The Edo period in Japan, which created a feudal class, also gave rise to the use of stealth techniques to spy on, sabotage, and assassinate rival lords. Ninjas wore dark navy blue outfits (not black), used gunpowder to assist with illusions and destruction, and memorized key information through body markings. Rival gangs developed and the ninja’s home incorporated trap doors and secret escapes to avoid capture. There were two primary clans of ninjas: Iga and Koka. Today the villages where these clans lived have embraced their ninja past and offer several ninja themed attractions.
IGA NINJAS
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The town is dedicated to ninja heritage - ninjas adorn the manhole covers. Iga’s Ueno park includes a museum that explains ninja history, skills, and culture. Every half hour there is a demonstration of the secret components of a recreated ninja mansion. The park also contains Ueno Castle - a frequent target of ninja espionage. The nearby town center has more tourist dedicated facilities - hotels, restaurants, and shops. Ninja costumes are available to rent. To the right is a bookcase that converts to stairs that lead to a hidden room.
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Ninja manhole covers. Ninja bridges. And Ueno Castle - a favorite place for ninjas to stalk.
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KOKA NINJAS
There is a ninja village and ninja “mansion” (in nearby Konan). The Koka ninja mansion differs from the one in Iga in that after the secret component walkthrough you can actually go through the mansion and test everything yourself. The house had a spinning door - that when you ran through and spun the door, a pursuant going in the same direction would crash into the door. An upper room also had a low ceiling - the pursuant would follow the ninja up into the room and then not be able to wield their sword. Clever ninjas.
All sites are a 20-30 minute walk from the closest JR rail stations. Koka (and Konan) are about 45 minutes from Kyoto; Iga another 30 minutes farther from Koka.
All sites are a 20-30 minute walk from the closest JR rail stations. Koka (and Konan) are about 45 minutes from Kyoto; Iga another 30 minutes farther from Koka.
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TAKAHASHI SAMURAI HOUSE
If you stop in Takahashi to see the Mountain Castle you will pass a small Samurai house in the town below. There's not too much to it but it only costs 200 YEN. The house is location near Okayama.
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