Kyoto Samurai Experience
5

Kyoto Samurai Experience

By Kyoto Samurai Experience
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Experience the Way of the Samurai in Kyoto Step into the world of the samurai with this authentic experience. Dress in traditional samurai attire and explore the history of the warrior class, before watching a captivating demonstration by our expert instructors. Next, you’ll have the chance to practice your swordsmanship with a wooden sword, progressing to a genuine katana. Learn the art of cutting through a rolled tatami mat to refine your technique and precision. The experience concludes with a Zen meditation session, designed to calm your mind and center your focus. This immersive and rewarding experience offers a deeper understanding of the samurai culture and traditions, perfect for anyone looking to connect with Japan’s rich martial heritage.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 6-99, max of 14 per group
Duration: 1h 45m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Japanese, English
More

Highlights
  • Ideal for travelers interested in samurai history and tradition
  • A hands-on, unique cultural experience
  • Authentic martial arts practice
  • Located in one of the few remaining samurai residences in Kyoto
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024

  • Professional instructor
  • Use of a genuine katana
  • Zen meditation experience
  • Photos of the activity


Start:
  • Kyoto Samurai Experience / Waraku, 111 Inabachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8803, Japan
    Our gates will open 15 minutes before your scheduled time. In order to be dressed in samurai attire, guests need to arrive at this time. We will begin our session promptly at the scheduled time. If you arrive after this time, you will not be dressed in samurai attire.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 44484P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • If you have questions about accessibility, please send us a message and we will be happy to help.
    • Please wear comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear for an athletic activity
    • Minors must be accompanied by an adult
    • Rescheduling may be possible, depending on availability, but is not allowed within 24 hours of your scheduled session.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 44484P1

    From
    S$162.74
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Kyoto Samurai Experience
      1,085
      Japan
      Joined in October 2016
    • alicerZ4415KG
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Worth checking out when you’re in Kyoto! Includes a sound bath meditation
      This was a really cool experience! The staff was extremely attentive and accommodating. I mixed up my dates when booking and they were able to reschedule us seamlessly. The samurai master taught us how to hold, swing and slice bamboo mats with a real katana. Afterwards, they guided us through a sound bath meditation that brought on the zen. Definitely worth checking out when you’re in Kyoto!
      Written 23 February 2020
    • youngiethekim
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Really good experience fun for the family
      Staff super friendly and they let you cut something with and authentic 150 year old katana. What else can I say it was super cool.
      Written 23 February 2020
    • Robbyn S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect Experience
      This was an amazing experience! Very organized, informative, and interesting! The fact it takes place in a samurai's home was amazing. Everyone is very kind and helpful, and the feeling of sucessfully cutting the bamboo with the samurai sword is so rewarding. The zen meditation was the perfect way to end it! Plus they take high quality photos of you the whole time. You MUST book this experience!
      Written 1 February 2020
    • pgj_dred
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      Excellent experience. Fun and informative. My teenage sons loved it. The guides were delightful. You can take lots of photos. Very safety conscious as well.
      Written 17 January 2020
    • paveras
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Cultural Experience
      Friendly, fun, interesting culture, great moments captured in pictures, unique setting in original Samurai home.
      Written 27 December 2019
    • Jeffrey L
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Met and Exceeded Expectations
      A “must do” experience for anyone who has appreciation of, or is interested in, samurai and budo culture. The class starts inside a historic samurai-owned home and instruction provided in the garden. For us, the best part was the unexpected brief Zen mediation at the end with the Tibetan Singing Bowls. My sons and I also train Japanese martial arts back in the US and have a passionate love of old and modern Japanese culture and history. Add this to your bucket list of things to do. Also right down the street from Nijo Castle, so perfect to knock out both. Oss!
      Written 28 November 2019
    • richardregatta
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Exceeded expectations
      Great experience professionally run by great people in great surroundings. Excellent photos produced afterwards for free. Definitely recommend it
      Written 20 November 2019
    • 789martinel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic experience!
      They were able to go beyond our expectations with live demonstrations, flute demonstrations and meditation. Actual katana experience was amazing! Definitely recommend
      Written 7 November 2019
    • Kyotomax
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The real deal
      We were given a demonstration of swordsmanship before having a chance to cut tatami mats in half with a real Japanese sword. Thrilling and fun too. Its not cheap but well worth it IMO. Its also hosted in an old Samurai house in Kyoto so it feels very authentic.
      Written 5 November 2019
    • Scott Y
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very interesting!
      Very passionate staff with impressive demonstrations of sword skills before letting customers try their hand at cutting tatami matts themselves. Great feeling when you get it right! If you have any interest in samurai history and culture give them a look!
      Written 30 October 2019
    • annal124
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Samurai training with the history
      Having an English speaking translator, Elle made all the difference! The experience was truly amazing, with a brief history of the samurai, demonstration with the katana and the drums before training with wooden swords then the real thing, finished off with a meditation to calm you down before sending you back out to the streets of Kyoto. The staff were very attentive and patient. They let you take your own photos as well as taking a lot for you which they shared on the day. Worth every yen!! We loved it.
      Written 24 October 2019
    • 496trentb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Quintessential Japan
      What a privilege to have been inside the house of a real samurai with deep connections to the history of Kyoto. A very authentic experience from beginning to end. Staff were excellent - and the masters with the swords and instruments were wonderful. A truly memorable and unique experience. A Kyoto must do!
      Written 22 October 2019
    • Midboss
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent experience
      If you visit Kyoto you must try to do this. The experience takes place in a genuine samurai mansion and is hosted by a wonderful roster of staff who are friendly and knowledgable. The first event, after donning the appropriate gear, is an introduction to the venue and the way of samurai themselves, with a demonstration of an Iaido sword technique. After this you practise with bokken and are then unleashed with the katana itself. Finally you wind down with a zen meditation session and shakuhachi flute performance that complements the building perfectly. The staff take photos throughout the practical part of the activity and can also take photos with your own devices if you wish. All in all a truly great time.
      Written 21 October 2019
    • airamyh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      So much fun!
      This was so much fun! I don’t want to say too much and ruin the experience for others. But suffice it to say that it was really well organized, the guides were all so kind, and I highly recommend it. This is suitable for families, folks traveling alone and everyone in between. Elle the translator was great! She was kind, knowledgeable, encouraging and made everyone feel welcomed.
      Written 21 October 2019
    • Johnless23
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience! We loved it! :)
      Thank you to all the team, we had a wonderful experience with you, we recommend this activity above anything else in Kyoto! Everything was well explained and we enjoyed every part of it! :D
      Written 19 October 2019
    See all 1,085 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles780 reviews
    Excellent
    759
    Very good
    18
    Average
    2
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
    This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

