Guided ninja and samurai experience in Odawara, the gateway to Hakone, with an expert and a bilingual guide; from around 3.000 ¥.
Odawara, the gateway city to Hakone, was a key stronghold in feudal Japan, and its castle is the perfect setting for a ninja and samurai experience. Guided by an expert, with the support of a bilingual guide, you will get a close-up look at the history and skills of the ninja and the samurai through explanations and hands-on activities, which depending on the programme may include handling traditional weapons, throwing shuriken and the chance to wear period costumes to take photos. The experience starts at around 3.000 ¥. Odawara is a few minutes by train from Hakone-Yumoto and is a Shinkansen stop, so it is very easy to combine with arriving in or leaving the Hakone area, or with a visit to Odawara Castle itself. It is advisable to book the time slot in advance. It is a different and very entertaining plan, especially for families with children and for samurai-culture enthusiasts, adding a historic dimension to a trip normally centred on the onsen and the nature of Hakone.
