Ninja Experience Takayama Basic Course: An Honest Review

If you have ever thought about Japan, or you happen to be going, so visiting Takayama and taking the Ninja Experience Basic Course may just have become something you have to do. It could just be one of those memories you just cannot put a price on. The promise of slipping into the garb of a shadowy warrior, learning ancient techniques, and generally feeling like a total ninja? Yes, so that sounds pretty cool, right? I came, I saw, I threw a star (sort of), and now, I’m ready to break down what this experience really offers. No smoke and mirrors, so just the bare-knuckle truth about what you can actually expect.

Gearing Up and Getting Grounded in History

Once you sign up, one of the initial stages, maybe surprisingly, is the history. Now, who would’ve figured, so going into the Ninja Experience Basic Course in Takayama begins, actually, not with acrobatic feats. Getting the history, though, I guess makes total sense when you are about to play ninja. It could almost be, right, that learning the foundations, even for a short stint, provides context, but it also ends up bringing this coolness to life. Rather than seeing this as, you know, a bit of theatre, it gives some credence to it. Think about that for a minute! It gives it credibility, and makes the whole process better. So, anyway, it starts by putting on your Ninja suit.

You might think that donning a shinobi shozoku, that’s the full ninja outfit, would be, really, just for show, you know? Actually, there’s something, though, pretty remarkable about getting properly kitted out. I remember getting my own attire. That might be an exaggeration. Putting it on made it kind of official. Looking the part does tend to give you an added sense of the need to perform the part. The clothing really changes your behaviour. A bit of information before stepping into the arena is what happens next. Actually, you might feel like you’ve suddenly been propelled, almost, into a historical document.

We learned, in the space of maybe half an hour, so getting just enough background history allows you to understand a number of things, you know? The purpose of the ninja. Why they did the things they did. Learning, too, how ninjas differed greatly from samurai, so maybe that difference really came alive thanks to a super quick guide by our instructor. Suddenly it wasn’t just play time. I mean, obviously it was a game, or it might be fair to say a sport, just slightly, yet being told about real-world historical events added a layer of meaning to it all.

Basic Ninja Skills: More Than Just Throwing Stars

I think the stars are more of what people would recognise, as I did anyway, right? However, there’s loads more. This experience really does offer so much more, that is. Of course you could learn how to hurl a shuriken, or throwing star, properly, but you will also see, perhaps surprisingly, the kind of precision, focus and practice this, and many other disciplines need. Then it dawned on me! There really is, very likely, far more to this, which goes way beyond basic party tricks, honestly!

Our instructor covered a number of disciplines, I would have to say, clearly. This included stealth movements, sword handling, or at least the absolute, very basic introduction to it. What became so clear in that moment, it might be fair to say, that there are people who make a living from it. The ability to move unseen might appear effortless. The swiftness to draw and yield a sword seems effortless, it can, honestly. However, clearly this isn’t just about ability. The kind of ability comes with countless hours of disciplined practice.

In Takayama, as part of the Ninja Experience Basic Course, what I found pretty amazing was how much was put into a very short introduction to being a ninja. The reality really started to set in. What would take hours to hone, like your average professional, or enthusiastic amateur, gets condensed. You have a good shot at seeing what happens and what it feels like. So, really, it gave a great insight, in a number of respects, and it also showed the enormous dedication needed to pursue this.

The Dojo: A Place of Respect and Focus

Stepping into the dojo, is that a studio or room for training?, so it does change everything. There might be a certain atmosphere that’s created. All around the room there are various implements. Pictures hanging, I would have to say, everywhere. Clearly they indicate what this area has been created for. It may just remind you to show total respect. Very quickly it becomes evident, it could be said, that this might just be the place that transforms eager participants. Anyway, briefly, into trainee ninjas.

What comes across pretty rapidly is the need to take things seriously, yet, basically, still have fun, that’s very important, is that right? If, for a second, you think this could be slightly, in some respects, slapstick, you are probably not in the right space. What helps focus you, a little, it’s almost like being in a special place where what is about to happen will shape the immediate future, to a certain degree. I noticed how our instructor spoke, maybe without a lot of yelling or obvious demands, yet he commanded complete and utter respect.

The Ninja Experience in Takayama allows those who visit to learn many valuable things, arguably. Of course they learn some very basic, that’s it, fighting skills, right? The place is far more than that, of course. If, when you visit you go with an open mind you, in some respects, may begin to appreciate the culture from afar. It does mean, basically, you need to throw yourself in completely, so you buy into that specific part. Being there can transport you to somewhere different and you will have something of huge value that stays with you, so that seems obvious.

Cultural Immersion Beyond the Blade

What seems almost so different, is the mix of everything. Learning the actual moves is one aspect of this, it’s almost obvious. Being surrounded by tradition, so it creates a sense of something far bigger. The whole Ninja Experience in Takayama creates that feeling, totally. It’s almost an opportunity to begin appreciating just a snippet of Japanese culture and history.

One of the great things is feeling, in some ways, integrated into something that perhaps otherwise you may just read about. So that is a really interesting, right, concept if you come to think of it. This course allows tourists to not only learn cool stuff, literally, but it, more or less, connects them to the local area. It seems very different from just a quick excursion.

By allowing some immersion, a bit, that could almost be hands-on engagement, so tourists can better get what local customs are about. This particular cultural experience allows individuals, at the end of the day, to step outside their comfort zone, arguably. Learning stuff that you have never experienced before can make it seem quite fascinating. In so many ways it creates memories. Basically this is a pretty good thing that benefits so many in lots of ways. That makes total sense to me.

Final Verdict: Is the Ninja Experience Worth It?

The big question you probably want answering, actually. Is it any good, that experience? I would have to say, totally! You might go, if you like your average person, expecting to just throw a few ninja stars and generally look pretty awesome. At the end of the day you get much more. Learning the basics, as such, of ninja skills is cool and something, I guess, to enjoy, of course. So this really becomes one of those awesome memory making opportunities to capture for a lifetime.

From putting on that ninja outfit through to standing in the dojo so it provides context to the moves you are performing. I felt that what I had been shown I could then show total respect. Being involved in a slice of the Japanese culture and historical background made this more enjoyable than some other activity you just stumble on.

• Getting kitted out gives context and feel to this particular experience
• Learning some of the basic ninja moves gives you insight, actually, into the time and effort it takes.
• Cultural immersion seems, literally, beyond slinging a throwing star.
• A great opportunity, for instance, to capture an authentic memory, definitely.

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