Established in Togakushi in the 12^th century, the Togakure school of ninjitsu is one of the three major schools of ninja in Japan. Visitors to Togakushi can of course learn about this tradition at the Togakure Ninpo Museum while kids and families can enjoy the Chibikko Ninja Mura (Kids Ninja Village) but for the true ninja, you can also try your hand at the secretive arts with ninja training.

Believe it or not, ninja still exist in Togakushi with dedicated practitioners keeping the skill and art of Togakure ninja alive. For willing visitors, they offer ninja training in Togakushi village – a fun activity for guests of all ages. Workshops vary depending on the interests of the guest but typically run for a couple of hours in which time your instructor introduces some of the principles ninjitsu before teaching you some fighting and sword techniques.

Workshops are fun and engaging as you discover an art which locals are striving to keep alive and has relevance to modern life, with its focus on mindfulness and concentration instilling a sense of calm over participants. Ninja training can be arrange through the Togakushi Tourist Information Center upon request and is an ideal activity of families staying in the area overnight including at one of Togakushi’s beautiful ‘shukubo’.