This Way to Iga Ueno

GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

IGA UENO AT A GLANCE

Iga Ueno is a city in Mie Prefecture famous for its ninja heritage. Together with Koka (or Koga) in Shiga Prefecture, it’s recognized as the birthplace of ninja culture in Japan, having produced one of the most well-known and respected ninja schools in the country – the Iga-ryu school of ninjutsu.

Iga Ueno is most famous for its ninja tradition, but it’s also the birthplace of one of Japan’s most celebrated poets, Matsuo Basho.

BEST TIME TO VISIT IGA UENO

Thanks to mild weather and seasonal colors, spring and autumn are ideal times to visit Iga Ueno. Coincidentally, it’s also when you’ll find two of the city’s most important festivals – the Ueno Tenjin Festival in October and the Iga Ueno Ninja Festa in April and early May¹.

If you’d like to experience the city at its most festive and vibrant, then early April and late October would be ideal times to go.

WHERE TO STAY IN IGA UENO

Iga Ueno is a small city with the majority of its attractions located in Ueno Park. If you plan on spending the night, I suggest booking a hotel near Uenoshi Station.

You can check Booking.com for hotel listings around Uenoshi Station. Here are some of the top-rated hotels in the area:

THINGS TO DO IN IGA UENO

Live Out Your Ninja Fantasies at the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

Fans of ninja culture will love the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum. More than a museum, it’s a ninja heritage attraction that features a trick house, a live ninja show, and a target range where visitors can throw shuriken and shoot blow darts.

The trick house is a recreated ninja house complete with trapdoors and hidden passageways. It’s entertaining for young kids, but it’s on the smaller side and less impressive than the ninja house in Koka.

The museum, on the other hand, is outstanding. Featuring a wide range of fascinating exhibits (with English translations) that trace the history of the Iga ninja, it’s arguably the most comprehensive and well-presented ninja museum in Japan.

The Iga-ryu Ninja Museum isn’t exactly a theme park, but it does feature live ninja shows. I honestly expected the show to be a bit cheesy and geared towards children, but it turned out to be surprisingly cool and entertaining, even though it was entirely in Japanese.

The actors were well-trained and extremely skillful, making me wonder if they were actual ninjas moonlighting as actors. It was cool seeing them use many of the weapons and tools showcased in the museum.

At the end of the show, the actors give audience members the chance to throw real ninja knives at a target (for an extra fee). If you’d prefer to throw ninja stars, then you can do so at the throwing range outside (also for a fee).

Explore Iga Ueno Castle

Just a short walk away from Iga-ryu Ninja Museum is this small but aesthetically pleasing castle (aren’t they all?). Originally built in the late 16th century, Ueno Castle was destroyed by a storm and reconstructed in 1935².

It looks drab now, but come cherry blossom season, the grounds around Ueno Castle become one of the city’s most scenic.

Visit a Museum

Most foreigners flock to Iga Ueno for the ninja museum, but it’s home to other notable museums as well, including the Danjiri Museum and the Basho Memorial Museum.

The Danjiri Museum celebrates the annual Ueno Tenjin Festival while the Basho Memorials commemorate the life and legacy of one of Japan’s most esteemed poets, Matsuo Basho. A native of Ueno, Basho is recognized as the country’s greatest master of haiku.

DAY TRIPS FROM IGA UENO

Koka Ninja House

As a whole, Iga Ueno is the more interesting tourist destination, but in my opinion, the Koka Ninja House is the most fascinating ninja-related attraction in either city.

Unlike the trick house at the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum, the Koka Ninja House is an authentic ninja residence that once belonged to the Mochizuki family, one of the leading clans of the Koka school of ninjutsu. Designed with secret passageways and hidden escape routes, it’s over 300 years old and is the only authentic ninja house still standing in Japan today.

The city of Koka is less than an hour and a half north of Iga Ueno, so it’s possible to visit both cities on the same day trip.

VISIT IGA UENO FAQs

Is Iga Ueno worth visiting?

If you have an interest in ninja culture, then yes, definitely. If you don’t, then you may find the city less compelling, as the ninja museum is the city’s main draw.

Can I visit Iga Ueno on a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto?

Yes, Iga Ueno is less than two hours by train from either Osaka or Kyoto.

Can I throw real ninja stars?

Yes, absolutely! You can throw ninja knives and shoot blow darts too.

THE FINAL SAY

Iga Ueno may not be on as many people’s radars, but if you’ve ever had a fascination for the cloak-and-dagger world of ninjas, then a visit to one of Japan’s ninja capitals is a must.

The most dedicated ninja fans may want to dress the part too, with many shops around town renting out ninja costumes, including the Danjiri Museum.

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References

1. Festivals and Events. IGA Official Travel Guide.
2. Ueno Castle. japan-guide.com.