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Kyoto Samurai Guide
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Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) in Kyoto

A sword class in Shugakuin and two weapon workshops along the Eizan railway, all in the north of the city.

Quick picks
Kendo and Samurai Experience with Uniform and Equipment
Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) · 2 hours Kendo and Samurai Experience with Uniform and Equipment
★ 4.8 (1,225) from €90
Book now
Ninja Weapon Forging Experience
Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) · 2.5 hours Ninja Weapon Forging Experience
★ 4.8 (661) from €130
Book now
Make Your Own Ninja Weapon or Shogun Mask in a Tin Workshop
Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) · 2 to 2.5 hours Make Your Own Ninja Weapon or Shogun Mask in a Tin Workshop
★ 5.0 (162) from €96
Book now
Compare all options

Kendo Experience runs the most reviewed sword session on this site, plus two workshops where you make a ninja weapon. Despite the name, none of its sessions is kendo in armour. The sword class teaches basics with training swords, and the workshops are about metal. All three venues lie in the north of Kyoto, on or near the Eizan railway.

Three sessions, three addresses

Each session has its own venue, so check the station before you plan the morning.

Photo Experience What you actually doNearest stationMin. ageDuration Reviews ↕ Price ↕ Book
Kendo and Samurai Experience Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) Sword basics in training wear: grip, stance, strikes, blocks, footwork Shugakuin, about 15 min on foot 7 2 h ★ 4.8 (1,225) €90 per person Book now
Ninja Weapon Forging Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) Shape and engrave a steel shuriken to keep Hieizanguchi, about 1 min Not stated 2.5 h ★ 4.8 (661) €130 per person Book now
Ninja Weapon in a Tin Workshop Kendo Experience (Studio NIN) Cast a small weapon or a mask in tin Demachiyanagi, about 3 min 5 2–2.5 h ★ 5.0 (162) €96 per person Book now

Per-person prices are loaded from GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees. Paid extras such as the kunai at the forging class are not part of the price shown.

Sessions by Kendo Experience

Each session with the same facts, so age limits, location and what you actually do can be read across. Tap a session to see its programme, venue and house rules.

Kendo and Samurai Experience with Uniform and Equipment
Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)

Kendo and Samurai Experience with Uniform and Equipment

Sword basics with training swords in an old house in Shugakuin. Despite the title, there is no kendo armour and no sparring.

  • Duration: 2 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €90 ★ 4.8 (1,225 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full session details

Highlights

  • Training wear and training swords provided
  • Strikes, blocks and footwork
  • Time for photos and video
  • Old house with a large gate in Shugakuin

About this session

You change into training wear and learn strikes, blocks and footwork with training swords, with time for photos and video at the end. The session takes place in an old house with a large gate in Shugakuin, in the Sakyo ward in the north of Kyoto.

The title says kendo, but the session does not include kendo armour (bogu) or sparring, and the product page lists no cutting. Children can join from 7.

Where it takes place

An old house with a large gate in Shugakuin (Sakyo ward), about 15 minutes on foot from Shugakuin station.

Know before you go

  • Minimum age 7
  • No bogu armour, no sparring and no cutting on the programme
  • Shugakuin is in the north of the city, far from Gion and Kyoto Station

Details as the studio lists them on its booking page; points it leaves open are marked as not stated in our tables.

Ninja Weapon Forging Experience
Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)

Ninja Weapon Forging Experience

Forge a shuriken at around 800 °C, engrave a kanji and take it home.

  • Duration: 2.5 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €130 ★ 4.8 (661 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full session details

Highlights

  • Forge a shuriken at around 800 °C
  • Kanji engraving
  • Take your weapon home

About this session

At the studio by Hieizanguchi station you heat steel to around 800 °C, forge your own shuriken and engrave it with a kanji. The finished piece is yours to keep.

A kunai is available for an extra charge. Forged weapons can only travel in checked luggage, and import rules in your home country apply.

Where it takes place

About 1 minute on foot from Hieizanguchi station (Eizan line).

Know before you go

  • Kunai upgrade costs extra
  • Checked luggage only for the finished weapon

Details as the studio lists them on its booking page; points it leaves open are marked as not stated in our tables.

Make Your Own Ninja Weapon or Shogun Mask in a Tin Workshop
Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)

Make Your Own Ninja Weapon or Shogun Mask in a Tin Workshop

Cast a small ninja weapon of 8 to 10 cm in tin. Open from age 5.

  • Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €96 ★ 5.0 (162 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full session details

Highlights

  • Tin casting of an 8 to 10 cm ninja weapon
  • Take your piece home
  • Minimum age 5

About this session

In the tin workshop near Demachiyanagi station you cast a small ninja weapon of 8 to 10 cm and take it home. Children can join from 5, which makes it one of the easier formats for families.

According to a review, a knife or a mask costs extra.

Where it takes place

Studio about 3 minutes on foot from Demachiyanagi station.

Details as the studio lists them on its booking page; points it leaves open are marked as not stated in our tables.

The sword class in Shugakuin

The session takes place in an old house with a large gate in Shugakuin, about 15 minutes on foot from Shugakuin station. Training wear, equipment and shoes are lent to you. The instructor starts with etiquette and sword safety, then teaches grip, stance and basic movements with training swords before moving on to strikes, blocks and footwork. Photo and video time follows, and the session closes with a talk on the samurai code and how kendo developed. It lasts about two hours and takes children from 7.

The programme has no bogu armour, no sparring and no cutting. One guest expected the masks seen in photos and did not get them, and another found the house and garden run-down. If kendo in armour is what you want, the kendo page covers the session that has it.

The two workshops

The forging class meets at the red postbox in front of Hieizanguchi station, at the northern end of the Eizan line. You wear a samue and a headband, shape and engrave a steel shuriken, and keep it. A kunai costs extra. The tin workshop is three minutes from Demachiyanagi, at the southern end of the same line, and takes children from 5. You cast a weapon of 8 to 10 cm or a mask. Both are compared step by step on the weapon making page.

Getting there from the centre

Demachiyanagi is where the Keihan line from Gion and Sanjo ends and the Eizan railway begins. From there, Shugakuin and Hieizanguchi are further up the Eizan line. If you combine the sword class with a workshop on the same day, check the start times on both product pages and allow for the walk from Shugakuin station. Replica swords are on sale at the studio; they fly in checked baggage only.

Guests on the three sessions

The two-star review concerns the condition of the house and garden in Shugakuin, not the teaching. The three-star review is from the forging class, where the guest expected more hammering than the session gave.

“kahai was our instructor, he was very professional and informative. The true passion of the history shines through. This is not an experience to mess about, this is a serious activity with lots of respect taught.”
Emma · United Kingdom · October 2026 Kendo and Samurai Experience · Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)
“Amazing experience, way better than expected! We learned so much with Taka and the instructions was clear!”
Léa · France · October 2026 Kendo and Samurai Experience · Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)
“So much fun! Taka and Shun were very friendly and knowledgable, we had a great time and learned a lot, and left with a great souvenir!”
Laura · United Kingdom · October 2026 Ninja Weapon Forging · Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)
“Sawan was very kind and a great teacher!”
Roberta · Italy · October 2026 Tin Workshop · Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)
“The house is run-down and dirty. The garden is ugly and poorly kept.”
Verified traveler · Italy · December 2025 · translated review Kendo and Samurai Experience · Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)
“I thought we would be more hands on for this experience it wasn't really explained before booking that you don't really do any forging. … overall we used a sand machine to shape the blade for 10 minutes and hammered our weapon that was heated for us.”
Lee · United Kingdom · April 2026 Ninja Weapon Forging · Kendo Experience (Studio NIN)

Reviews written by guests after their session, from GetYourGuide.

FAQ

Is Kendo Experience real kendo?

Not as the sport is practised. The session teaches sword basics with training swords in training wear, without bogu armour or sparring, and includes a talk on how kendo developed.

Where is Kendo Experience in Kyoto?

The sword class is in an old house in Shugakuin, about 15 minutes on foot from Shugakuin station. The forging class is by Hieizanguchi station and the tin workshop near Demachiyanagi station.

Is the class taught in English?

Yes. The sword class and the forging class are led in English, and the tin workshop lists English and Japanese.

Can I cut with a sword at Kendo Experience?

No cutting is listed for the sword class. The training swords are for strikes and blocks.

Can I buy a sword there?

Replica swords are on sale. Like the forged pieces, they travel in checked baggage only.

Related on this site

Kendo in Kyoto

Bogu and shinai at JR Hanazono compared with the Shugakuin class.

Weapon making

Forging and tin casting side by side.

Which experience fits you

Every format in Kyoto by what you do.

Kendo Experience next to the other studios

All samurai, kendo and ninja sessions in one table.

See the comparison