Arakawa Tours
2-Hour Genuine Samurai Experience: Kendo in Tokyo
5

2-Hour Genuine Samurai Experience: Kendo in Tokyo

By Kendo Experience Tour Samurai Trip
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 9-86, max of 15 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Japanese, English
More


  • Professional guide/instructor
  • Rental of kendo armor and equipment
  • Bottled mineral water
  • Japanese hand towel
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks


Start:Traveller pickup offered.
  • 誠道館ビル, 4 Chome-7 Higashinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0014, Japan
    10~12 minutes from JR Uguisudani station North exit 4-7-2,Higashinippori,Arakawa-ku,Tokyo "誠道館"
Pickup details
  • 10~12 minutes from JR Uguisudani station North exit 4-7-2,Higashinippori,Arakawa-ku,Tokyo "誠道館"
Additional pickup options
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.
  • 誠道館ビル, 4 Chome-7 Higashinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0014, Japan
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 44711P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • Minimum age is 9 years
    • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
    • The listed price does not include a transportation expenses between each activities
    • Travellers should have a strong physical fitness level
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 44711P2

    From
    C$174.02
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Kendo Experience Tour Samurai Trip
      189
      Japan
      Joined in November 2016
    • williamsU4060TA
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Can-Do Kendo!
      Enjoyable experience for self, wife and our boys (10 yrs & 7 yrs). Get to learn and practice a few of the movements in the first hour. Nothing too strenuous, and it's cool to don the clothing and armor. The second half of the experience includes striking the instructor, and eventually competing against others in the class. Very amenable with respect to us capturing photos and videos to show friends. Also very patient with kiddos. The provider was accommodating and flexible in scheduling our session over the end of year holiday. While tourist oriented, this (clearly 'beginner' experience) is more genuine / less kitsch than some 'playing dress-up' we did at other times during our trip. Had a great time.
      Written January 7, 2025
    • smM3906ER
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic family experience!
      Our family had such a great time at Kendo! The kids are 11 and 12 and loved it, and we all learnt a lot. The teacher is fun and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
      Written December 20, 2024
    • _V2623KN
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A kendo experience just as expected, excellent!
      This company provided a great kendo experience, allowing my clients to enjoy a truly exceptional practice of kendo. They are very responsible, and I highly recommend them.
      Written November 19, 2024
    • charlielI5816MB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kendo class - history, culture and work out!
      The experience was great! I learnt about Japanese History and Culture at the same time as learning the basic kendo movements. The instructor modified the class for my abilities and we finished with full sparring which was really fun! The level of English was great and the team were able to answer all of my questions. We had a lot of fun and I would definitely recommend it as a great cultural experience - and a good work out!
      Written October 31, 2024
    • Michell M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Unique experience to create great memories of Kyoto/Japan. A fun and slightly challenging physical and mental workout.
      We felt comfortable from the beginning. The teacher had a welcoming and patient attitude and showed a lot of passion in his lesson. Although the teacher mentioned his English wasn't advanced, we felt that communication was not an issue for the kendo lesson or small talk. It was a great experience to go through as a couple. It was a physical and mental workout and now we have a great memory of our trip to Kyoto and Japan.
      Written October 9, 2024
    • karenjS5902KV
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome experience for my pre teen & teenage sons
      I booked this class for my ywo sons 15 & 12 they both loved the class. My 15yo is experienced in other martial arts but my 12yo is quite gentle so I worried one will be bored and the other overwhelmed. Our sensai was fantastic he was kind and reassuring to my 12yo and he really challenged my 15yo. I loved how they both got an insight into Japanese tradition.
      Written October 3, 2024
    • H8013GXcarmenm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very good experience
      It’s really an amusing lesson. Sensei is very good, and provides a very professional class. I highly recommend if you want to have a real Kendo experience.
      Written September 23, 2024
    • Paradise42817642621
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fomin family
      An excellent and bonding family experience. We came with our two children (ages 11 and 7). The dojo is located near the train station and very easy to find. The instructor welcomed us warmly, and throughout the entire session, there was a positive and respectful atmosphere. The instructor made sure we understood everything and enjoyed every moment. We learned basic moves in the art of Kendo and even got to wear the attire of real warriors. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, challenging, and bonding activity.
      Written September 10, 2024
    • Z9200NOclairel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great moment
      We spent a very nice moment with our kendo teacher! It was a great experience. Good balance between practice and discussion!
      Written August 29, 2024
    • Culture63060011680
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Worth it!
      This was so much fun, my friend and I did this for my birthday, it was a blast! Our instructor was so lovely and made the experience excellent
      Written August 20, 2024
    • 905sarithan
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very interactive and encouraging instructor
      Excellent teacher/instructor. We were well received. Studio was clean and equipment was well fitting. Both my boys enjoyed the 2 hours. They had lot of fun. Very interactive and encouraging instructor.
      Written August 18, 2024
    • Passport31536438993
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      10/10 Love at first sight.
      Comprehensive and exciting first glance at the world of Kendo. It was an awesome experience i can recomend to BOTH beginners and those who have already trained in other martial arts.
      Written August 7, 2024
    • E9512LFmohamada
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Would highly recommend
      The whole experience was great. Besides how good and experienced they are, the Sensei and his crew are very friendly and welcoming people. They went out of their way to help one of us to find a place to exchange currency as well as connect us with a local group in the same sport hall that performed to us a piece they were preparing for a festival later this month. They didn't have to do any of this and we would still be happy with the experience. Goes to show that these people are genuinely welcoming and friendly and not just doing their jobs.
      Written August 7, 2024
    • benedictbenvitot
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kendo experience with friends
      Overall satisfied. Instructor gave a lot of freedom to spar each other and the training equipment was complete. However, the actual active time we got for sparring and technique drilling did not take up the entire 2 hours we booked and was closer to an hour so the instructor could have been more clear about the time of our experience.
      Written August 1, 2024
    • brettcP846AH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kendo is great!
      Good times learning some basic kendo! Warm up. Technique. Then mini, low stakes “tournament.” We all had a blast and loved learning about this sport
      Written July 14, 2024
    See all 189 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles80 reviews
    Excellent
    71
    Very good
    6
    Average
    1
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    1

