A display at the Asakusa branch of the Samurai and Ninja Museum showcases sets of Samurai armor. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)
Two of the stars of Japanese history are samurai and ninja, and the Samurai and Ninja Museum in Tokyo gives guests the opportunity to learn about, and even experience, different aspects of the two groups’ stories.
The standard tour experience covers three floors with most of it focusing on the samurai, as they were the more documented group throughout Japanese history.
You should consider arriving at the museum 15 to 20 minutes before your tour, so you have enough time to look at the exhibits in the waiting area and take pictures in replica samurai armor.
When the tour starts, you’ll head upstairs into a room dedicated to the early history of the samurai. Here, you’ll learn about how the first emperor of Japan was chosen, his link to Shintoism, the symbolic nature of the Japanese flag and how the samurai were first created.
Katanas in various states of assembly at the Samurai and Ninja Museum in Asakusa, Tokyo. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)
Next the tour focuses on samurai armor and weapons. The guide goes into detail about how much the helmets weighed, the difference between the two types of katanas — the long, curved, single-edged swords — carried by samurai and their evolving arsenal throughout history. At the end of this section, you’ll learn about the decline and eventual dissolution of the samurai as Japan moved away from its feudal system and modernized its military.
The final room showcases the ninja and their role in feudal Japanese society. You’ll learn about the multi-purpose nature of their equipment before the tour culminates in a shuriken, or throwing star, throwing competition. At the end of the competition, the winner gets to keep their shuriken, and everyone is shepherded into the small gift shop.
Pictures are permitted throughout the tour, and videos are allowed only to get shots of the displays to respect the privacy of the employees and other guests.
A mannequin re-creates ninja wear in front of a poster explaining the lives and accomplishments of several notable ninjas from Japan’s history. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)
The standard tour is about an hour long. Private tours and longer tours with more hands-on activities are available at an increased price. Be aware that some tours are located at different branches around Tokyo.
Book your tickets online as the tours are often fully booked, especially toward the end of the day. The tours are and displays are entirely in English.
On the QT
Location: 1-8-13, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 111-0035, Japan. It’s about a 3-minute walk from Tawaramachi Station on the Ginza line. There are multiple branches offering additional experiences throughout Tokyo and Kyoto.
Times: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The last tour each day starts at 6 p.m.
Price: 3,000 yen, or $19.19 per person for general admission tickets. Tickets for children ages 3 to 12 are 300 yen off for all ticket types. No dedicated parking is available at the museum.
Dress: Casual
Information: Online: mai-ko.com/samurai
