Amazing! Experience Being A Ninja At NINJA VR KYOTO!

Photo courtesy of NINJA VR KYOTO

Does everyone know what a ninja is? Ninjas are what we call those that learned and actually used ninjutsu (ninja skills) during the tenth to eighteenth century in Japan.

There are now ninja facilities in Japan that are featured as leisure activity spots popular with international visitors. At most facilities, you will be given a costume to wear, take photos, and undergo some type of training. However, at NINJA VR KYOTO, the facility we’ll be introducing today, you can experience immersive, realistic combat through VR!

The fun of this virtual reality facility earned it first place in the Kyoto Fun and Games category on TripAdvisor (as of February 2018). Without further ado, let’s go to NINJA VR KYOTO ourselves!

Become a Ninja After Clearing 5 Attractions!

There are five types of attractions available at NINJA VR KYOTO. The price for the complete set is 5500 yen (plus tax) while the estimated time for the experience itself is about 30 minutes per adult.

1. Kuji-Kiri: Ninja Incantations That Focus the Mind

Photo courtesy of NINJA VR KYOTO

First, you will recite incantations called kuji-kiri (lit. the nine-character art of self-defense) to bring your mind to a meditative state. It seems that you will also acquire knowledge as a ninja from these incantations.

After reciting the kuji-kiri, you will continue onto practicing basic actions and movements.

2. Throwing Shuriken and 3. Blowgun Training

In this photo is a type of ninja weapon called a shuriken (*1).

Throwing shurikens at the targets that have prepared will be harder than you think, but the staff will kindly and thoroughly teach you how to throw them. There are also instructions written in English on the walls, so international visitors can enjoy the experience without any worries even if they aren’t good at Japanese.

Separate from the shuriken experience is the blowgun attraction. A blowgun (fukiya) is a weapon that is used to shoot darts at your enemies by blowing air into a long tube with a small dart inside.

You will aim for the red and green balloons located on both ninja’s left breast as pictured at the bottom of the above photo. Our writer was able to hit the balloons on her second shot. Everyone should try this experience out as it will give you an exhilarating feeling the moment the balloon pops.

*1 Shuriken: a small blade that you hold in your hands and throw at your enemies.

Put Your Training to Practice! 4. Katana VR and 5. Shuriken VR Experiences

Photo courtesy of NINJA VR KYOTO

After learning the basic movements needed, it’s finally time to enter the virtual world of the ninja! Here, you can enjoy two types of attractions. They are the Katana VR, where you will defeat enemies with a sword as they continuously come for you, and the Shuriken VR, where you will dodge and block shurikens that come flying towards you with your tekko (*2).

*2 Tekko: a type of protective gear. Worn to cover the back of your hands, wrists, and arms.

Both VRs are divided into three stage levels – low, middle, and high-ranking ninjas – to represent your level as a beginner, intermediate, or advanced ninja. Our writer chose to do the middle-ranked ninja level at this time, which also served to be a challenge.

The attractions contain amazingly impressive details like cutting down enemies that come for you or dodging shurikens with arm guards and jumps. Our writer managed to clear the Katana VR, but, unfortunately, it was game over with the Shuriken VR.

You’ll be moving your body to the point that you’ll feel sore the next day when you tackle the VR seriously, so you can become absorbed in challenging yourself.

Photo courtesy of NINJA VR KYOTO

The regular attractions have a momentum that even adults can get absorbed into. There are also VR attractions for children twelve years old and younger, so everyone can enjoy themselves here.

How to Access NINJA VR KYOTO

NINJA VR KYOTO is located in the Furukawacho Shopping Street immediately to the left of Higashiyama Subway Station Exit 2.

There are also shops lined up side by side below the arcade. The street is usually bustling with locals and tourists and has traditional vegetable and fruit shops, hardware stores, chicken shops, fish dealers, craft beer shops, and even shops that specialize in cotton candy.

Photo courtesy of NINJA VR KYOTO

NINJA VR KYOTO is about a three minute walk into the street and is located on the second floor of the building pictured above.

A Ninja Experience You Haven’t Had Before in a Kyoto Townhouse

Photo courtesy of NINJA VR KYOTO

The inside of the facility, which is actually built inside a remodeled traditional townhouse, is entirely open to the public for taking photos too. Wear NINJA VR KYOTO’s original ninja costume and take a commemorative photo that you can customize yourself!

Would you, a ninja-lover, or you, someone who wants to experience VR attractions for themselves, like to become a real ninja in the center of a refined shopping street of Kyoto?

Ninja VR Ito

545 2F, Furukawa-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0026, Kyoto Prefecture

Made in cooperation with NINJA VR KYOTO