Nara-sight is a super-instagrammable theme park located in Mi Nara, Nara Prefecture.

The Goldfish Museum is a must-see attraction, and other extraordinary spaces are available for both children and adults to enjoy.

First of all, take a look at these photos.

Wouldn’t you be fascinated by the beautiful extraordinary space?

There were a few strange photos mixed, but I didn’t upload them by mistake.

In fact, all of these photos can be taken in one facility.

That is the “Nara-sight“, an interactive theme park located in Nara City.

It’s a mysterious facility with an extremely photogenic space and a room where you can become a ninja.

What is the Nara-sight?

The Nara-sight, I will introduce here, is located on the fourth floor of the commercial complex Mi-Nara in Nara City.

You can get by a free shuttle bus from JR Nara Station, Kintetsu Nara Station or Kintetsu Shin-Omiya Station.

The Nara-sight is divided into four main areas

Except for the Ennichi(Fair) Area, each area requires an admission fee, but you can enjoy just any area you want, or you can enjoy the whole thing in one day.

I’ve taken a tour of all the areas in this article!

[Ennichi Area] Get Points for Nostalgic Games

When you go to the fourth floor of Mi Nala, the first thing you’ll find is a nostalgic Ennichi area.

This is an area with simple games for children to play.

Each game allows you to accumulate points and exchange them for prizes.

Speaking of Ennichi area, there’s shooting games…!

The targets are candy or toys for children

You can’t help aim at them seriously.

Apart from the six games, such as target practice where you can earn points, there are also shuriken target practice and tile cracking.

I heard that a woman can break two or three roof tiles, so I tried it right away.

Yes, it didn’t break at all…

Although tile-breaking is not a game where you can earn points, you can exchange the points you earn from other games for prizes.

[Goldfish Museum] Enjoy Extraordinary Space of Goldfish Art!

The Kingyo(Goldfish) Museum is one of the most popular areas in Nara-sight.

There are seven rooms in total, each of which is designed according to a different concept.

The first one is Room1, where you can see the evolution of goldfish in an aquarium.

I heard that goldfish evolved from crucian carp, and what used to look like a “fish” in the beginning was…

It’s getting more and more like a goldfish.

It’s just like an ornamental goldfish.

The beauty of the goldfish was so great that I was enthralled.

On the other side of the aquarium, there was a projection mapping on the wall.

The picture on the wall showed a typical Nara landscape.

When you touch the wall, it makes a sound and glows as if it touched the surface of the water.

With the beautiful wall paintings and playful projection mapping, you’ll be able to play for a while.

In Room 2, 21 types of goldfish are displayed in an aquarium zone.

A wide variety of goldfish, from familiar to rare varieties, are swimming.

Just staring at them will soothe you and make you forget the passage of time.

Up to this point, you may feel like you’re in a museum, but the rooms after that are just as photogenic!

Room 3 is the most popular room for the so-called “Instagrammable”.

The walls are decorated with pink flowers and a goldfish tank.

You can also take a picture from the front.

It seems to be popular among women who love something cute and people from overseas, and you can often see their photos on Instagram.

No matter where you cut it, it’s just so cute!

The theme of the next room4 is “Japonism”.

The mixture of Japanese and Western decorations are also very photogenic.

I heard that it’s a standard practice to take pictures of people sitting on the sofa.

There are a number of Nara touches here and there.

A deer on the wall.

In Room5, you can enjoy an extraordinary space made of mirrors.

In this kaleidoscope-themed room, you can take a selfie with a goldfish by placing a mirror behind the tank as well.

The goldfish in this room, called the “blistering eye,” is also very cute.

The “blistering eye”, where the skin of the eyes is stretched and swollen.

I’m sure I’ve already taken a lot of photos so far, but there’s a room that’s even more of a highlight.

This is Room 6.

Earth is the theme of this room, and the terrarium in the center of the room is said to represent the earth.

This sparkling room is said to be popular with both men and women.

No matter where you take your picture, you’ll get a great picture.

You can take a picture like this.

“If possible, I’d like to take a picture with no one else around…!”

If you feel that way, you can leave and re-enter at the right time. (Only on that day.)

Lastly, in Room 7, take a photo with the goldfish and the Big Buddha panel.

You can even be a goldfish yourself.

[Ninja Town] Play as a Ninja and Experience Ninja Arts!

At Ninja Town, you can experience ninja arts as a ninja.

