Uncover the Secrets of the Mysterious Ninja!

Traces of ninja can be seen throughout Japan’s long history, but they are thought to have been most active during times of unrest, when espionage and surprise attacks were especially important. Ninja work can be broadly divided into two main roles. One was “espionage,” in which they concealed their identity, infiltrated enemy territory, and gathered information. They carefully investigated the enemy’s political movements, military strength, troop numbers, and the characteristics of the land. Above all, their top priority was to gather as much information as possible, return alive to their lord, and report what they had learned. It is also said that while infiltrating enemy territory, they sometimes spread false information about the country they served in order to cause confusion and weaken the enemy. The other role was not direct combat, but participating in war from a different angle than ordinary soldiers, such as setting buildings on fire or digging pitfalls.

They served their lords with loyalty and “endured” while gathering information from enemy lands. Ninja were never allowed to let others know that they were acting on behalf of their lord while infiltrating enemy territory. For that reason, in the work of shinobi, leaving no trace was considered essential. Whether in the places they infiltrated or in history itself, it was seen as a virtue to leave behind no sound, no smell, no wisdom, and no fame for bravery. Considering this, it makes sense that written manuals of ninja techniques, known as ninjutsu books, did not appear until the Edo period, when peace had arrived.

By the way, being a ninja was not a job only for adult men. There were also female ninja. Today they are commonly called “kunoichi,” but it seems that they were not especially referred to by that name at the time. Female ninja also carried out tasks that only women could do. For example, kitchen work in those days was done by women, making it difficult for men to sneak into such areas. For that reason, female ninja seem to have played an active role. They are also thought to have carried out tasks similar to what we now call honey traps. In addition, there were even child ninja, who were reportedly sent into enemy territory as servants to gather information.

Ninja are thought to have existed in many regions during the Warring States period, and feudal lords across the country used them to gather information on rival domains. Because of this, ninja were found in many places, and the names used for them seem to have differed by region.

In the Tohoku region, some groups were called “Kusa” because they fought by ambushing from the grass. In Shinshu (Nagano) and Kai (Yamanashi), there were reportedly groups called “Suppa,” a word that became the origin of the Japanese expression “suppanuku,” meaning to expose hidden facts or secrets.

So what kinds of techniques were actually written in those ninjutsu books? To carry out their missions reliably, ninja mastered a wide range of skills. These included how to “hide,” “infiltrate,” and “memorize,” as well as methods like “hiding by imitating animals.” It was also important to “predict the weather” and “remember roads.” In addition, they learned many other things, such as how to relay the information they had obtained back to their lord, and used all of these skills to complete their missions.

The first ninja tool that probably comes to mind is the “shuriken.” However, there are no detailed descriptions of it in the ninjutsu books discovered so far, and it is thought that the popular image of ninja using shuriken was shaped through kabuki theater in the Edo period.

Ninja hid not only themselves, but also their weapons. That was because they could not carry conspicuous weapons while infiltrating. Swords or spears were hidden inside walking sticks, and daggers were hidden inside long smoking pipes called kiseru, which are thought to have been used for self-defense.

When sneaking into a residence, ninja used climbing tools called “toki.” These were tools for climbing walls and fences. One essential item was the “kaginawa,” a hooked rope tool in which the hook was thrown onto a wall or tree and the rope was used to climb up and down.

Other tools were also used, such as “kaiki,” for opening doors easily, and “suiki,” tools for crossing water or muddy ground.

There are places in Kyoto and Tokyo where you can learn about and experience the mysterious world of ninja. One of them is the Samurai Ninja Experience Museum Kyoto. It is located in central Kyoto, just a 1-minute walk from Nishiki Market, known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” a hugely popular sightseeing spot.

There is a recommended tour for international visitors, where staff guide you in English through the museum’s four floors. On each floor, you can learn plenty of trivia and fascinating facts about the history and culture of ninja, as well as samurai, whom ninja once served. Knowledgeable staff explain everything in English, from technical aspects to the interesting background of the displayed items, making this an excellent tour for exploring exhibits related to samurai and ninja. The staff are extremely knowledgeable not only about samurai and ninja, but also about Japanese history and culture more broadly, and they can answer almost any question you may have, including questions about the exhibits. Many of the displays also include explanations in English. Just by touring this museum, you might end up knowing more about ninja than the average Japanese person!

