[Real experience in the Iga and Koka ninja villages] Enjoy ninja culture based in Minamiyamashiro Village , Kyoto

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There used to be people in Japan who had secret jobs called "ninjas." We will visit the birthplace of ninja, Iga in Mie Prefecture and Koka in Shiga Prefecture , where real ninja reside. We'd like to introduce a three Tomari, two-night itinerary that will allow you to enjoy a leisurely pace and the scenery of Japan's countryside.

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Fairfield by Marriott Michi no Eki Project

The Fairfield by Marriott Michi no Eki Project is a regional revitalization project by Sekisui House and Marriott International, which develops hotels close to roadside stations "Michi no Eki" nationwide from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The hotel does not have any dining facilities, but instead has guests use "Michi no Eki" and local restaurants, interacting with local people and enjoying food, and creating a system where guests can fully experience the charm of the area. Hotel staff who are familiar with the area will recommend seasonal information and spots unique to the area. The guest rooms are simple and calm, with comfortable Simmons beds and rain shower-type bathrooms without bathtubs. The hotel's lobby lounge is equipped with a large table, microwave, toaster oven, coffee machine, Japanese tea, and miso soup. Relax in your room and enjoy your purchases from roadside stations, local supermarkets, wineries, sake breweries, etc. in the lobby lounge. After enjoying the area to your heart's content, spend your time relaxing at the hotel as if you were back home. Free high-speed Wi-Fi and tables with power outlets make it ideal for workation. Enjoy a new style of travel, traversing Japan freely while experiencing the charms of each region.

Table of Contents
From Kansai International Airport to Iga. A day in the world of ninjas
Ninja-related trivia before you go out
Day 1: Experience the Iga Ninja and Enjoy the Food
Day 2: A real ninja experience in Koka
Day 3: Experience traditional culture in Iga
On to the next destination...

From Kansai International Airport to Iga. A day in the world of ninjas

From Kansai International Airport, take the JR Kansai Airport Limited Express "Haruka" to Kyoto Station. The journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Afterwards, we head to the hotel, which will be the base of our trip around the ninja village, by rental car. The driving route from Kyoto Station through Nara and back into Kyoto is a fun road that passes by the ruins of Heijo-kyo, along the Kizugawa, and near rice fields. The drive takes about an hour.
It is about an hour and a half by car from Osaka .
The base hotel is the Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro, located in Minamiyamashiro Village, the only village in Kyoto .

Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro

6191411 Kyoto Prefecture, Soraku District, Minamiyamashiro Village, Ki...

Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro offers a luxurious stay where you can enjoy the charm of the only village in Kyoto Prefecture. This hotel is located right next to the roadside station in Minamiyamashiro Village, and you can see the beautiful tea fields from the windows of your rooms. The special experience of enjoying tea grown on the spot while looking out over the tea fields is something you can only experience here. There are historic temples and shrines in the surrounding area, as well as the beautiful scenery created by the nature of the Kizu River. You can also purchase Minamiyamashiro Village's specialty products, such as tea, tomatoes, and log-grown shiitake mushrooms, at the roadside station. The vast tea fields that spread beautifully across these mountains, which are said to be the birthplace of Kyoto's tea culture, are a sight to behold. Enjoy a pleasant time in this simply sophisticated hotel while feeling the refreshing air.

Ninja-related trivia before you go out

This time we will be introducing "Iga" and "Koka." Do you know the difference between these ninjas?
They are located in the mountainous areas between Mie Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture , and these two ninja villages were located on either side of the mountains. Even today, the place names remain as Iga City in Mie Prefecture and Koka City in Shiga Prefecture .
Although these two ninjas appear similar, there are some clear differences between them.
One of these is their work style. Iga ninjas were dispatched on requests from feudal lords, while Koka ninjas served one lord and changed lords whenever that lord fell into ruin.
There also seem to have been differences in the ninja techniques they specialized in and the organizations they operated.