    Foodaholic1986
    Bristol, UK6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was super enjoyable and educational; I would recommend if you want to learn the history and participate in kenjuts.

    We were initially put into kamishimo. We then learnt the history about the samurai through the Edo period, viewed and also participated in kenjutsu, finishing with a meditation!

    The group was quite small so it didn’t feel over crowded or that you could not participate.

    The experience was very safe, everyone spoke fluent English and translated what the Sensei was saying.

    Finally bonus was photos that were shared promptly and a great memory to have at no extra cost.
    Written 29 August 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Vale_08_92
    Cazzano Sant'Andrea, Lombardia, Italy2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful experience, the location is difficult to find for a moment because the maps geolocate it badly.

    The house where the experience takes place is original and impeccably maintained.

    Once they arrive they give a historical explanation of the Edo period and tell the history of the house. They then do a demonstration in which a samurai performs exercises.

    We then move on to practice, first with wooden swords in which they explain the movements and then with 120 year old Katana (considered new to them).

    It is very simple and can be done by everyone without problems, they allow you to take photos whenever you want, but they also take them and then send them for free.

    The instructor is phenomenal and there are two translators, one a native English speaker and another with an oriental physiognomy, with a very slight accent but excellent English.

    Yes, you must understand English.

    At the end there are minutes of Zen meditation, which I appreciated very much.

