Tokyo: Samurai Sword Academy in the Hometown of the Last Samurai

Master Tennen Rishin-ryu swordsmanship in Hino City, the Shinsengumi’s hometown. Experience the soul of the samurai with expert guidance from a Shinsengumi descendant.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Hinohonmachi, 4-chōme−11−12 - The Shinsengumi, the strongest group of swordsmen active at the end of the Edo period, is known as the “Last Samurai”.

You can experience Tennen Rishin-ryu, the Shinsengumi’s swordsmanship, in Hino City, Tokyo, which is said to be the hometown of the Shinsengumi.

Learn the basic forms of Tennen Rishin-ryu and try cutting with a Japanese sword that embodies the samurai spirit.

This special experience will transform you!

What's Included
  • Dogi
  • Wooden sword
  • Japanese sword
Additional Information

You can actually use a Japanese sword, which is said to be the soul of the samurai, and experience a trial cutting. The experience of touching the soul of the samurai will surely transform you. Tennen Rishin-ryu swordsmanship, which began in the Edo period, has been carried on to this day, and students of Tennen Rishin-ryu practice at the Tennen Rishin-ryu Hino Dojo to hone their swordsmanship skills. You can learn the essence of Tennen Rishin-ryu at the actual dojo. The swordsmen who practiced the Tennen Rishin-ryu in Hino City formed the Shinsengumi, said to be the strongest group of swordsmen, at the end of the Edo period and were known as the Last Samurai. You can feel the history and culture of the Last samurai by experiencing swordsmanship in Hino City, the hometown of the Shinsengumi. Masao Inoue, the chairman of the Tennen Rishin-ryu Hino Dojo and a descendant of the Shinsengumi executive Genzaburo Inoue, will lead the experience program.

