Ninja Gear

If you find yourself in Japan, be sure to visit the Iga Ryu Ninja Museum located in Iga, Mie Prefecture. This museum is dedicated to ninjas, their history, culture, and ninjutsu discipline.
Official website of the Museum is: http://iganinja.jp/en/museum/index.html

The musem has four main sections:

Iga-ryu Ninja House

Ninja house is full of secret rooms, hidden doors, secret passageways, hidden compartments and other surprises

“Ninjas used to hide their valuables under a strip of floorboard, adjoining a sliding door. In particular, ninjas used to hide their swords and throwing knives here. The safe, of course, could be opened in the blink of an eye by a trained ninja, by stepping on the floor board strip, thus swinging it open. To avoid the safe being opened by accident the part of the strip of floor board that was stepped on to allow access to the safe was cleverly places, found plush against the sliding door. Here the shoulders of a stranger walking in the house would touch the sliding door first, thus preventing the feet from standing on the crucial spot of floorboard below.” (taken from brochure)

Ninja Experience Hall

Here are all kind of ninja tools and weapons displayed. There are over 400 ninja items. You can see below the ninja climbing gear displayed there and the comment from the author of the picture:

“‘The ninja has no difficulty in climbing castle walls or stone walls which ordinary people could not climb. The ninja used different kinds of ladders such as those made of bamboo or rope, as well as other tools resembling a pike pole, according to the climbing circumstances farming implements to avoid suspicion, for example, they bound 4 sickles to sue as an anchor. In other cases, the ninja fixed a mital wedge or large nail, which is more portable, in the stone wall or rock to climb by hands and feet. Ninjas trained their fingers and toes every day, because although they used a variety of tools, the hands and feet were most important in climbing.’”

Ninja Tradition Hall

Here you can learn more about the philosophy behind ninjutsu, secret ninja codes and ninja tradition.

Ninja Experience Plaza Ninja Show

Live Ninja show for visitors where ninja tools are demonstrated.

Well, if your still not convinced that you should add this place to your “must see” list, look at these photos from the museum:

Life in Japan

Iga-ryu Ninja House and Museum

• 21st Century Ninja Author: Andrew ThomasThe warrior craft of Ninjutsu aims to resolve conflict- conflicts that a 1000 years ago would have been settled on the battle field or one on one combat. The principles of spying and gathering information through secret means was also a key part of Ninjutsu strategy. The Ninjutsu......
• Ninja weapons - Shuriken (throwing star) This small throwing weapon comes in many sizes and shapes. Three varieties are described here. All shuriken are thrown by hand and have a limited range. They are easily hidden in folds of clothing or tucked into sashes. Spike shuriken can even be worn in the hair. Spike shuriken look......
• Ninja assassin trailer! This year, on 25th November, Ninja Assassin is coming to cinemas! I really look forward to watching this movie. The trailer looks spectacular! The plot: "A young ninja turns his back on orphanage that raised him, leading to a confrontation with a fellow ninja from the clan" Check out the......
• Ninja weapons - sword Bokken (wooden sword) This is a wooden copy of the katana, designed to simulate that sword’s weight and other characteristics. It is used to practice swordsmanship since it does not cause cutting injuries. Wielded aggressively, however, it can cause injury from the force of the blow. The bokken requires sword......
• Ninja weapons - axes Ninjas use battle and hand (throwing) axes of all kinds. The key to sticking is consistency (which is one of the most important ninja's characteristics). This is most easily attained with an axe or 'hawk with a bit of mass. It's best to throw heaviest you can without strain. Throwing......