"A great tour of the castle and the samurai experience was very fun"
Samurai Experience · Matsumoto
Matsumoto Castle Samurai Experience — Castle Tour Plus Katana Training
First tour Matsumoto Castle — over 400 years old and one of only five castles designated a National Treasure — then step into the shoes of an apprentice samurai and learn the katana.
Top rated
From
$85
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.9 / 5 157+ 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
- Experience Matsumoto’s Celebrated Samurai Culture
- Discover a Feudal Castle where the History of the Samurai Endures
- Learn the Art of the Samurai ‘Katana’ Sword
What's Included
- English Speaking Guide
- Entry/Admission – Matsumoto Castle
- Entry/Admission – Samurai Experience Activity
- Samurai outfits and swords rental during the activity
How Your Matsumoto Experience Works
Four steps from booking to a real Matsumoto food experience.
Book Your Matsumoto 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
Matsumoto Station: At the front of JR Line ticket office / Starbucks Coffee inside the station (2F).
Taste the Real Matsumoto
Experience Matsumoto’s Celebrated Samurai Culture
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.
Matsumoto Samurai 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 $85/per person | Varies | Varies |
| Rating | 4.9★ (157) | 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 |
Samurai Experience · Matsumoto
About Matsumoto Samurai Experiences
Matsumoto pairs the two halves of a samurai experience that other cities sell separately: an authentic feudal-era castle and hands-on training. The day starts with a tour of Matsumoto Castle — over 400 years old and one of only five castles in Japan designated a National Treasure — in a city whose residents remain proud of their samurai past.
After the castle, you step into the shoes of an apprentice samurai and learn the art of the katana for yourself. It’s the only experience in this hub that bundles a National Treasure castle with sword training, and it holds 4.9/5 across 157 reviews, from $85.
More on this site: All Samurai Experiences in Japan · Iga vs Koka Ninja — What’s the Difference?
Guest Reviews
What Travelers Say
5/5
from 157 verified GetYourGuide travelers
"The Samurai experience with Miha has been one of the best in Japan. The authenticity and professionalism to teach us made this unique. Very special. Thank you so much. Also the visit to the castle was excellent either thanks to our guide. Arigato Gozaimasu!!"
"This was the perfect tour for our family. Our tour guide Keith pointed out many interesting facts as we made our way to the Castle and our family with two teenagers thoroughly enjoyed the Samurai experience. Educational and very fun! Highly recommend."
"Akiko was an amazing guide! She was incredibly kind, warm, and knowledgeable, and made our tour in Matsumoto truly memorable. She shared fascinating insights, answered all our questions, and even took great photos for us. Her positive energy made the whole experience special. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Matsumoto. Thank you, Akiko!"
"Good guided tour of this beautiful castle with our friendly, informative and knowledgeable guide. Inside the castle you have to climb many narrow steep stairways (some are almost like bamboo ladders) and then descend them again. This requires a decent amount of agility, especially as you are required to do this in your socks and carry your shoes. The Samurai sensei (Shin) was excellent and we learned the basics of sword handling (dressed in traditional costume) in a short space of time."
"Very good experience and Miha was an amazing teacher"
"Great tour of the castel and it was very fun to learn some martial art!"
"There are not enough stars in the night sky to give this experience. The guide was knowledgeable, helpful and super kind. He even carried our shoes for us in the castle. The samurai experience in the end was amazing! Me (30) and my dad (62) received a thorough tour of the castle and had so much fun with our samurai lesson. It was not only a highlight of our trip but a life highlight as well."
Read all 157 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 $85 per person.
Browse Samurai & Ninja ExperiencesMatsumoto Samurai Experience — FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking a samurai experience in Matsumoto.
Prices start around $84.72 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 "Matsumoto Castle Tour & Samurai Experience" — rated 4.9/5 from 157 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