"Fun and entertaining activity for tourists seeking a craft made collectible. Staff made the experience enjoyable for everyone."
Ninja Experience · Kyoto
Best Ninja Experience in Kyoto 2026 — Weapon Forging & Training
Forge your own shuriken or kunai in an 800°C furnace at a historic Kyoto mansion — samue attire, kanji engraving, and a finished weapon to take home.
Top rated
From
$142
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.8 / 5 603+ Reviews
- 9 Categories All Samurai & Ninja Experiences
- English Guides Local Experts
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What Makes This Samurai & Ninja Experience Special
Everything that makes this a must-book samurai or ninja experience.
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in a authentic blacksmithing experience using real steel
- Put the weapon you make in a beautiful box to take home and cherish
- Be introduced to a skill and have the chance to inspire a brand new passion
- It's conveniently located just a minute's walk from the nearest station.
- Capture memories with photos and videos of your crafting experience
What's Included
- Instructor
- Weapon-making class
- Uniform
- Tools
- The weapon you make to take home
How Your Kyoto Experience Works
Four steps from booking to a real Kyoto food experience.
Book Your Kyoto Experience
Reserve online in under a minute — instant confirmation by email, with free cancellation on most experiences up to 24 hours before.
Pick Your Date & Time
Browse live availability and pick the slot that fits your trip — most dates show instant confirmation.
Meet Your Local Host
It is a 1-minute walk from Hieizanguchi Station.
Taste the Real Kyoto
Immerse yourself in a authentic blacksmithing experience using real steel
Photo Gallery
Samurai & Ninja Experiences — Through the Lens
Market halls, port-wine lodges, sardine grills, and custard-tart counters — captured by our travelers.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Kyoto Ninja Experiences — Compared
How the top pick stacks up — pick the highlighted option to book, or browse alternatives.
| Feature | BEST RATED Top Pick | Alternative | Browse All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $142/per person | Varies | Varies |
| Rating | 4.8★ (603) | 4.5+★ | 4.0+★ |
| Free Cancellation | Yes | Most | Most |
| Best For | Top-rated pick | Comparison shoppers | Browsing everything |
| Check Availability | View Options | See All Tours |
More Kyoto Ninja Experience Options
Compare alternative experiences — all with instant confirmation.
Ninja Experience · Kyoto
About Kyoto Ninja Experiences
Kyoto’s standout ninja experience is a forging workshop, not a costume session. At a historic mansion a minute’s walk from Hieizanguchi Station, you change into samue — the traditional blacksmith’s attire — choose between three shuriken styles or a kunai, and hammer the glowing steel yourself as it comes out of an 800°C furnace. The blade is then shaped, engraved with a kanji character you pick, blackened against rust, and polished; the finished weapon goes home with you in a presentation box (checked luggage only on flights).
If you want training rather than craft, the alternatives cover it: a real ninja house in Arashiyama runs blowgun and shuriken practice with an English-speaking instructor and full costume rental, a tin-casting workshop welcomes children from age 5, and a Gion cafe packs shuriken, blowgun, and katana drills into one indoor session. Kyoto also makes a practical base for the historic ninja regions themselves — see our guide to Iga vs Koka ninja, both day trips from the city.
Also in Kyoto: Samurai Experience Kyoto · Sword Class Kyoto · Samurai Show Kyoto
Guest Reviews
What Travelers Say
5/5
from 603 verified GetYourGuide travelers
"My son and husband enjoyed the activity a lot. However there was some confusion about the pricing. We had paid for the kunai upgrade, however they did not have that on the booking on the studio’s end and my husband was told he had to pay for the upgrade which he did in cash. So I’m not sure if this was a getyourguide issue or a studio issue and am still trying to sort this out and get a refund for the difference which I’m hopeful will happen. Otherwise, the activity was as expected and the guides running it were knowledgeable, accommodating and helpful."
"Fun activity for parents and teens. The NIN studio team was helpful and friendly."
"My son and I really enjoyed the class. We each made a different weapon. The instructors explained the process well, and helped everyone through it at their own pace without impacting others. The complexity was spot on. Recommend."
"This was an amazing experience! It as myself and kids (18, 15 and 10). The instructor was so informative and patient. I loved that we also learned some history about the weapons. And the end product was absolutely beautiful and a perfect keepsake."
"They were really welcoming and explained us everything we need to know for the forging. It was a great experience. They were so kind and heartwarming, it was a wonderful experience. The forging was a great experience. I believe it‘s a must try in Kyoto."
"the activity was amazing, taka who led it was amazing and very knowledgeable. was made to feel comfortable and had the best time . if you only do one thing in Kyoto so this ."
"We loved making a Kunai! the instructors did a great job and it created a wonderful keepsake to take home! thank you!"
Read all 603 verified reviews
See All ReviewsReady to Book Your Samurai or Ninja Experience?
Pick the right format and city for your trip — sword class, kendo dojo, ninja training, theater show or samurai district walk. Dozens of experiences compared, all with free cancellation. Starting from $142 per person.
Browse Samurai & Ninja ExperiencesKyoto Ninja Experience — FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking a ninja experience in Kyoto.
Prices start around $142.23 per person for the top-rated option. Costs vary by group size, duration, and inclusions.
Most run 1–3 hours — check each experience's details for the exact duration and what's included.
Our top pick is "Kyoto: Ninja Weapon Forging Experience" — rated 4.8/5 from 603 reviews. See the comparison above for alternatives.
Most experiences welcome complete beginners; several offer kid-friendly sessions. Check the minimum age on each experience before booking.
Equipment and gear are provided — uniforms, practice swords, or costumes depending on the experience. Exact inclusions are listed on each page.
The featured experiences are run for international visitors — check each listing for language details.
Meeting points are central and shown on your voucher after booking.
A few days to a week in peak season. Free cancellation on most experiences means booking early is low-risk.
Still have questions? Email us at info@samuraininjaexperience.com