Ninjas use "Ninjutsu". This is not actually for fighting, but is based on the idea of controlling the enemy without fighting and coexisting with them. In other words, "Ninjutsu" is not for fighting, but is a collection of techniques and knowledge that allow people to live in peace with each other.
Let's go on a journey to uncover the secrets of the ninja!

Day 1: Experience the Iga Ninja and Enjoy the Food

First, let's explore the Iga Ninja.
It takes about 20 minutes by car from the hotel to arrive in Iga , Mie Prefecture .

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

The museum houses about 1,000 ancient documents related to not only the Iga style but also ninjas from Koka and around the country, and is dedicated to activities aimed at deepening understanding of ninjas and ninjutsu as a museum in Iga, a Japanese Heritage site known as the "Shinobi no Sato."
At the Ninja house, which has hidden staircases and trap doors, you can experience actual tricks, and at the popular ninja demonstration show, you can enjoy an exciting show using real weapons.
[Approximately 20 minutes by car from Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro]

Iga Castle

Iga Castle, located right next to the Iga -ryu Ninja Museum, is a famous castle with a beautiful white castle tower. It is one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan and is also known as "Hakuho Castle."
The high Ishigaki built by Todo Takatora to the west of the main citadel are approximately 30 meters high, making them the tallest in Japan along with Osaka.
During the Sengoku period, Iga ninjas may have been dispatched to battle by the lord of Iga Castle.
[Approximately 20 minutes by car from Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro]

Nikaku Restaurant

Entering the restaurant is through a "reversed door" that rotates the wall to allow a ninja to instantly hide himself. There are hidden doors and sword hiding mechanisms set up throughout the restaurant, and the menu is full of ninja elements, making it the perfect place to eat on a ninja trip.
[Approximately 20 minutes by car from Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro]
[2 minutes by car or 10 minutes on foot from Iga Castle]

Day 2: A real ninja experience in Koka

On the second day, we visited the Koka Ninja.
About a 50-minute drive from the hotel, we arrived in Koka , Shiga Prefecture .

Koka Real Ninja Museum (Tourist Information Center)

The first place you need to learn about the Koka ryu ninja is the Koka ryu Real Ninja Museum, a comprehensive tourist information center themed around the Koka ninja.

[Approx. 50 minutes by car from Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro]

Koka Ninja House

Here you can experience a real ninja house built between 1688 and 1704.
It was built as the residence of Mochizuki Izumo no Kami, the leader of the Miyoshi of Koka , and features plot twists, pitfalls, hidden ladders, and more, and you can listen to detailed explanations about them!
It gives a glimpse into the real life of ninjas at that time.
[5 minutes walk from Koka Real Ninja Museum]

Koka Ninja Village

Next, we head to a modern version of a ninja village. The vast grounds are dotted with facilities such as the Shinobi Shrine Ninjutsu Museum, the Karakuri House, and the Shuriken Dojo. In this old-fashioned hidden village, you can enjoy ninja experiences and ninja shows. You can also rent a ninja costume and try out some ninja training. Anyone who completes all of the training will be presented with a scroll proving they have mastered the art of ninja training!
[About 10 minutes by car from the Koka Ninja House]

Shimagahara Onsen Yabucha no Yu

This high-quality hot spring is Toyotomi in minerals and has been sleeping deep underground, slipping through the bedrock of Shimagahara. After the hot spring, you can enjoy local Mie and Iga cuisine, as well as seasonal ingredients.
[About 40 minutes by car from Koka Ninja Village]
[Approximately 10 minutes by car to Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro]

Day 3: Experience traditional culture in Iga

On the last day, we checked out of the hotel and headed back to Iga.
Come experience traditional culture and enjoy the food.

Breakfast at Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station) Ochano- Kyoto Minamiyamashiromura

Before setting off, we had breakfast at the village's special tomato-based curry at the Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station) restaurant "Murafudo Shokudo Tsuchinoubu" next to the hotel.
With our stomachs full, we headed back to Iga by car. We enjoyed the drive while looking at the rice fields, including the tea fields.

