[Experience] A one-day ninja experience tour where you learn from a true spy, not a legend, but a real-life professional.

Gold-Guide is a guide matching platform operated by JR West Communications Co., Ltd., which matches inbound tourists with highly skilled interpreter guides and provides guided tours.

• Table of Contents
• 1. What is a ninja?
• 2. Three "real-life ninjas" who left their mark on history
• 3. The reality of professionals living in the shadows: What is the daily life of a ninja like?
• 4. A one-day ninja tour in Koka Village, learning from true successors.
• 5. Reservations and Inquiries - We carefully coordinate a high-quality experience for one group per day.
• Gold-Guide is continuously releasing special experience programs!
• Leave your guided tour to Gold-Guide!

1. What is a ninja?

This isn't a legend from anime or movies. He was a real-life "information gathering professional."

When people hear the word "ninja," many might imagine a wizard-like figure throwing shuriken one after another or defeating enemies with flashy ninjutsu. However, real ninjas were not such mythical warriors. They were indeed real people, "intelligence specialists" who operated in the shadows on secret missions.

From the Sengoku period to the early Edo period, fierce information warfare for survival raged throughout Japan, and ninjas played a vital role on the front lines of this battle. Their true strength lay in being "professionals in information gathering." Avoiding unnecessary combat, they meticulously concealed themselves while flawlessly carrying out their missions, and their greatest task was to return alive with valuable information.

The "culture of professionalism" quietly passed down to the modern age.

Rather than relying on superpowers or magic, the ninja's techniques, which utilize human physical abilities, psychology, pharmacology, and gunpowder knowledge to their absolute limits, can truly be described as a highly refined "culture of specialized professions." Their true nature, destined to live in the shadows, has long been shrouded in mystery, but their exceptional skills and spirit have never died out, and are still quietly passed down to the present day by their successors.

2. Three "real-life ninjas" who left their mark on history

Ninjas who left their mark on history

1. Hattori Hanzo: The "leader of the Iga ninjas" who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu.

When most people hear the word "ninja," they probably think of Hattori Hanzo. However, the most famous in history, the second Hattori Hanzo Masanari, was actually a "samurai" who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Because his father was from Iga(present-day western Mie Prefecture), he served as a commander leading the Iga ninjas. His greatest achievement was the " Iga ," in which the Iga ninjas helped Ieyasu escape to Mikawa (Aichi Prefecture ) safely when he was in a desperate situation immediately after the Honnoji Incident. They were not magicians, but a professional group with a deep understanding of information networks and the terrain.

2. Momochi Sandayu: One of the "Three Great Ninja of Iga" who engaged in fierce battles with Oda Nobunaga.

Momochi Sandayu was one of the "Three Great Ninja (Top Leaders)" who wielded considerable influence in the Iga region. During the Sengoku period, Iga, a land of ninjas, did not belong to any particular feudal lord and maintained its own autonomy. Oda Nobunaga, noticing this, invaded Iga in the "Tensho Iga Rebellion," and Momochi Sandayu used guerrilla tactics to inflict great trouble on Oda's large army. His thorough information control and tactics that made use of the terrain were said to be so sophisticated that they struck fear into the hearts of the feudal lords of the time.

3. Mochizuki Izumo-no-kami: The leading figure representing Koka, the setting of the tour.

In Koka(Shiga Prefecture), the setting for this tour, the most powerful clan was the Mochizuki family. The Koka ninja were formed by a coalition of local samurai known as the "53 Koka Families," with Mochizuki Izumo- Izumo kami as their leader. While the Iga had a strong aspect of being "mercenaries" who went to various places on a commission basis, the Koka were united as a single organization and are said to have served specific lords (such as the Rokkaku clan) and carried out espionage and covert operations. The site of the Mochizuki family's residence still preserves the mechanisms of the time as a Koka ryu ninja residence.

3. The reality of professionals living in the shadows: What is the daily life of a ninja like?

Although ninjas constantly faced life-threatening missions, they lived ordinary lives as farmers, merchants, or mountain ascetics. In particular, the ninjas of Koka and Iga lived as "half-farmers, half-samurai," building strong legs and backs through farm work while simultaneously developing local networks.

The wisdom of Koka ninjas that connects to the modern pharmaceutical industry

Knowledge of "pharmacology" was essential for ninjas. As they roamed the mountains, they accumulated knowledge of medicinal herbs and independently compounded remedies for injuries, portable rations called "hyōrōgan" to withstand long periods of hiding, and even gunpowder and poisons. In fact, many pharmaceutical companies are concentrated around Koka City in Shiga Shiga Prefecture , where this tour takes place, and this is rooted in the history of the Koka ninjas. When the wars subsided in the Edo period, the Koka ninjas utilized their advanced knowledge of medicine and began traveling throughout Japan as "Koka medicine sellers." Disguising themselves as merchants selling medicine was an excellent cover for gathering the latest information from various countries without arousing suspicion.

4. A one-day ninja tour in Koka Village, learning from true successors.

Gold-Guide 's ninja experience tour allows you to actually experience the wisdom and techniques of those professional ninjas in the modern age. This tour is guided by Mr. Takamaru, a true successor to the ninja tradition. We will take you on a completely private 8-hour full-day tour by private car through Koka Shiga Prefecture , where real ninjas once lived.

First Technique: Learning the Fundamentals of Ninja First, you'll change into a ninja costume at the Real Ninja Museum. By starting with the right attire, you'll shift your mindset, learn the fundamentals of ninjutsu, and take your first step as a ninja.

Second Technique: Touching the Spiritual Pillar of the Koka Ninja We will visit the historic Aburahi Shrine, which served as a spiritual pillar and a place for strategy meetings for the Koga ninja. In the tranquil grounds, we will reflect on the prayers of the ninjas who went on life-threatening missions.

Third Technique: Explore Castle Ruins and Learn to Handle Weapons After enjoying lunch in ninja attire, we head to the stage of history. Guided by Mr. Takamaru, we tour the ruins of Wada Castle and Yamashiro Castle, feeling the atmosphere of the time and learning how to handle practical weapons such as Japanese swords and matchlock guns.

Fourth Technique: Authentic Ninja Training Finally, we move to the "Koka Village Ninja Training Center" and challenge ourselves with ninja training that utilizes the actual terrain. This is the culmination of the tour, where you not only learn theoretically but also acquire practical ninja techniques by using your own body.

This tour will be led by a Gold-Guide certified guide who has received training!

This experience will be guided and interpreted by a Gold-Guide registered guide who has received prior ninja training. From the hotel meeting onwards, your day will be immersed in ninja culture. Learn about Japanese ninja culture and history to your heart's content along with this amazing experience! After the experience, you might even feel like a ninja yourself...?

5. Reservations and Inquiries - We carefully coordinate a high-quality experience for one group per day.

This program requires prior inquiry.

This program is a private tour where the itinerary is tailored through prior inquiry, rather than being booked directly through the website. You will explore the Koka region in depth over approximately 8 hours with a dedicated guide and private vehicle (lunch and ninja costume rental are included). For those seeking a unique experience that delves into the history and practical skills of a true ninja, please inquire via the official form.

Contact form is here

*The creation and operation of travel products will be carried out appropriately in cooperation with registered domestic travel agencies. Personal information will be used only for the arrangement of this program and will be managed in accordance with each company's privacy policy.

Gold-Guide is continuously releasing special experience programs!

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