    Karen M
    Kirkwall, UK1,359 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Japanese experience in Tokyo. Samurai trip were really good to accommodate our request for a specific date. Easy walk from the local tube station.
    Guys were very welcoming & explained all elements in very good english.
    Dojo filled with kendo equipment.
    Initially get dressed in kendo - dogi & hakama (top & trousers) then body armour.
    Introduction to kendo concept, greeting & respect, basic movements, strikes & blocks.
    Then once body armour included more positive strikes & movements.
    Really enjoyed the whole experience & would recommend for anyone interested in learning about Japanese martial arts
    Written February 15, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Dr. Jay Vishwanath
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023 • Solo
    The class is excellent for people who are interested in trying Kendo and want an introduction to the martial art.

    Kenshi sensei is very helpful and is willing to cater to and help students however he can. They are open to offering lessons for single students, but you have to reach out to them via email to do so. Imazu sensei is an experienced, patient and skilled teacher who is more than willing to help work through our flaws in basic techniques, footwork and movement.

    I loved the class and was able to not only experience Kendo personally, but was also able to see Japanese kendokas training and sparring during the regular classes.

    Some things I would recommend for people who are interested in the class:

    1. It’s a good idea to know at least a little Japanese beforehand, but even if you don’t, the instructors know enough English to teach you. Knowing a little Japanese made the class a lot better for me.

    2. The class might be a bit difficult for people who aren’t used to a lot of physical activity. I had some martial arts experience beforehand, and was able to keep up relatively well, but I imagine that many people, especially those who aren’t physically active, might get tired pretty quickly.

    3. I would also highly recommend studying a little about kendo and it’s practices beforehand. I learned about it before I went for the lesson, and it made the experience much more impactful because I was able to appreciate what was being done. Learning about the etiquette for a dojo (for example, how to hold a shinai, bowing before leaving the dojo, etc) is recommended.

