We visited the awesome Ninja Trick House in Tokyo!

Use a Japanese sword and throw shuriken stars like a ninja for less than ten bucks in the heart of Tokyo!

Hidden amongst the bars, restaurants and brightly lit neon signs of Shinjuku’s bustling Kabukicho district is a group of ninjas, housed in a beautiful traditional Japanese room, waiting to share their secrets with visitors who are lucky enough to find them. Our Japanese reporter stopped by to learn a few ninja tricks from them, and for less than ten bucks, it was well worth the trip!

▼ Located on the fourth floor of a multi-tenant building, a row of beautiful vermillion torii gates immediately transports visitors to a traditional Japanese world upon arrival.

The setting takes you back to Japan’s Sengoku Period (c. 1467 – c. 1603), a time of war and unrest that was also the golden era for ninja, who were highly valued and frequently employed to use their unique skills to spy on enemies and set out on clandestine missions.

Waiting in front of the beautifully decorated sliding doors for several minutes, as the party inside finished up their session, the atmospheric mood lighting added a sense of tension, building up the excitement for what lay in store. When the doors finally opened, the inner sanctuary revealed a traditional tatami-matted Japanese room, the perfect setting for a ninja display.

After being greeted by the resident ninja, visitors take part in a scavenger hunt, discovering the different tools and secrets concealed around the room.

Then visitors receive an introduction to the awesomeness of the ninja sword, before trying their hand at using a mock sword as part of the experience.

Then it’s time to move on to shuriken-throwing, which our Japanese reporter was most excited about trying. After a demonstration by the master ninja, who showed off some superb wrist-flicking skills, our reporter stepped in for his attempt.

To add to the excitement, he was given a hood to wear while throwing the blades, which really made him feel like a true ninja.

The throwing stars were heavier than expected, and after a couple of failed attempts, where the blade bounced off the board, he finally landed one firmly in place.

▼ It wasn’t a bulls-eye, but he was still thrilled with the result!

The whole experience took under half-an hour to complete, and in that short time, our reporter learnt a lot about the way of the ninja. For 1,000 yen (US$9.76), it was an absolute bargain, and worth every yen for all the fun activities on offer.

Appropriate for children and adults alike, groups are limited to four people due to the small space, which makes for a fantastic, intimate experience. While there are signs on site saying that English isn’t spoken, the resident ninjas have no problem guiding foreign tourists through the activities, and the Ninja Trick House is quickly becoming one of the must-see spots for visitors to Tokyo. The only problem will be finding the hidden area amongst all the tiny shopfronts in Kabukicho, so be sure to look out for this sign!

Information
Ninja Trick House in Tokyo/手裏剣道場新宿忍者からくり屋敷
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 2-28-13Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Kabukicho 2-28-13 first Kazuyuki building 4
東京都新宿区歌舞伎町 2-28-13 第一和幸ビル 4F
Hours: 10:00 am – 9:00 p.m. (last entry 8:30 p.m.)

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