    It is a very suggestive and immersive experience and worth all the money paid!
    Google
    Written 27 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Makiko L
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Family
    The Waraku Samurai Experience was the highlight of our trip to Kyoto, which we chose for our son, who loves Samurai very much. From the moment we stepped into the historic home, a genuine 250-year-old samurai residence where the warriors who served at Nijo Castle lived, we were impressed by the intricate details of the traditional architecture and the serene atmosphere - it simply took our breath away. He learnt a lot, got to practise with real swords and the attention to various details was superb. Also, the Samurai Master's iai was truly amazing, with skilled swordsmen performing their martial arts with precision and grace. From start to finish, it was a wonderful and incredibly thoughtful experience, and the knowledgeable and friendly team guided us through the fun with excellent interpreters. If you are looking for an authentic and unforgettable cultural experience in Kyoto, we highly recommend this place. A rare opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese history and tradition.
    Written 21 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We are overjoyed to hear that we were able to make your trip to Kyoto a little more special! Thank you for being such a lovely participant and taking the time to write out such a sweet review! It was a pleasure to have you join us. Please think of visiting us again on your next trip to Kyoto!
    Written 9 January 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kirsty H
    231 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was an opportunity to dress in kimonos and use the katana sword but the hands on time was quite short, less than 20 mins with practice and then a turn due to a large group. At £82 PP it felt over-priced, though we did get the photographs for free. We were also charged 4000 yes for 2 people to ‘spectate’ due to my Son being an 18 year old adult with additional needs, though the parents of teens weren’t charged. It was a nice morning but we wouldn’t recommend this- honestly we felt that the ninja samurai museum was more informative and better value, for a fraction of the cost and my Son said that he had preferred this.
    Written 31 July 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Fabian R
    Frankfurt, Germany2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Couples
    This experience was unique and very worthwhile, the team was dedicated and friendly. We were taken on a journey through time by the Samurai right at the beginning and received a small impressive show performance from the Samurai Master. The founders of this experience do this with passion, which we greatly appreciate. The highlight was of course to be able to swing the Katana myself. The meditating Zen session was a nice conclusion. Top recommendation!
    Automatically translated
    Written 20 November 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Christian B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2024 • Friends
    Best experience of our whole Japan trip. The chance to wield a katana in Kyoto, under the guidance of skilled masters, was unforgettable. The blend of history, precision, and culture made it a unique and enriching adventure. Would totally recommend it to anyone interested in traditional Japanese martial arts and authentic experiences.
    Written 16 August 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    John Q
    Lisbon, Portugal15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023
    This Samurai experience was a highlight of our stay in Kyoto. We were a group of 5, comprised of 2 unrelated families. Two teens (14 yr male, 15 yr. female) plus a mom signed up for the experience with 2 grandparents watching. The experience was so much more than we expected starting with its location in a residential area of Kyoto, opposite a school and near a temple complex and Nijo Castle. We can only echo the other reviews about how organized, supportive and informative the staff are. The participants were dressed upon entry and the introduction included an oral history of the Edo period of samurai glory and the unique features of the original house where the experience is held. Fascinating. The intro was followed by a demonstration of Samurai sword wielding to the beat of a giant taiko drum. Amazing. Then the participants were trained, first with wooden swords and then the real thing, using the sword to slice a water logged bamboo stalk with one blow. It's not what you think. It's all about focus and form, not strength. The experience ended with the best lesson in how and why to do meditation and a relaxing practice to the hum of golden bowls. We were free to take photos and videos throughout and the staff posted their photos of each participant to a www site. This was so much more than we expected. I highly recommend it. Also, we arrived early and grabbed a bit to eat "around the block" where we came across a walking street filled with restaurants and second hand shops with inexpensive kimonos and other goodies. A great afternoon with glimpses into the real Kyoto.
    Written 13 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Kaito-in-Japan
    Melbourne, Australia5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Everything about this experience was entertaining and enjoyable. We also found it to be very educational as the guide/translator spent the first 15 minutes talking to us about the history of the house and the Samurai reign. After we were dressed in Samurai outfits, we were given a demonstration of their incredible swordsmanship while accompanied by traditional instruments. We then went outside (it was freezing but they handed out complimentary hand warmers and tea which were much appreciated). After a brief training session we got to use the real swords to cut down some poles which was incredible. They finish the session with some zen meditation and singing bowls. Although shorter than we had planned (just over 2 hours) we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend spending a morning in Kyoto doing this.
    Written 24 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Anirudh Srivatsa
    Mumbai, India2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent opening experience to my Kyoto visit - well executed! The event was held at the actual home of a former samurai and his family, and forms a great backdrop to the experience and an instructional aid. The katana training was super memorable - the instructors were very calm and patient and made us very comfortable as we prepared to wield it ourselves. The Zen meditation that followed was the cherry on the cake. Overall - highly recommend, and though I do think it is slightly pricey, it is worth it - something different from the usual sightseeing routine!
    Written 27 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that we played a small part in making your trip memorable and special! It was super nice to have shown you a different side of Japanese culture culture and Kyoto!
    Written 9 January 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    pwilson012345
    Nashville, TN3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2023 • Solo
    From the teaching, music, demonstration and being able to use a real sword, made this a truly memorable experience. There is definitely a sense of peace when you enter which made me feel very welcomed. I highly recommend this to anyone, not just samurai lovers, You really get a true feel of Japanese culture. English is fluent.
    Written 28 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 730
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Kyoto Samurai Experience provided by Kyoto Samurai Experience

    All Kyoto HotelsKyoto Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Kyoto
    All things to do in Kyoto
    RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire