Why don't you make a one-day trip from Kyoto to Koka Ninja's hometown. Koka City is home of Ninja. Koka is a quiet, peaceful and beautiful rural town. You will feel the atmosphere of Ninja while riding and hiking through the heartland of Ninja. There is no tour to visit real Ninja places guided by a Ninja/local Samurai descendant who can speak English. You can experience a very unique tour from this.
JR Konan station at 9:40 a.m.
JR Konan Station is a small station in Koka City and is about 1 hour away from JR Kyoto station.
Get on 8:21am train from JR Kyoto station from platform 0 (Platform 2 on Sat. and Sun.), and change trains at JR Kusatsu station to get on 8:56am train (8:59am train on Sat. and Sun.) from platform 1.
Then, your train will arrive at JR Konan Station at 9:32am.
Your guide will meet you at the gate of JR Konan station.
After meeting the guide, then, go cycling on electric bicycles.
It is the only existing real Ninja House with many tricks inside such as revolving door, hidden second floor, escape tunnel, too heavy sliding door, etc. You can throw Shuriken there if you want.
Local government built this Ninja Center for the Ninja's PR facility. There are many displays of Ninja weapons, clothes, papers, etc. Closed on Mondays.
The only Ninja-themed highway restaurant with many selection of dishes. There is a good Ninja's display room on the second floor, and the view from there is great.
The guide’s house is a typical Japanese house with tiled roof and tatami mattresses. Workshops to make coffee by Ninja’s medicine making method. The guide's wife will write your name in Japanese katakana characters on Ninja’s roll paper for your sourvenir.
Historically important medieval castles, hidden, with very high earthen walls. The guide’s clan built these castles. Older than 1560s
Hiking to the top of the mountain. On the route, we will see the rock buddha statues, strange shaped huge rocks, beautiful lakes from the peak. Ninja used this mountain to do secret training.
Ninja’s assembly place listed as Nation’s Historic Site. Function as a court too.
Train departs at 5:04 p.m. for JR Kyoto station.
Good bye (Sayonara)
JR Konan station at 5:00 p.m.
Guide fee
Electric bicycle fee
coffee and your Japanese name scroll souvenir
Ninja House admission fee 650yen
Lunch 600-1000yen
personal expenses
We will use electric bicycles for transportation. Participants must be good at riding bicycles. There are only adult-size bicycles. For sudden showers, we recommend you to bring rain gears.
This tour involves hiking in the mountain, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
More detailed tour itinerary information is as follows.
First, we will visit the Koka Ninja House, which is the only existing real one with many tricks inside such as revolving door, hidden second floor, escape tunnel, too heavy sliding door, etc. You can throw Shuriken there if you want.
Then, to Ninja Center, which is a local government’s Ninja PR facility. There are many Ninja tools displayed inside.
For lunch, we will go to Konan highway rest area, which has a Ninja-themed restaurant with many selections of dishes. The view from there is just gorgeous, and there is a nice souvenir shop too.
After that, you will be invited to the guide’s home, which is a traditional Japanese house, which may be interesting to many of you. We will make coffee by using the method of Ninja’s medicine making. While enjoying coffee, the guide's wife will write your name in Japanese Katakana characters on Ninja’s roll paper for your souvenir.
Then, we will walk to the Mochizuki Twin Castles. The place looks like hilly woods, however there are twin castles hidden. They are very important historical medieval castles. The Mochizuki clans, including the guide’s ancestors, built them more than 450 years ago.
After that, we will go to the Mt. Iwao. Mt. Iwao is a Ninja's training mountain. We will hike in the mountain. We will see rock buddha statues, strange shaped huge rocks, gorgeous view from the peak, beautiful lakeshore, etc.
The final stop is Yagawa shrine, which was used for Ninja’s meeting place for decision making with other Ninja clans.
On a rainy day, I have an alternative plan. I can facilitate tours not only on sunny days but also on rainy days.
I am a Ninja tour specialist. I do Ninja tours in Koka city Shiga prefecture, however I can come to JR Kyoto station if you choose "Ninja's Hometown E-Bike Private Tour, from Kyoto station" course.
“Wonderful tour to introduce us to Kyoto”
We were very impressed with our half-day tour with Taka. We were able to see major temples and neighborhoods. Taka is an excellent guide. He was informative and provided context for each site without over loading us with information. I highly recommend this tour.
Taka M.
(5 reviews)It was my pleasure touring with you in Kyoto. You have a lovely family. Enjoy the rest of your time in Japan.
“Excellent, professional, very knowledgeable - would recommend highly”
Taka was punctual, professional, engaging and a very pleasant guide to walk around historic Kyoto with. He is proficient and enthusiastic; explaining in relevant details the sights visited. He was flexible, curtious and attentive. His command of English is excellent.
Taka M.
(5 reviews)Thank you for your nice comments. I enjoyed touring in Kyoto with you. You have great sense of humor and made me laugh all the time. Enjoy the rest of your travel in Japan.
“Taka is amazing!”
Taka took us to some of the most major and interesting sites around Kyoto, and tailored our tour to what we wanted to do. It was lovely being able to wander around the city soaking up the sights while Taka did the guiding and planning. He was so patient with our young family, taking plenty of breaks for snacks and going at a slower pace for our 4 and 6 year olds. He even helped us catch a taxi at the end of a long day. He was so kind and thoughtful. If we are ever lucky enough to come back to Kyoto, we will definitely take another tour with Taka!
Taka M.
(5 reviews)Thank you very much for your kind words. You are most welcome. Let's go out for a Ninja tour with me someday!