Half Day Archery and Samurai Experience in Matsumoto
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Experience Matsumoto’s Celebrated Samurai Culture! Constructed at the end of the Warring States Period, Matsumoto Castle is the grandest symbol of the city’s feudal origins and samurai heritage. During your experience you will be provided with further insight into the feudal domain that was once ruled by the daimyo and his samurai. To this day, residents of Matsumoto remain proud of that heritage, that can be experienced firsthand through historic activities available in the city. Among those activities, traditional ‘katana’ (sword) fighting and ‘hankyu’ (archery) are two of the most popular on offer, both of which can be enjoyed during this experience. Samurai employed both close combat and long-range weapons including archery. Following-on from your katana experience, you will be guided in use of a hankyu bow inside a room designed for the experience. Learn the art of the ‘Katana’ Sword and extend your skill with ‘Hankyu’ Archery during this half-day samurai experience!
Inclusions
What's included
- Entry/Admission – Matsumoto Castle
- Entry/Admission – Samurai Experience Activity
- English Speaking Guide
- Entry/Admission – Archery Experience Activity
- Samurai outfits, swords and archery rental during the activity
What's not
- Miscellaneous fees during the activity (meals, snacks, souvenirs etc.)
- Insurance (Travel Insurance, Private Insurance, etc...)
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 53
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 3 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Tour begins at Matsumoto Station at the front of the JR Line ticket office / Starbucks Coffee inside the station (2F)
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 15 travellers
- Operated by
- Welcome Matsumoto
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that the stairs to reach the top of Matsumoto Castle’s tower are steep and narrow.
- In Japan, authentic katanas are classified as illegal weapons under strict licensing laws. Tourists can see them in museums or specialty shops, but theatrical swords are widely used in performances, training, and during our samurai experience.
- This activity focuses on proper sword techniques and kata accessible to all including families. It does not involve any type of slicing or cutting of objects.
How it compares in Matsumoto
- Its from-price is 20% below the median of the 46 experiences we list in Matsumoto.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 16 of 46.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Matsumoto
Matsumoto is a Japan Alps city in Nagano Prefecture, with a black-walled castle, Edo-period merchant streets and the mountain valley of Kamikochi nearby.
Matsumoto sits in a high basin ringed by the Northern Japan Alps, in the middle of Honshu. Matsumoto Castle, called Crow Castle for its black walls, dates from the late sixteenth century and is one of the few castles to survive with its original keep, a national treasure reflected in a moat. The old merchant street of Nakamachi has white-and-black storehouses, and the Old Kaichi School, an 1876 Western-style schoolhouse, is also a national treasure.
Special offers in Matsumoto
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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