What’s more, this tour lets you change into ninja costumes or samurai armor for photos! You can also try activities such as shuriken throwing and blowgun practice, so by the end of the tour, you won’t just have gained a lot of knowledge about ninja, you’ll also feel like you became one yourself. Since you’ve come to Japan, don’t miss the chance to become a ninja and enjoy an unforgettable experience! The museum welcomes hundreds of visitors a day on both weekdays and weekends, so making a reservation before your visit is highly recommended!

At this facility, you can learn about ninja through a wide variety of exhibits. One of the highlights is the display of many tools believed to have been actually used by ninja, the so-called “ninja gear.”

This is a “kusarigama.”
In fact, many ninja are thought to have also worked as farmers, and this was one of their concealed weapons, made from the sickle used in farm work. A weight made of copper or another metal was attached to the end of the chain, and it was used by striking the enemy with the weight or wrapping the chain around the enemy’s weapon, then attacking with the sickle once the enemy was thrown off balance.

Another example is “makibishi,” spiked objects that ninja scattered on the ground when fleeing from pursuers.
They were used both to injure pursuers and to slow them down, since the pursuers had to avoid stepping on them, buying time for escape. As the name “maki-bishi” suggests, makibishi were made from dried water chestnut seeds. In an age when they did not have access to a wide variety of weapons like we do today, ninja turned everyday items around them into weapons.

To sneak into an enemy residence, ninja had to climb over walls, and that is where “toki” came in. As the name suggests, they were tools for climbing. One of them, the “kunai,” was an all-purpose tool for shinobi.
They would drive it into a wall and use it as a foothold to climb. Because it had a sharp point, it is also thought to have been used as a weapon.

Here, you can learn not only about ninja, but also about the samurai they served, and even enjoy hands-on experiences. Amazingly, real samurai armor worn in the past is on display.

Many of the suits of armor on display date from before or during the Edo period, mainly from the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the Muromachi period, and the Edo period. Nearly 20 suits of armor lined up on both sides create an impressive sight. Samurai wore this kind of armor in battle. Because these are suits from before the peaceful Edo era, you can see traces of lead if you look closely.

These marks are said to be from test-firing guns to check whether lead bullets would penetrate the armor. There are also marks left by sword strikes, letting you see up close that these pieces were truly worn in battle. Helmets, meanwhile, represented the authority of the warlord or warrior, and some are made in an especially lavish style. Valuable armor and helmets like these are usually kept behind glass in ordinary museums, but at the Samurai Ninja Museum, they are not enclosed, so you can view them from an incredibly close distance. And it is not only armor and helmets on display. You can also see the many weapons used in battle at the time. You can even hold a matchlock gun, one of the representative firearms of the era. Of course, it cannot be fired, but by holding it yourself, you can really feel its weight. There are also sword displays, where you can closely examine each stage of the sword-making process and the beautiful temper patterns on the blades. Scabbards for storing the swords and tsuba, the metal guards fitted between the blade and the handle, are also displayed. Tsuba in particular have a strong design element, showing the samurai’s eye for detail.

You can also take photos here while holding a replica sword.

At the end of the tour, you can change into ninja or samurai outfits and take photos. You can choose and wear your favorite from a wide selection of costumes lined up for you. The straw hat is called an “amigasa.” Samurai and ronin wore it, but for ninja it was also a useful tool for concealment, allowing them to hide their face while still observing the other person and the surrounding scenery.

You can also hold a sword and have the staff teach you how to pose in a photogenic way.

For your photos, you can choose backgrounds such as a Sengoku-period scene showing samurai fighting on horseback, or famous Kyoto landmarks like Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkaku-ji. Be sure to take lots of pictures to remember your trip!

After the tour, you can shop for souvenirs at the gift shop. It sells a variety of ninja goods such as shuriken in different materials and shapes, as well as replica swords.

There are also miniature suits of armor inspired by Sengoku warlords.

There are plenty of ninja- and samurai-related souvenirs for sale, making them great picks for gifts for friends and family as well!

This facility also has a sister location in Tokyo. It is the “SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO With Experience,” located just a 3-minute walk from Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and close to Tokyo’s iconic Skytree. Here too, you’ll find a rich collection of exhibits, including various antiques related to ninja and samurai, making it well worth a visit.
Be sure to enjoy a ninja experience in Tokyo as well!