First, change into a ninja outfit.

If you take a picture with the standard ninja weapon, the kunai, you’ll feel like a complete ninja.

You’ll be a perfect ninja within 5 minutes of admission!

This is where the ninja training begins.

The first thing to do was to try blowing arrows.

After learning from a senior ninja, I decided to try blowgun shooting.

The blowgun hit a mark immediately.

“It was a piece of cake,”

I thought to myself, and moved on to the next shuriken field.

I threw the shriken many times, but it didn’t pierce the target at all.

The next experience of kenjutsu was to hit the red light with the sword.

I had a hard time with this one too, due to my lack of athletic nerves.

When I finished swordsmanship training, I went through the mechanism, looking for a hidden door…

I wanted to cry because I couldn’t open any doors.

After arriving at the hall, the next challenge is to solve the riddle.

At the end of the game, the senior ninja and I will fight!

When all the training is complete, you will receive a “ninja certificate” based on your score.

Also adult can enjoy this experience, so there is space for younger children to play.

Smaller children have the advantage of being able to pass through without ringing the bell!

You can see ninja show at where I fought senior ninja.

This is an area where you can not only play, but also enjoy watching them.

I was skeptical that it was going to be much fun to experience ninja arts, but when I came to the Ninja Town, I realized that it was really fun.

Adults can have this much fun, so I think it’s even more fun if you bring the kids along too!

[Trick Art] Let’s have fun taking mysterious pictures of each other

Finally, play around with the trick art area and take some magical pictures.

The trick art featuring goldfish and ninja were painted directly on the wall.

There is a sample photo and a mark to show where to take the picture, so it’s easy to take the same pose from the designated area and complete the trick art.

It’s just like riding on the back of a goldfish

When I walked into the mysterious room with an facility personnel who was taller than me…

On the left is a snowman, and on the right is a woman of the facility.

I was bigger than woman.

You would take pictures and say, “What is this!”

You and your friends will have a great time taking pictures of each other.

Enjoy Theme Park in Nara That Even Adults Can Have Fun

‘You’re not going to be crazy about goldfish and ninjas when you grow up…’

I have to admit that I thought so for a bit.

But I found myself engrossed in looking at the goldfish and seriously playing around trying to learn the art of ninjutsu.

Most of the tourist attractions in Nara are outdoors, but here at Nara-sight, all of the attractions are indoors, so it’s nice to enjoy them regardless of the weather.

It’s a great place to go for a family outing or to spend time with friends.

There are facilities, including ninja house that is full of Japanese traditional mechanical devices, a pond of Mizugumo (ninja water-walking shoes), and a dojo (training hall) of throwing stars.

If playing wearing a rental costume, you can also soak in ninja or “Kunoichi (female ninja)” feelings.

Why don’t you enjoy the world of Koka ninja that all ages from children to adults can enjoy?

“Karakuri (Japanese traditional mechanical devices) house” and “Ninja Museum”

Koka-ryu style is the one of the most famous styles of ninja art, alongside with Iga-ryu style that is located in a place separated by a mountain.

And it is a general term of a school of ninja art style that is inherited in the region of Koka of Omi Province.

As the center of Koka-ryu style ninja art, ”Koka fifty-three families” were local samurai fifty-three families in Koka, and they formed the self-governing organization that was called as “Kokagun Chusou”.

Unlike Iga-ryu style managed with a hierarchical relationship, they managed various decision making and problem solving by a council system.

“Ninja Village in Koka” is a hidden village that is surrounded with wild forest of the foot of Suzuka-yama mountain, and as there is no place where can overview the whole village, it emits indeed atmosphere of Ninja village.

When you enter the village, let’s try going firstly to “Karakuri (Japanese traditional mechanical devices) house” and “Ninja Museum”.

You can hear the detailed explanation of staffs who wrapped themselves with ninja costumes.

“Karakuri (Japanese traditional mechanical devices) house” is a folk house of about 180 years ago that was the former Fujibayashi family, which was dismantled and was reconstructed in a different place.

Fujibayashi-clan is also known as an editor of “the Bansenshukai (the book of ninja)”, which is the most famous as a manual of ninja art.

Inside of the “Karakuri house”, there are many karakuri, including a complete reversal, a pitfall, and hidden stairs.

“Collection of ladders” of Ninja Museum Is the Masterpiece

“Ninja Museum” is a house of the former Okada family, which was reconstructed in a different place.

