From Kyoto: Iga Ninja Experience, Ninja Museum & Iga Beef Lunch

Stepping into the Ninja Museum feels like traveling back in time to a village where ninjas once lived. Your visit begins at the Ninja Residence (Ninja Yashiki), a Traditional Japanese house that, at first sight, appears normal but hides ingenious tricks and cleverly hidden devices. Here, you will see a member of the staff dressed as a ninja demonstrating and explaining how ninjas utilized secret mechanisms within the house, giving you a clear sense of how ninjas responded quickly and intelligently when faced with danger. The museum also displays a wide range of authentic weapons and tools that were used in the past. As you view these historical items up close while listening to the local guide’s introduction, you may find that although they look modest at first glance, their real functions are far more surprising than you would expect.

After learning about the history and tricks of ninjas, it’s time to practice and become one yourself! We will head to 'Bansenshukai,' a facility where you can experience authentic ninja training. First, you will enjoy lunch in a calm, refined restaurant and enjoy an Iga beef set meal with local vegetables and chewy clay-pot rice. After lunch, it’s time for the highlight: ninja training. In this session, you’ll learn techniques recorded in the Bansenshukai. After changing into training attire, an English-speaking ninja instructor will guide you step by step, starting with the basic ninja mindset, hand signs, and set phrases, before you move into the main training area for the full program. Night-watch guards will patrol as you move like a shadow through the dark, testing your new skills in the challenge.

Nagatanien, an Iga ware store with a long history. Founded in 1832, Nagatanien has been producing heat-resistant cookware and continues to carry on the craft and aesthetics of Iga pottery. At the shop, you can see traditional clay cooking pots, teaware, sake cups, and other handmade tableware. Iga ware itself has a very interesting history. Long ago, the Iga region lay beneath Lake Biwa. As the land rose, the local clay came to contain ancient organic matter that burns away during firing, leaving countless tiny pores. This gives Iga ware its distinctive porous body, highly heat-resistant and ideal for cooking. Iga clay pots heat slowly and evenly, then retain warmth even after the flame is off, creating a natural “steaming” stage. The result is more fragrant rice with plump grains, and dishes that absorb flavor more deeply.