If you’ve ever even remotely dreamed of being a samurai (cuz lets be honest, hasn’t everyone?), then you can’t miss this experience in Kyoto
Everyone loves visiting epic temples and picturesque cherry blossoms in Japan ( I’m guilty too!)
But I’m also the kind of girl who grew up watching Dragon Ball Z, and binge-watching Medieval Asia-themed movies, so your girl did some hardcore research to try and find experiences in Japan that would make me feel like an absolute legend.
And this one takes the cake.
The wild thing about doing something you’ve always seen on TV is that it’s always WAY harder than it looks.
For example, the stretch I had to give to pull the sword out of the sheath?
The brain power I used to remember three-move combo?
And the nerves I had to overcome to be filmed in action?
It was all a challenge. But travel always gives you a rare opportunity to see another side of yourself, and to do the kinds of things you look back on and smile.
What the experience is like
You arrive at the Myokaku-ji Temple, which is about 15 minutes from Central Kyoto.
You’ll step into a small dojo on the right side of the temple, and get right to the fun part- choosing your samurai outfit.
Channeling my inner Mulan dreams, I chose the red Kamishimo. (Yes, I know Mulan was Chinese, but I’m referring to her warrior aura)
The hosts took their time, getting each of us into our outfits, which is done in steps and has a whole process.
“I can’t believe this is how much clothing they would wear to battle,” I thought, as I could feel my sweat building from the 30-degree-plus weather outside.
From there, your “katana” ( which is absolutely a pretend katana) is secured into your belt, and you’re off to have some fun and learn a few moves.
Taking the sword out and placing it back into the sheath is the hardest part… especially putting it back in. If you want to look smooth while doing it, you need to practice it a few times, but once you nail it, you look so sleek and will feel so proud.
Once you’re dressed, your teachers begin to show you a three-move combo.
Slice left. Slice right. Slice down. Flick the sword and put it back in the sheath.
Sounds easy, right?
It always does.
But it takes coordination, focus and memory. You will have to dig deep to find your inner actor to really get into the groove of it.
Once everyone nailed down the combo, we moved outside for our big movie debut.
And that when the weight of the moment hits you. Here you are, dressed in samurai gear, in front of a stunning temple, living the absolute dream. “I don’t think there’s anything cooler I’ll ever do than this.” I thought as I stood there nervously, doing my last practice round before the cameras started rolling.
In full disclosure, I’m a terrible actor, and I really did try my best to overcome my inner giggles. But when it was finally my turn to bring the fire, I brought the flames.
Is this for me?
I would recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto for the first time. You will laugh, you’ll feel a little awkward and nervous, but you’ll have so much fun. I love experiences that force you to step outside of your comfort zone and push you to dig deeper.
If you’re sensitive to heat, then you may not want to participate in this experience during the summer. Japanese summers are notoriously humid, and being in full samurai attire will make you break a serious sweat.
I found this experience through Get Your Guide, and if this sounds like something you want to add to your next trip to Japan, I’ll leave the link to book it here.
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