The Okada family served to Oki-clan, which was the one of the Koka twenty-one families.

As the Koka twenty-one families was the most trusted amongst the Koka fifty-three families that they received kanjo letters (letters commending distinguished achievements in a battle) from Sasaki Rokkaku-clan, who was the former lord.

The age of the house is thought as late Edo Period, and it transmits the representing style of folk houses of Koka.

The highlight at Ninja Museum is the exhibit of “climbing tools” that were used when ninja climbed up on a castle wall and a stone fence, etc.

Ninja used various kinds of ladders, including “a knotted ladder”, “a long ladder”, and “a winding ladder”.

Especially, a knotted ladder is a superb tool, which can be disassembled in pieces when they carry, and which can be reassembled easily wherever just with ropes and woods.

A winding ladder can be carried in compact style together with other goods as it can be folded, and its style is applied even today to some “a fire escape rope ladder”.

A manual of ninja art “the Bansenshukai (the book of ninja)” is also exhibited

Often, in a period drama of ninja, there depicts the combats over the manuals, but the information cannot be easily stolen from the scrolls, as the secret heart of ninja art, etc. is transmitted by the oral tradition.

Also, “the Bansenshukai (the book of ninja)”, which is said as the one of the three major secret books, alongside with “Seininki (True Path of the Ninja)” and “Ninpiden”, is the manual of ninja art that was written in the coded messages.

Let’s Transform to Koka Ninja with “A Rental Costume”

At the recommended spot for photo shooting, there is “a hand of the great image of Buddha”.

It is the hand of the great Buddha, which was used in the filming location of “the great Buddha hall on fire” in “Iga Ninpocho” of Kadokawa Pictures.

At “Ninja Village in Koka”, there is also “a rental costume”, with which you can transform to ninja.

Fees of the rental costume are 700 Yen for children and 1100 Yen for adults.  Hoods are 200 Yen separately.

After changed to a ninja costume, let’s try shooting photos, forming a hand seal of “Ninja pose”.

By the way, “ninja costume” is said generally as black, but originally it is thought as an intermediate color like reddish brown.

Also, there are attached eight to ten pockets of big and small, and ninja concealed and carried a blinding spray and a throwing star in these pockets.

“Ninja Dojo(Training Hall)” that You Can Experience For Free

What you can experience with free of charge is “Ninja Dojo”.

There are nine barriers, which are a pond of Mizugumo (ninja water-walking shoes), a well with a hidden through passage, a walk on a bridged tree trunk, a climbing up on a steep, a tightrope walking, a walk along the wall, a walk sideways along the fence, going over the fence, and climbing up the stone fence.

When you clear all the barriers, you will be given a scroll of “ninja full proficiency license”.

At the popular water-walking device “an art of Mizugumo”, you will soak till your shins in the water, so you would be better to roll up the pants hems.

At “an art of Mizugumo”, it is important to go forward slowly and not to rush.

If you fail, you will completely soak in the water, so please prepare change of clothes for sure.

Where you can enjoy throwing stars of real size is Koka-ryu style “dojo of throwing stars.”

You can experience feeling the real weight.

A fee for challenge is 300 Yen for eight throws.

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“Sarutobi Sasuke”, one of the Sanada Ten Braves, was Koka ninja

“Shinobi-jinja Shrine” is a shrine where enshrined ninja who passed away without a fame.  Daikokuten (Daikoku Sama) is enshrined in its front.

It is built in early Edo Period, and it is Koka Daikokuten that is said as the Japan’s number one of wooden made.

It brings luck, including prosperity of business, , success and good luck in life, and also good marriage.

Let’s worship there by all means.

Near Shinobi-jinja Shrine, there is the monument of “the birth place of Sarutobi Sasuke” of Koka ninja, also the one of Sanada Ten Braves.

Although Sarutobi Sasuke is an imaginary person, it is also said that Kozuki Sasuke, Shimotsugeno Kizaru, was a model.

For souvenirs, various kinds of throwing stars and ninja swords, etc. are recommended.

By the way, the former Fujibayashi house (karakuri ninja house) and the former Okada house (Koka Ninja Museum) of “Ninja Village in Koka” were accredited as “The Villages of Secret Arts -The Real Ninja of Iga and Koga-” of Japan Heritage in 2017 as the composition of cultural treasure.

When you visited to Koka, why don’t you try playing in the world of Koka ninja at “Ninja Village in Koka”, the ninja’s amusement park?

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Basic information of Ninja Village in Koka

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Address: 394 Oki, Koka-Town, Koka-City, Shiga-Prefecture

Admissions: Adults 1100 Yen, Junior high and High school students 900 Yen, Children 800 Yen, Toddlers 600 Yen

Opening hours: 10AM to 4PM (Varies depending on seasons/ To check opening hours, please call at 0748-88-5000.)

Access: Free shuttle services available from the north exit of Koka station of JR Kusatsu Line

Please check and confirm the latest information on the official website.

Today, “Ninja” gathers much popularity not only in Japan but also overseas, and actually, there is a place where you can have Ninja experience in full scale, with dressed like a ninja, inside of the one building, located in this Osaka.

Related Tour

• Ninja Workshop and Costume Rental Experience in Osaka
• Ninja Experience Cafe in Osaka Dotonbori
• Kendo Experience Tour In Osaka “SAMURAI TRIP”

This time let introduce “Ninjado”, where is convenient of transportation that is one minute walk both from “Shin-Imamiya station” of JR, Nankai , and Hankai Tramway, and from “Dobutsuen-mae station” of Osaka Metro, where everyone can freely and easily enjoy the experience, and where you can also learn much about a ninja!

What is Charms of Ninjado which Popular Among Foreign Tourists?

①You can be dressed in a costume of ninja in a full scale, and you can freely shoot memorial photos!

It is perfect for the trip memory.

Please for sure to take a photo for your memories.

②You can experience the basic actions of a ninja!

You can experience the basic actions and movements of a ninja, while learning.

③You can learn various knowledge, including tools of a ninja and how to use them.

You may be able to hear not-well-known real story of a ninja.

④Multilingual support available.

As not only in Japanese, but also in English and Chinese is available, foreign tourists can also enjoy experiencing!

The Details of Ninja Experience

The experience is divided into 5 programs (practices).

①Kuji-Goshin-bo (an art of self defense by nine characters)

To explain simply, it is like “a spell”, and it is an action for your spirit concentrated.

Please be concentrated as if you become completely a ninja from your inner body.

②Ways of walking

Speaking of a ninja, you should act without making any sound.

You will learn such ways of walking actually.

Actually, even speaking about just ways of walking, there are some ten ways in total.

During the experience, you will learn three ways out of these.

③Ninja sword

You will learn ways including the way to hold a sword, the way to cut, and how to fight.

After you learned, you will experience actually the sword fight, just like the real, with a teacher.

As it is a chance to shoot photos, please try leaving for sure memorial photos.

④A blow gun

Experiencing a weapon only of a ninja.

Everything turns into a weapon.

Now, what can turn into a blow gun?

Please hold your expectation to enjoy until you actually experience!

⑤Throwing stars

One of the representative weapon of a ninja is “a throwing star”.

With a consideration of safety, firstly, you will practice throwing throwing stars made of rubber, aiming to a target.

At the last, you will throw the throwing stars of iron that is the same weight as the real one to a target.

Feeling the real weight that is quite different from the one for practice, will you be able to hit impressively the center of a target!?

After finished five practices, you will shoot memorial photos in a karakuri (a trick) room and in front of a suit of armor.

Please leave by all means one photo of memories with your smartphone.

Fee for the experience, and the required time.

Adults: 4800 Yen

Children (Elementary school students and below): 3800 Yen

The required time is about 1 hour together both for the experience and the memories photo shooting.

Website:http://ninja-do.com/

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An optional plan offers freely strolling in the town with dressed like a ninja.

By paying an optional fee of 1000 Yen per person, you can freely stroll around the town of Osaka with remained in a costume of a ninja.

Covered in a crowd of people, why don’t you try lurking in the town of Osaka?

You may be able to enjoy the townscape of Osaka in a different angle from the landscape that you usually view without your thoughts.

It is also recommended to go to the places with history, including “Tennoji Temple” and “Chausuyama Mountain”, with remained in a costume of a ninja.

How did you like it?

Please experience the charm of ninja that you can enjoy only in “Ninjado”!

Actually, you may be able to know the truth of a ninja, such as “it was different from what I thought”, and “I did not know”.

For example, “a ninja is even now….”, etc.

Please try hearing by all means various things, including the experience.