Tokyo’s Samurai Museum is not only a fun and interactive activity to learn about this ancient art. It’s also a great thing to do indoors in Tokyo. Multiple floors of exhibits including original armor, weapons and art are on display – even guns the more modern Samurai’s used.

Whether you want to explore the displays by yourself or take a guided tour, there’s so much to take in at Tokyo’s Samurai Museum. After everything is read and your brain is exploding from too much information, you can relax and take in a show of a samurai warrior with his katana – and if you’re lucky, you can even join in on the action and dress up in replica gear!

I learnt so much here that I can’t recommend it highly enough. I never knew the samurai warriors ended up using firearms, but I do now thanks to the detailed information available at the Samurai Museum in Tokyo.

If you’re visiting in winter (like I did), the indoor attractions become a great bonus when the weather gets chilly!

So whatever you’re looking for – education, interaction, or just simply escaping the cold, Japan’s best Samurai Museum is in Tokyo, and here’s everything you need to know about visiting!

Click here if you’re looking for other unforgettable things to do in Tokyo – I highly suggest adding it to your Japan travel itinerary.

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Samurai history and background

Samurai, or Bushi in Japanese, were warriors of Japan. Originally beginning as private guards for the wealthy, they became the highest-ranking social caste in all of Japan in the Edo Period (1630-1867).

Minamoto Yorimoto was one of the most powerful of all samurai. In 1192, he set up a military-ruled government and the Samurai held the most power in Japan for almost 700 years.

Led by the Shogun, the supreme military commander, this relatively modern style of warrior lived by “the way of the warrior”, or Bushido. Death before dishonor saw many samurai take their own lives rather than bring shame to themselves by losing a battle. This was achieved by committing suicide, or harikari, and was the main purpose of their second, much smaller sword.

Dragonfly is like their motto – you can only fly forward, not backward. (backward/losing is shameful, hence harikari)

All this and plenty more is covered inside Tokyo’s Samurai Museum in Shinjuku!

 

How much does Tokyo’s Samurai Museum cost?

The price of entrance to Tokyo’s Samurai Museum is 1900 yen for Adults ($17.50 USD), kids under 12 cost 800 yen ($7.30 USD), and children under 3 get in for free. Although, there is a voucher for 1600 yen ($15 USD) that I was able to get my hands on before my visit.

• You can also pre-book your ticket to Tokyo’s Samurai Museum to save any lines!

 

What is included in this ticket price?

Pretty much everything you need is included within this entrance fee. Obviously, this gets you into the museum, but opens up a lot more than just entering.

The ticket price includes a tour of the museum if you would like a guided, anecdotal perspective, otherwise, there is plenty of written information for you to browse along at your own pace. There are multiple  English tours throughout the day, leaving every few hours.

All the displays have English text and if you are able to soak up a lot of writing, you can learn a great deal of information about the Samurai and their history.

There is also a demonstration by an actor that is trained in the combat style of the Samurai. They go through the many poses and stances that the Samurai are known for, all with a katana. It’s truly an art form. There’re not many places that you’re able to witness a live performance into the history of the Samurai.

If you’re not shy, you can even perform with the actor. They will ask for a volunteer and go through the moves with you and a sword – in front of everyone on the tour of course! Usually, I am that shy person, but I threw my hand up (or more accurately had my hand put up for me). Even though he had a laugh with me (and everyone) over my lack of samurai ability, it was still a great experience.

If you have exhausted your brain with too much information, there’s also the option to dress up like a Bushido Warrior in replica armor and mock weapons. There’re also traditional kimonos to try on for those not wanting to be a samurai. I’ll admit, I felt a little cheesy, but it was a fun and interactive end to my time in Tokyo’s Samurai Museum.

There is a small gift shop inside the museum for souvenirs and gifts. Nothing here is included in the ticket price, but there are some cool little items if you’re after something to remember your visit.

 

What kind of exhibits is on display at Tokyo’s Samurai Museum?

There are hundreds of items on display in the Samurai Museum of Tokyo. So much to read and look at, if you’re interested in learning about the Samurai, or just want a unique thing to do in Tokyo, here are some tidbits of what you’ll be treated to at the Samurai museum!

• Plenty of authentic items used by different samurai are on display here. The oldest piece of original armor is roughly 800 years old, that of a Shogun General.
• Interesting fact – most samurai were only around 140-150cm tall during the height of the Samurai era. So in order to make themselves appear taller and more intimidating, their helmets (Kabuto) had many tall designs on them. It takes around half an hour for a samurai to be completely dressed, with the help of an assistant.
• Many different items denote the rank of the Samurai. Only the highest-ranking warriors would fight from horseback. Plus, the more detailed armor you had, typically showed a more prestigious title. Extra armor pads over the knees, neck, heart, and shoulder would all symbolize this.
• Some masks have painted teeth and fake mustaches. While this may seem a little weird, it was a very effective form of intimidation to the enemy.
• There are quite a few Kabuto’s on display (no, not the fossil pokemon). These are the traditional helmets of the Samurai. Some are extravagant with their decorations. All displayed the family crest and some displayed animals. For example, the fox was sacred, while the rabbit symbolized prosperity.
• Hanging on the walls are plenty of paintings and artwork. One of the largest, depicted the final battle of the Samurai- before guns were introduced by the Portuguese in 16^th It shows how samurai would take their lives rather than face defeat. This 12-year battle ended in a draw as all the leaders fell ill and took place in the area around Mount Fuji.
• Another form of art was on the walls, in the form of a Japanese Haiku poem. This exhibit showed the contrast between 3 powerful samurai. One, who’s Haiku read “if you do not sing, little cuckoo bird, I will kill you”, almost had pitch-black armor to match the morbid poem. It’s told that George Lucas actually designed the infamous villain Darth Vader from this set of armor.
• There’s also plenty of weapons to look at and be amazed by – for example, the bow on display was bigger than me. And I’m 6 foot! Quite a few swords sit in glass cabinets, as I’m sure they are still sharp. But maybe my favorite weapon here was the largest gun – pretty much a hand-held cannon. Weighing around 25kg, it was used to damage castles with a range of 2km! That’s pretty insane to think about.

 

What else should I know before visiting Tokyo’s Samurai Museum?

• As customary in Japan, you will be asked to remove your shoes on the 2^nd floor of the museum. The rest of the building shoes are allowed, just this one section.
• No food or drink is allowed to be taken as you walk around the museum. Make sure you’re ready to take in plenty of information.

 

How do I get to Tokyo’s Samurai Museum?

Tokyo’s Samurai Museum is a short walk from many stations around Tokyo.

• Roughly an 8-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station – take the East Exit
• Roughly a 6-minute walk from Higashi-Shinjuku Station – take Exit A1
• Or a 4-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station

Tokyo’s Samurai Museum is open 7 days a week, 10:30 am to 9 pm, with the last admission at 8:30 pm.

 

Tokyo’s Samurai Museum Highlights

• Learning about the history and culture surrounding the Samurai
• Looking at the different styles of weapons used by Samurai
• Getting up and interacting with the actor – even though it was a little bit embarrassing

 

Related Travel Japan Reading

• Stay at Taiyoji Temple – Buddhist Temple just outside Tokyo
• Best things to do in Otaru
• Bathe in red wine and sake onsens at Yunnessun Hotsprings

 

Have you visited the Samurai Museum in Tokyo? What did you think? Did you learn as much as I did? Let me know in a comment below!

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Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown