Time to rewatch Naruto and brush up on your ninjutsu, folks! We took our Japan wish competition winner to experience a modern twist on an ancient part of Japanese culture. Come and take a look at the spectacle inside Kyoto’s mysterious and shadowy ninja restaurant.
Ninja Kyoto Restaurant＆Labyrinth delivers an evening packed with food, drink and fun, with the ninja staff performing magic tricks that will amaze and astound. Check out the video below to see the shenanigans Ashley encountered during her evening with the shinobi.
The experience begins right from the front door where we were greeted by ninjas dressed all in black who then showed us through twisting labyrinthine tunnels and into the restaurant itself.
We passed by other people dining in the open area as we were shown to our private room which was appropriately decorated with ninja swords and… champagne?
▼ The sign shows the kanji for “shinobi”, another Japanese word for a ninja.
After getting some snacks and drinks, we perused the menu which was filled with many strange and enticing items.
Every dish we ordered had a special ninja twist to it, the most impressive being an egg that was transformed into a piece of fried chicken before our very eyes! Make sure to check out the video above to see all the magic as it happened.
▼ When the sword was pulled out from the grapefruit it started smoking! While you couldn’t eat the fruit itself, the salad on top was refreshingly citrusy.
We were then treated to a special ninja magic show which culminated in a rather terrifying but impressive show of sword juggling. The ninja seemed to be in possession of all his finger and toes, so we were undoubtedly in safe hands, but we still scooted back a bit when the blades came out.
Overall the focus here is definitely on the presentation of the food rather than the taste; that’s not to say it wasn’t good, but you should come for the spectacle rather than for a gourmet experience. While the surroundings are dark and shadowy, the atmosphere is fun and lighthearted, using the modern image of the ninja made popular in TV and anime to deliver an exciting evening that everyone can enjoy. If you’re a feudal Japanese history buff who knows your shuriken from your shaken then it might not be serious enough for your tastes, but otherwise you’re sure to have a blast.
Restaurant Information
NINJA KYOTO Restaurant＆Labyrinth
583-2 Nakanocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8042
京都府京都市中京区新京極通四条上る中之町583-2
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Directions
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