Odawara Castle Exploration: Insights into Ninja and Samurai History with Expert Guide
5.0
4 Ratings
Odawara

Uncover the secrets of the ninja and samurai at Odawara Castle. Join a leading ninja expert and bilingual guide for a tour, museum visits, and hands-on ninja training.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Odawara Castle History Museum, Ninja-kan - Meet at the entrance of the Ninja Museum in Odawara Castle Park. This is where the tour will start.
  • Odawara Castle Park - The experience will start with a guided walking in Odawara Castle Park by a local bilingual expert. The grounds of Odawara Castle have been preserved and retain original forms and architecture that give insight into the past history and techniques to castle building.
  • Tokiwakimon Samurai Museum - You will stop by the Samurai Museum, which displays a selection of genuine samurai armor and swords within the castle grounds. The collection gives visitors the chance to see and experience craftsmanship and artistry from the past. Feel and learn about the extraordinary part of Japanese history.
  • Odawara Castle History Museum, Ninja-kan - You will then move through the Ninja Museum and will learn and practice some of the fundamental techniques together with the ninja expert, such as breathing, meditation, movement, real tools and weapons used by ninja, ending with the iconic ninja hand gestures. The experience is held outside of business hours of the Ninja Museum, so the venue is reserved for exclusive use. This is where the tour will end.
What's Included
  • Hands-on ninja experience with provided wooden swords and ninja attire.
  • Included entrance tickets to the Ninja Museum, Samurai Museum, and Odawara Castle.
Additional Information

Hosted by one of Japan’s leading ninja experts and a bilingual local guide, this experience lets you meet and learn from a ninja scholar and take a tour of the Odawara Castle grounds and practice some of the fundamental techniques used by the ninja.

The experience will start with a guided walking tour of Odawara Castle by a local bilingual expert, visiting the Samurai Museum and the castle grounds to see some authentic artifacts and learn about their role and culture. You will move through the Ninja Museum and learn and practice some of the techniques together with the ninja expert, such as meditation, movement, real tools and weapons used by ninja. Odawara is your gateway to Hakone and memorable experience in Japan.

3:30pm: Meet at the Ninja Museum in Odawara Castle Park

3:30pm: Guided tour visiting the Samurai Museum and Castle Main Keep

5:00pm: Ninja training experience at the Ninja Museum

6:00pm: Experience to finish

Location
3-71 Jōnai
Meeting place is the entrance of the Ninja Museum in Odawara Castle Park, which is a short 10 minute walk from the East Gate of Odawara Station.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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Mark_e
Jul 9, 2024
So much fun! - This was a ton of fun for my husband, adult daughters and me. First we had an interesting tour of beautiful Odawara Castle, as well as the Samurai Museum, with our very knowledgeable guide Jeff. Then we put on Ninja garb (you have to not mind looking a little goofy!) and learned some of the skills used by real Ninjas. Our teacher (I don't remember his name) was a true expert, very patient, and made it SO much fun. We learned to scale a (small) wall, sneak up on your enemy despite a creaky floor, look for escape routes and hidden panels in rooms and use throwing stars, blow guns and swords! I would recommend this for older kids (not toddlers), teenagers and adults. We loved learning about all the history and then getting to do the activities.
Review provided by Viator
Fernandoci1172cw
Feb 24, 2024
Best Ninja experience in Japan!! Fun and knowledgeable guide made this unforgettable to our kids!! - What a wonderful experience for our family!! It was absolutely worth it to go for this private tour, in contrast to other ninja experiences we had in Japan!! Our guide Jeff was extremely knowledgeable, and very patient to interact with the multiple questions our 9 years old son had!! The castle itself is stunning, and the part where we learn ninja skills was really fun and interactive!! Our Ninja Sensei was also super friendly and connected really well with the kids!! In summary, this was a highlight for our Japan trip and we highly recommend to other families!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kiwikjones
Aug 6, 2023
Excellent - Just like to thank the whole team for a great tour of the castle grounds and really great ninja lesson! Would recommend this to any of my friends for sure! We'd love to come back sometime for another Odawara Castle experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E6658wvchristophel
Feb 27, 2023
A wonderful and genuine experience! - What a wonderful and genuine experience even for someone that already knows some martial arts and some Japanese culture. From welcoming at the Shinkansen station (walking distance to castle) to a short visit at the castle and spending more time about samurais and ninjas. No more samurai and real ninjas (old-fashioned medieval SEAL of Japan) in Japan! The interpreter is a real fluent interpreter, and knows also how to tell stories in concise ways. The castle/samurai visit is all in English; only the master needs translation and that was very pleasant. The ninja master is just too cool, serious, good sense of humor, not aloof and l forgot to say, knows what he is doing. Christophe Laudamiel
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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