The Ninja Tour – Be a Ninja for 5 Days in Japan

Who needs a boring vacation where you see the same old sightseeing as everyone else? Okay, any kind of travel is tons of fun (at least I think so, or I wouldn’t have started this website), but shaking things up with a specific theme offers a new spin of excitement. In this case, that theme is “ninja.”

For the Ninja Tour, you get the best ninja-related sightseeing in one convenient 5-day, 4-night itinerary hopping around the Kansai region of Japan.

Day 1 – Kyoto’s Shogun Castle

Whether you’re looking for samurai, geisha, or ninjas, if you want a glimpse of Japan’s ancient past, Kyoto is the best place to start. It’s filled with countless temples, museums, and attractions specifically designed to showcase Japan’s rich history. It’s a must-visit city if you want to experience Japanese culture.

Once you’ve arrived in Kyoto and dropped your luggage off at the hotel, you’ll want to start your ninja tour fairly light – no need to overdo things while you’re still jet-lagged. I recommend Nijo Castle, the original castle of a shogun. While not directly ninja-related, all ninjas worked for a shogun. This historical tour is a great insight into the kind of world they lived in. A perfect example is the “nightingale floors” whose floorboards are designed to creak in certain places as an ingenious, pre-electricity security alarm. Be sure to get the audio guide as well, since the written descriptions throughout the castle are somewhat lacking.

Travel Suggestions:

• After touching down at Kansai’s International Airport, hop on a bus to Shin-Osaka Station, from where you can take a bullet train straight to Kyoto.
• Head to your hotel to drop off your luggage – I’d recommend one with a shuttle bus or direct access to a subway to make things easier, such as Hotel Okura Kyoto.

Day 2 – Ninja Lessons, Ahoy!

Start off your day at the Ninja Dojo and Store for a two-hour ninja lesson. It’s a starter-level, hands-on class where you learn to use swords, chains, daggers, and tons more. The lesson may seem a bit pricey at first, but it’s honestly a bargain for what you’re getting. You can check out more information on their website here.

Take a break for lunch and head for the Samurai and Ninja Museum for an interactive experience with ninja blow darts and throwing shurikens. Yes, interactive: this isn’t your everyday stroll through old artifacts and musty paintings. It’s also family-friendly for anyone bringing kids along.

Last stop is Ninja VR Kyoto. It has a historic setting where you can dress up, go through some basic instructions, and face some fun challenges in a virtual reality world. I haven’t been to it myself yet, but all the reviews I’ve seen have raved about how great it is for people of all ages – adults or kids. Definitely a must-try on this ninja tour!

Travel Suggestions:

• The Shijo Karasuma bus stop is just a block from the dojo.
• Once you’re done at the dojo, the museum is only a 15-minute walk away.
• To get from the museum to the Ninja VR, you can either walk the 20-25 minutes or take a 12-minute bus from Shijo Kawaramachi to Higashiyama Sanjo.

Day 3 – Ninja Village Fun at Koga no Sato

Check out of your hotel in the morning and take a train to Koka Station in Shiga Prefecture. Once you get there, you can take a bus or car to Koga no Sato, a ninja village theme park. You check out their website for access options, but since it’s all in Japanese, you can also just call their number upon arrival (0748-88-5000) to get a car to you. Koga no Sato has a lot of different ninja-themed attractions where you can throw shuriken, scale stone walls, and even rent a ninja outfit for the day. It’s fun for all ages, but especially great if you have kids.

Once you’re done there, take the bus back to Koka Station and make your way to your hotel. If you want to spend a night at a ryokan – a Japanese-style inn with its own onsen (or public bath) – hop on a train to Konan Station and head for Miyano Onsen. If that’s not in your budget, Business Hotel Sansui is cheap and an easy walk from Koka Station.

Travel Suggestions:

• If you go to Kyoto JR Station, you can take a train to Koka Station (in Shiga) with only one transfer in Kusatsu. It will take around 75 minutes total.

Day 4 – Authentic Ninja House for the Science Behind Staying Hidden

Think your ninja tour in Koka is all done? Not so fast! There’s still more ninja tour to squeeze out of this little nook of Japan. If you’re not already near Konan Station, take a train there once you’re done with breakfast, because the first stop of the day is Shingu Shrine. While not a huge tourist attraction, this shrine was built in the 15^th century and is loaded with history. It may not be for everyone, but it’s a peaceful way to start the day and is a great example of traditional Japanese architecture.

Once you’ve had your fill of the shrine, the Koka Ninja House is just a short walk away. This house once belonged to a prominent ninja family. While the tour of the house itself is in Japanese, a written English translation is provided upon request. This is the perfect place to learn more about how traps and secret hideaways were designed and implemented all while seeing the hidden doors in person.

Take lunch and get back on the train (checking out of your hotel if you haven’t already!) for your next stop: Iga City in Mie Prefecture. Check into your hotel upon arrival and take it easy for the rest of the day, because there’s still more to come. I’d suggest Iga Ueno City Hotel for a good compromise between budget and comfort.

Travel Suggestions:

• To get from Koka to Iga, go to Konan Station and take the JR Kusatsu Line.
• Transfer at Tsuge to the JR Kansai Line before transferring again at Igaueno to the Iga Railway.
• The Iga Railway will be a 7-minute ride to Uenoshi Station, which is where you want to end up to be close to the next day’s sightseeing.
• The transfers might seem a bit daunting at first, but in total the ride should only take about an hour and a half.

Day 5 – Ninja Museum for Some History and Light-Hearted Fun

The last destination for this ninja tour is in Iga City for a reason. Two reasons, actually – Iga Ueno Castle and the Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum. Start off with a short hike up the hill to the castle while enjoying the ground’s expansive gardens. Quick tip: be sure to get a combination ticket for both the castle and the ninja museum. The castle itself is a beautiful piece of architecture reconstructed using wood (pretty rare, as most rebuilt castles are concrete). It has quite a bit of historical details and some samurai and ninja gear on display.

Finally, head to the Ninja Museum for an afternoon of entertainment. Here, you can watch a ninja show and learn more about the way ninjas lived and their culture. They see a lot of visitors and are prepared with some good English translations for their attractions. It’s a fairly lighthearted experience – some might even call it cheesy – but I call it having a sense of humor. All in all, it’s a perfect ending for a fun and exciting ninja tour.

Travel Suggestions:

• If your return flight home is in Osaka, you’ll need to plan ahead for the train ride, since it can take up to three hours. Here’s a general outline:
• Start at Uenoshi Station and take the Iga Railway to Igakambe, where you’ll transfer to the Kitetsu Limited Express. This ride will take about an hour.
• Transfer at Tsuruhashi and take the Osaka Loop Line to Shinimamiya.
• The last leg of the journey will be on Nankai Airport Express, which will bring you straight to Kansai Airport.

Curious to know more about Japan?

Check out some of my other posts where I talk about travel and living in Japan: