Do ninjas still exist today? Places where you can find ninja!

The ninja are a mysterious and legendary part of Japanese history.
We will share further knowledge with fans of Japanese culture who are interested in exploring their mysterious world and their history.
In this article, we will introduce the existence of the ninja, their work, and the places where you can meet them even today.
We invite you to enter the world of the ninja, a cultural icon of Japanese culture where tradition and modernity intersect.
If you're unsure of who ninjas are, we recommend our Ninja Blog article on What's a Ninja? The Little Known Truth About Ninja

Did the ninja really exist?

There are not many historical records that mention their existence, as the ninja were successful covert operators.
However, some historical records suggest their existence, especially during the Sengoku period when they were considered shadowy warriors who were active at the same time as the samurai.

The Mansen Shukai, Shoninki, and Ninpiden are well-known books of secrets about Ninja skills (Ninjutsu).

The official chronicles of Oda Nobunaga (Shincho Kouki) and other historical books in which the ninja appear are also well known.
Read our Ninja Blog article to find out more about the history of ninjas! History of the Ninja - Why are we so interested in Ninjas?

Tasks performed by the ninja

The ninja were not only assassins, but also engaged in a variety of other tasks such as intelligence gathering and espionage.
Their skills extended not only to ninjutsu but also to strategic knowledge and espionage activities, and the range of tasks they were responsible for was astonishing.

The Sengoku period, the heyday of the ninja

The Sengoku period was a time of prosperity for the ninja.
In the Sengoku period, each of the warlords employed ninja and tried to use their special skills to gain an advantage in war.
It is said that the ninja influenced the outcome of the war by stealing information, cutting off supplies, setting fire to castles, and other clever maneuvers and espionage activities.

Most two big Ninja clans, the Iga and the Koga

Iga and Koga were the birthplaces of the ninja, who were particularly famous during the Sengoku period.
Both regions became centers of ninja training and activity, and each developed a distinct ninja tradition.
There was fierce competition between them, and their identity as a "ninja village" has remained to nowadays.

If you want to know more about the famous ninjas from the Iga and Koga, please read these articles.
Famous 10 ninjas episodes part1
Famous 10 ninjas episodes part2

The End of the fighting (authentic) Ninja, the Edo period

In the Edo period, the demand for ninja decreased as warfare subsided and peace prevailed.
In the new social order, the skills and existence of the ninja were gradually forgotten.
During this period, the history of their illustrious exploits came to an end.

The Last Ninja, Jinichi Kawakami

Jinichi Kawakami, born in 1949, is known as "the last ninja".
Although he did not come from a ninja family, he was taught by a ninja from the Koga clan and acquired physical skills, training to sharpen his senses, and pharmacology such as the preparation of medicinal herbs and gunpowder.

He does not believe that it is necessary to learn traditional ninjutsu in this day and age, and he has no apprentices to pass on his skills.
Therefore, he is the last one in the lineage of traditional ninja. At least as far as is publicly known.

The University which studies ninja

Although ninja who carry on the traditional ninja arts are not increasing, the number of people studying ninja culture is increasing.
Mie University, located near Iga and Koga, has established the International Ninja Research Center in 2017, which researches ninja history and culture and disseminates its findings to the world.
This academic institution will be of interest to foreigners as a place to explore the mysterious world of the ninja.
International Ninja Research Center official website

Places where you can find ninja today

There are places in Japan where you can meet the ninja even today, although they are not the ninjas of the past who were trained in the art of assassination.
Here are some of them.

Ninja Experience Cafe in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka

Iga Ninja Museum in Mie

This is a ninja amusement park located in Iga, the home of the ninja.
Visitors can have a ninja guide them through a tricked-out ninja house and watch a show using ninja weapons.

Iga Ninja Museum official website

Summary

The role of the ninja, who were active as spies 400-500 years ago, gradually lost its role as Japan became more peaceful, and today they are loved by people all over the world as cultural icons.

Today, the ninja are still present in many parts of Japan, and we encourage you to visit them when you travel to Japan.

Also, ninja are shrouded in secrecy, and there may be some traditional ninja survivors who actually serve as spies.
They are supposed to be integrated into social life, so it is possible that people you meet in Japan are hiding the fact that they are really ninja.
If you notice this, we ask that you leave them alone so as not to interfere with their mission!

What are we?

We run Ninja Experience Cafe in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Japan.
Here you can immerse yourself in Japanese culture through experiencing ninja training.
Both adults and children are welcome to try their hand at defeating the ninja master inside the cafe.
The cafe is an indoor interactive zone, so it can be enjoyed even on rainy days.
If you are thinking "I want to be a real ninja too!” or interested in becoming a real ninja, please visit us.
Reservations can be made here.

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