Get a glimpse of the world of the Iga-ryu ninja wrapped in mystery!
Ninjutsu is a form of martial arts that was first developed mainly in the Iga region of Mie Prefecture and the Koga region of Shiga Prefecture. The Ninja Museum of Iga-ryu located within Ueno Park at Iga-Ueno Castle provides easy-to-understand explanations regarding Iga-ryu ninjutsu and ninja which specialize in sorcery and the secret arts. The museum is divided into the Ninja House, the Ninja Experience Hall and the Ninja Tradition Hall. At the museum shop Ninjabo, there are naturally items such as T-shirts and toys, but it’s also popular for being able to purchase ninja tools and clothing that cannot be bought anywhere else.
Learn about the ninjutsu of the Iga-ryu ninja through tricks, traps and tools
The biggest highlight has to be the Iga-ryu Ninja House. It may appear to be a normal thatch-roofed house on the outside, but there are security measures everywhere in this house. Here, a kuno (female ninja) guides visitors through every inch of the residence. There are tricks and traps such as hidden doors, secret pathways and concealed weapons which are shown and demonstrated. And then in the Ninja Experience Hall, Iga-ryu ninja show how Ueno Castle can be covertly infiltrated. You can learn about the tools of the trade that were used by ninja in actual operations as well as even touch some of them. At the Ninja Tradition Hall, you can learn ninjutsu techniques such as codes, special hand gestures and physiognomy that are useful today.
Enjoy an authentic ninja show and try your hand at throwing shuriken
Another highlight that you cannot miss is the ninja show held in the Ninja Experience Plaza (separate admission required). Ninja actually demonstrate how the tools of the trade were used back in those days on the stage. There is nothing more spectacular than a show involving the usage of shuriken shooting stars, swords and kusarigama sickle-and-chains. The ninja show is held 2 to 3 times daily and you can check days and times on the homepage. Also, you can try throwing actual shuriken (separate admission required). Being able to so simply experience the life of a ninja is popular among the masses.