    The ONLY downside I can think of is that the place in question is a little difficult to find without someone to guide you. If they’re unable to provide a guide, they WILL provide you with a map, as well as a picture of the dojo entrance. However, I don’t really view this as a huge disadvantage. I like to believe that most things that are worth obtaining in life requires a little difficultly to get to, and the knowledge and hands-on experience you get in the class is well worth it.

    I fully intend to find a dojo and keep training in Kendo once I go home, and would wholeheartedly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in Kendo.
    Written February 21, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Wang Y
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Friends
    Such an interesting and inspiring experience to have! Highly recommend to anyone who's interested in kendo or japanese culture! As a total beginnger, this experience session definitely lighten up my eager to learn kendo for a longer term. The teacher is really funny and super nice. I left the session feeling energized and with a newfound appreciation for the art of Kendo. It was a great blend of discipline and fun!
    Written October 9, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Raymond L
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Family
    I went with my brother and a total of 13 people were in the session. You start by changing clothes then ritual bowing to pay respects to the gods and to the sensei. Then the crash course begins. There were 3 sensei. One main one and 2 university students who are kendo athletes. They were all very patient with us though it seems only the main teacher is fluent in English - it was enough though. Then after the basics where we basically hit the athletes, we then have a chance to spar/ play by popping a ball attached to our sparring partner. It was a great introduction to Kendo.
    Written December 31, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Andrew D
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2023 • Friends
    We had an amazing time at the Samurai Experience, Kenshi the instructor was fantastic, very passionate about the history of Kendo. He spoke very good English which was amazing as our Japanese was very limited. He even went out of his way after the fact to send use a couple of places to visit while we were in the area. If you are in Tolyo and have a few hours to spend I would highly recommend hitting up the Samurai Experience, you won't regret it.
    Written April 14, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Staci C
    25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Family
    Definitely the most unique and fun thing on our trip. Its class/training session. You learn some basic moves, try to do them (harder than you think!) and then have mini bouts. My son is competitive fencer so he did the best, but we all (22 daughter and me 50s) had a great time. Would repeat it again and very highly recommend it. Exhausting but a fantastic time. Hopefully its not once in a lifetime. Everyone in our session (another family of 5 with adult children) was thrilled...so lots of age ranges all together, and apparently that is how Kendo training works as well.
    Written September 1, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ben L
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023 • Couples
    My Wife and I weren’t sure what to expect, but we had a great time. We were made to feel very welcome by Kendo Master Imazu Sensei and the rest of his ‘Keiko’. His English was limited (way better than our Japanese) but he communicated well. The Sensai took us through the formal ritual and some basic Kendo strikes. Eventually we worked up to a bout against each other, followed by bouts against a couple of the regulars.
    The only tip I offer is to ignore their address in Google Maps and follow the address they provide in their email. We arrived at the wrong place nice and early, only to have to dash to the correct address about a km away. Don’t expect big tourist friendly signs, it was just a neighbourhood dojo that looked quite understated from the outside.
    Overall this was one of the highlights of our holiday in Japan.
    Written February 5, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Santhuri W
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Couples
    Absolutely AMAZING experience! We were truly honoured to have experienced this time-honoured tradition by Nagamatsu-San. From the garments and protective wear to the practiced moves and eventual sparring, we thoroughly enjoyed every second! We would do it again in a heartbeat!
    Written November 2, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ahmed H
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Friends
    This experience is incredible, you get to learn about the Kendo hitting techniques. You will also get to face against your friends that you bring with you, it’s a really really amazing experience and I highly recommend it for anyone going to Japan. It’s not too far from centre of Japan aswell, it was like 30 min from where I was staying.
    Written October 8, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    John S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Family
    Our kids had a great time at this place. The class was fun and informative. The instructors showed them the basics and then dressed them up in full kendo gear. They practiced the moves and then had matches between participants. They put a paper ball on the student's head and wrist and the opponent had to pop the balloon to score a point. They even had a match with the children against one of the teachers. We would definitely go back when we're in the area again.
    Written July 23, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 78
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    2-Hour Genuine Samurai Experience: Kendo in Tokyo provided by Kendo Experience Tour Samurai Trip

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