Location
Hinohonmachi, 4-chōme−11−12
The venue is on the second floor of the Inoue Genzaburo Museum, a 5-minute walk from Hino Station on the JR Chuo Line.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(19 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
26yumam
Jul 19, 2024
Recommendations over going to Kyoto - His teacher, a descendant of the Shinsengumi, tells him that swordplay is very interesting. I enjoyed learning the basics of Japanese martial arts. For overseas tourists, I would Recommendation to visit here rather than Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer62664090614
Jul 16, 2024
It was great fun learning the secrets of swordplay! - Swordsmanship is very interesting, taught by a teacher who is a descendant of Shinsengumi. I really enjoyed learning the basics of Japanese martial arts. It was an experience that I couldn't do in Japan, but if I could do it at a reasonable price, I wanted to do it again. I would also like to Recommendation those who come from overseas to visit here rather than Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curious01493402914
Jul 14, 2024
Impressive experience Learning from the Descendants of the “Last Samurai” Shinsengumi: Historical Swordplay - The descendants of the “Last Samurai” Shinsengumi gave me a rare opportunity to teach swordplay directly. It was a heart-warming experience. In fact, I was able to experience the Tennen Rishin school, which has been handed down since the Edo period, at the dojo where training is still held. He had no experience in martial arts, but after learning the basics of swordplay, he tried his hand at a sword and was able to succeed. It was truly a valuable experience in this day and age, when there are very few opportunities to deal seriously. Since I want my own children to experience swordplay, I would also like to have a Swordplay Experience Program for children.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anonymous
Jul 6, 2024
An amazing experience! - I went today and had a wonderful time! I always wanted to learn to use the sword so I was really looking forward to it! It was fun, I learned a lot and got 2 amazing teachers! Thank you so much! Definitely going again ~
Review provided by Viator
Roving36589454180
Jul 2, 2024
I'm very happy with the SAMURAI experience beyond my wildest dreams. - It is 6-dan with 30 years of Kendo experience. I went there when I heard that I could do a serious test-slicing, but the experience went way beyond what I had expected. When you arrive at the dojo, you are greeted by the fifth head of the direct line of Genzaburo Inoue, the leader of the sixth squad of the Shinsengumi, and the descendants of Soji Okita of the Shinsengumi. They are both gentle and elegant teachers. However, once the experience of the Tennen Rishin-ryu “rehearsals” begin, you will be overwhelmed by its power. When you see the fighting moves and sword muscles to make sure you defeat your opponent without being beaten, and experience the "form" of the Tennen Rishin-ryu, you realize that swordplay is the ultimate form of killing each other. Tennen Rishin-ryū was full of the awesomeness of kill-or-be-killed actual swordplay not found in modern Kendo. A serious tatami-maki trial-slicing experience gives you a real sense of the tension and sharpness radiated by a serious tatami-maki, and makes you feel deeply emotional. In summary, what we've actually done is: 1. Warm welcome at the dojo 2. Tennen Rishin-ryu swordplay training experience 3. Serious Test Slayer However, I was surprised at the level of fulfillment that would not be communicated in writing. Did the seriousness and authenticity of the teachers change time and space to another level? It was something I had never seen or experienced in my life (beware of muscle pain the next day). At my age, I never thought I'd feel this way. From the bottom of my heart, I am very satisfied.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer65623544779
Jun 30, 2024
Practical swordplay different from kendo - A fifth-generation descendant of Genzaburo Inoue, who was the leader of the Shinsengumi's sixth unit, visited me because he was teaching me Tennen Rishin-ryu. I have been practicing kendo for more than 7 years, but I learned practical swordplay for the first time, and I realized that it is indeed a swordplay on the battlefield, different from kendo throughout. I've learned kata up to number 3, but it ends with a thrust, which I think is supposed to be a small indoor battle or to choke off an opponent wearing armor. Finally, a serious Iaikiri. It was the first time I got serious and excited. Seriously, the makiwara is sharp, and the makiwara (rolled straw) cuts quickly, but if you don't have standing teeth, it won't cut cleanly (tears). I think it was my first serious shoulder strain. The two-hour rehearsals were quick and I wanted to practice more. The content is very satisfying, so we encourage those who have experience in kendo to participate in the training. I'm sure it will be a good experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adventure05048193595
Jun 23, 2024
samurai sword - The two of us went. The building was dignified and I was nervous at first, but the teachers were very kind to me from the beginning, so I enjoyed participating from start to finish. I highly recommend the extraordinary experience that both Japanese and foreign people take seriously. It was amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
佑弥若
Jun 23, 2024
samurai sword - We went to the experience together. The building was dignified and I was nervous at first, but the teachers taught me gently and carefully from scratch, so I was able to participate while having fun throughout. In the end, I was seriously cutting straws, but it was the first time I was seriously very nervous and it was an extraordinary experience that was very valuable. I thought that both Japanese and foreign people should experience the opportunity to hold the “Japanese sword”, the soul of a samurai, at least once in their lives.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
_a8453jv
Jun 22, 2024
Valuable experience - We went to the experience together. I learned a lot about the history of Shinsengumi, how to dress hakama and how to be polite. I used a wooden sword to do the swinging and the kata, and in the end I was given the chance to do some serious straw trials and slashes. When I was serious, the tension suddenly increased and I was able to experience things that I would not normally feel. It is highly recommended that you not only learn about history but also experience it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passenger14889039294
Jun 18, 2024
Amazing Samurai experience at the Samurai Sword Academy! - I was invited to take part in this with Paul Martin, who is one of the greatest living non-Japanese experts on Japanese swords. He did not tell me anything beforehand. Despite having practiced some Japanese sword techniques with an imitation sword, I had never cut tatami before and was a bit nervous. I got to dress up like a Samurai. The Sensei, both spent time patiently teaching us their 5 sword kata, then demonstrated cutting, then it was my turn and WOW! Awesome experience to cut with a live Japanese sword with the descendants of the real last samurai. I told Paul afterwards I think they should double the price because the experience is so authentic, rare, and truly once in a lifetime. Don't miss this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 4 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today