Iga Kumihimo Center Kumisho no Sato

Iga Kumihimo is a traditional craft that has been loved for a long time, including for making kimono accessories such as obi-jime sashes. In the past, it was used as a decorative cord to attach ornaments on swords and complex parts of armor.
At the Iga Kumihimo Center Kumishou-no-Sato, you can also take a hands-on class where you can make bracelets and straps.
[Approx. 20 minutes by car from Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro]

Danjiri Hall

The Danjiri floats used in the Ueno Tenjin Festival, an autumn festival at Ueno Ueno Shrine, and a demon procession, which is rare nationwide, are reproduced and exhibited. Experience the gorgeous Iga festival through sound and video.
[Opposite Iga Kumihimo Center, 1 minute walk]

Iga beef cutlet specialty restaurant - NAGOMI - Yamabiko

If you come to Iga, be sure to try Iga beef, a rare type of Japanese black beef that is produced in small quantities and is hard to find in other areas.
This Iga beef cutlet specialty restaurant offers burgers, beef cutlets, steak bowls, and more.
[1 minute walk from Danjiri Hall]

Basho Memorial Museum

Matsuo Basho was a haiku poet from Iga. As a child, he became interested in haiku poetry, which was popular in Iga , and was taught by a senior haiku poet. He also traveled to Kyoto, Nara, Ozu , and other places, using his family home in Iga as a base, and interacted with his disciples.
The library in the museum has many documents related to renga and haikai from the early modern period to the present day, including the original manuscripts of Okina. Why not experience Japanese culture through the world of haiku?
[3 minutes walk from Iga beef cutlet specialty store]

On to the next destination...

How was your three- Tomari, two-night trip to learn about ninja culture?
It takes about an hour and a half by car from Iga to Kansai Airport.
If you want to continue your journey into the unknown parts of Japan, we also recommend Nara and Kyoto , another Mori .
Click here for the base hotel.
[Approximately 50 minutes by car from Iga to Fairfield by Marriott Nara-no-michi]
[Approximately 2 hours by car from Iga to Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Kyotanba]

Fairfield by Marriott Nara Tenri Yamanobenomichi RESERVE

632-0032 438-7 Motoyamaguchi, Somanouchi-cho, Tenri-shi, Nara Prefectu...

Fairfield by Marriott Nara Tenri Yamanobe no Michi stands alongside the roadside station "Nara History and Art Village" in the ancient capital of Nara. At Nara History and Art Village, you can experience the precious techniques of preserving and restoring cultural properties up close, and there are plenty of events to satisfy your curiosity, such as exhibitions of traditional crafts and workshops where you can experience making things. If you stroll along the adjacent ancient road "Yamanobe no Michi", you will encounter place names and legends related to the "Kojiki" and "Manyoshu", as well as numerous historical sites, and will be drawn into the world of ancient romance. Enjoy a trip to fully enjoy the profound charm of Nara, including its world-class history, culture, and traditions, from a hotel in Tenri with a great location.

Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Kyotanba

622-0232 67, Sone Fukashino, Kyotanba-cho, Funai-gun, Kyoto Prefecture

Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Kyotanba, where you can relax to your heart's content, is adjacent to the roadside station "Kyotanba Ajimu no Sato" at the entrance to Kyotanba. Kyotanba is surrounded by gentle mountains, and the climate of the Tamba Plateau makes it a treasure trove of ingredients that are famous throughout the country for their abundant local produce, such as Tamba chestnuts and Tamba black beans. There is a wide variety of gourmet food to enjoy depending on the season, such as sweetfish dishes in early summer, buttonfish hotpot in winter, and wild vegetable dishes in spring. As a base for your trip to experience the Japanese hometown, our hotel offers comfortable, contemporary-designed rooms with amenities such as free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as movable desks and mini-fridges. In addition, we also have dog-friendly rooms, so you can stay comfortably with your precious family. We look forward to welcoming you to our hotel, which has good access to Kyotanba's tourist spots and where you can experience the scenery of the Japanese hometown.

Written by

Fairfield by Marriott Michi no Eki Project

Osaka

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