Secrets of Ninjas X Samurais: Private History Tour to Iga & Koka
About This Tour
Step into the world of Japan’s legendary shadow warriors on this private journey from Kyoto to the historic ninja heartlands of Iga and Koka. Visit an authentic...
Duration: 6 Hours · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Included · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: Kyoto, Uji, Iga · Languages: English, Japanese
Know before you go: STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE; ANIMALS OR PETS ALLOWED; PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY; INFANT SEATS AVAILABLE; Not wheelchair accessible; Infants must not sit on laps; Some locations have stairs and need a little walk on rough grounds; Itinerary may change or update by the season or other circumstances; A White Nissan Minivan (no.5115) will arrive at your hotel then you will be notified, so please check your e-mail and look for the car Sometimes the car can't wait at the best position so please have a look around your hotel if you can't find it. This tour is operated even in rainy weather: If there is an unexpected delay or cancellation, you will be notified, otherwise, you can expect your car will come on time
About Iga
Iga
Explore the list of top ranked local tour guides in Iga. Get tour activities offered by tour companies and independent travel guides in Iga.
What's Included
- Private and air-conditioned Nissan Van (2 pax-) / Mini Cooper Convertible (1 guest)
- Detailed and insightful descriptions in English
- Parking, highway and fuel fees
- Direct pickup and dropping-off from your hotel (or anywhere) from 3 big cities
Not Included
- Iga-Ueno Castle
- Iga Ninja House
Itinerary
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1Day 01
Iga, located in the middle of the mountain area reached an hour from Kyoto by car, is a historical city known to be the home of Iga-Ryu (style) Ninjas. This museum is truly authentic, built by a real ninja master of the Iga clan, so the traditional Japanese rooms you enter, which seem normal, are installed full of tricks and gimmicks to fight against invaders. Secret flipping doors, hidden sword shelters, and hidden paths between rooms, all of them you can use and actually experience them like ninjas and learn how they fought are not only entertaining to all the kids but very practical and wisely thought to fight against the enemies. The museum also displays many weapons, armor and cultural things which real ninjas of the Iga clan used. *1 hour transfer from Kyoto includedIga Ueno Castle is a beautiful castle located on the top of a hill in the center of Ueno City. This castle was originally built in 1585, the peak of the Japanese warring age, to be a fort-castle of Osaka Castle, after the original building, the guild house of Iga Ninjas, got burnt and destroyed by Shogun Oda. Even though it's a replica of the original one destroyed in the war, its fully wooden construction of the Japanese tradition brings tourists a time-slipping feel. Besides, its atmospheric wooden inside is a museum displaying many Samurai armor and weapons used by real Samurai Shoguns in wars.We go through a real historical path known as "The Great Escape over Iga of Ieyasu (Tokugawa)" in primeval forest areas of Kyoto's beautiful countryside, Ujitawara. Visit a super-spiritual waterfall with a shrine located in a stunning Japanese cedar forest worshiped and used for training by ninjasOften introduced as "The Most Beautiful Village of Japan" or "Green Tea Fields to the Heaven". Wide areas of Kyoto's Uji are known for the production of the best green tea brands in Japan as well as its first invention of "Matcha". You might wonder what's green teas related to ninjas, but ninjas were originally the farmers around this area. Ninjas used to farm in the morning and train in the afternoon in the mountains around here so they were very knowledgeable even in tea ceremonies used for diplomacy at that time. It's very reasonable that they were so good at making potions and poisons out of mountain herbs, which skill also made it easier to convert themselves to pharmacies after the warring age. *30 minutes transfer by car includedThe origin of the ninja's mysterious sides is found in this Japanese mantra Buddhist temple. If you heard of a famous spell, "Kuji-Kiri" chanted before the battles by ninjas, monks of this temple still chant exactly the same phrase until today. The atmosphere of this whole large temple complex is just like video games characterizing ninjas. Experience the roots of ninja's spirituality in this absolutely spiritual temple. *1 hour transfer by car includedA small waterfall as a sanctuary used for waterfall meditations by priests, monks and ninjas since the ancient era. *1 hour transfer back to Kyoto included
Meeting Point
Meeting point: Pickup service provided in Kyoto. · Tour start: Pickup service provided in Kyoto. — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
