP

From the bus stop, walk about 300m, which takes about 4 minutes.

Look for this signboard. Go up the stairs and find the reception on the second floor. Advance reservations are required, so show the receipt you received via email to the staff.

Highlights of Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum

Upon entering, you’ll see cool samurai armors on display in the waiting room. You can take photos inside the museum.

A palanquin owned by a daimyo (high level samurai master) in the early 1800’s is also displayed. It was used as a means of human transportaion in feudal Japan.

There are also boards with explanations about ninjas and samurai in the waiting room. Explanations for the exhibits in the museum are displayed in English. Originally, a person armed with a sword or armor is called “Bushi”. The person who is serving someone among the “Bushi” is called “Samurai”. “Ninja” is a professional spy in feudal Japan highly trained in stealth and secrecy and were most active in the 1600s and 1700s.

Guided tours are provided in English by staff dressed as ninjas. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. At the beginning of the guided tour, you will be asked a few simple quiz questions based on some explanations written in the waiting room. This quiz relieves tension, creates a harmonious atmosphere, and brings the staff and participants closer together.

One of the biggest highlights of the exhibits is the various types of samurai armor, and you can see them up close and take photos. Most of them are from Japan’s Edo period (A.D. 1603-1868), over three hundred years old. Once again, the guide asked us questions such as which armor is the most expensive. The results of the quizzes were surprising, so few people answered correctly on that day.

You can see real samurai armor up close.

The display of Samurai Swords is also impressive. There were also quizzes such as which samurai swords were from the latest era and how many swords samurai usually carried on that day.

The real swords are beautiful when you see it up close.

The guided tour includes explanations about the history and roles of samurai and ninja. There were also explanations such as the feudal system of the Edo period (A.D.1603-1868), including the emperor, shogun, daimyo, and samurai. Both adults and children can enjoy learning deeply about historical heroes, samurai and ninja, with guidance in English.

Shuriken(ninja stars) is a famous throwing tool of ninjas, shaped like a cross or a star. After viewing the exhibits, you can experience throwing Shuriken. Shurikens were not actually used to hurt the opponent, but rather to throw them to draw attention to them and escape during that time.

All participants throw together. Some people were able to hit the target right in the middle and were applauded.

You can take a commemorative photo wearing a samurai armor costume in a neaby building.

This will be a great memory photo of your trip.

In addition to the basic plan, I applied for the “Samurai Sword Cutting Experience” plan. With this plan, you can have the best experience of wearing a traditional samurai’s outfit and trying out test cutting with a real sword. First, all participants will learn how to hold and swing a sword from the staff, and practice swinging the sword. At this stage, you will practice using a wooden sword instead of a real sword.

By the way, all samurai wore swords on their left waist. This is because if people wear their swords in different positions on the left and right, it can be dangerous to bump into each other when passing each other. Therefore, even if samurai were originally left-handed, they were always corrected to be right-handed and drew their swords with their right hand.

After practice, each person takes turns cutting a tatami mat with a real sword.

This is the back view of the teacher, he was cheerful and polite in his teaching.

Thanks to the teacher’s teachings, everyone managed to cut the mat. The extraordinary and valuable experience that can only be experienced here made me impressed. Experience at the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum would be a good memory you’ll never forget.

Restaurant nearby Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum

This is “Mumokuteki Cafe”, a restaurant I recommend near the Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum. Mumokuteki Cafe serves vegetarian-friendly food and is popular among tourists from other countries, which is located about 3 minutes walk from Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum. The photo above is the entrance to the store, and the cafe is on the second floor. The interior of the store has an antique style and a warm atmosphere.

This is Seasonal seiro-steamed vegetables-Gozen, visitors can enjoy fresh and healthy vegetables. The vegetables steamed are healthier and sweeter than boiled ones, and the original taste of the ingredients is preserved. This vegetables have a concentrated flavor and is delicious even when eaten as is.

This is the Google map of Mumokuteki Cafe.

Web Site	Official web site
Opening hours	Weekdays AM 11:30 – PM 17:30(Last Orders 16:30)
Opening hours	Weekends & National Holidays AM 11:30 – PM 18:30(Last Orders 17:30)
Regular holiday	Every Wednesday
Phone number	+81-050-3164-9733

Mumokuteki Cafe *Please check the official website for the latest information.

Information of Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum

There are several plans Please check the official website for price details. You can make reservations for tours and experiences on the official website.