Tokyo:Samurai sword and archery class from a samurai descendant

The instructor, Sumida-san, was incredibly patient and encouraging. His dedication to his craft and pride in the samurai traditions was inspiring. This was certainly the highlight of our holiday for my 17-year old son. Highly recommended.

The time spent with a true master of the art of samurai was unbelievable. This is not a tourist trap, this is real. You will sweat, you will be challenged and you will learn. I took my daughter here for her birthday and she loved it just as much as me. If you want a true authentic experience in Japan with a samurai master, this is the place to go.

Great experience. Exactly as advertised, well organized, and friendly. My boys and I talked non stop after the class about how much we liked it. If there’s one thing we wish would be different, it would be to make it longer. If we lived here, we would definitely take regular classes.

Incredible Experience! Sensei Sumida is an excellent teacher, very proud of his traditions and very happy to pass them on! The explanation about the making of katanas, samurai bows, and training in swordsmanship was all very authentic. Be careful, this is not meant for tourists who want to have fun; one must take the experience seriously and respect the values conveyed by this master.

We recently did the Samurai class and it was truly an experience. Sensei was very informative, kind, and obviously a master of his craft. My boys and husband thoroughly enjoyed it, it will be a trip highlight for sure! Bonus that Machida was very easy to get to from Shinjuku- it is a very cute area, we enjoyed shopping afterwards and had a great lunch!

An absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. The Sensei was deeply knowledgeable, passionate, and genuinely inspiring — you can truly feel his love for sharing the teachings and spirit of the samurai tradition. The archery training was such a highlight: fun, energizing, authentic, and very safely guided. Nothing felt touristy — just immersive, meaningful, and unforgettable. One of our favorite experiences in Japan. Highly recommend🖤

This was easily one of the highlights of my entire Japan trip. The samurai sword and archery class felt authentic, physical, educational, and genuinely unforgettable. Sensei was incredible — patient, professional, welcoming, and clearly a true master of his craft. You can tell immediately that this is not some watered-down tourist show; it is a real hands-on introduction to swordsmanship, archery, discipline, and samurai tradition. The class had the perfect balance of history, instruction, movement, and actual practice. Learning the sword techniques, understanding the purpose behind the movements, practicing archery, and being guided step by step made the whole experience feel very immersive. Sensei made everyone feel safe and comfortable while still keeping the training serious and meaningful. I also loved that it was taught by someone with a real connection to the samurai tradition. That gave the experience a level of depth that you do not get from ordinary tourist activities. Other reviews call it “legit,” “immersive,” “welcoming,” “patient,” and a “highlight of the trip,” and I completely agree. If you are interested in Japanese history, martial arts, swordsmanship, or just want to do something in Tokyo that you will actually remember, book this. I would 100% recommend it and would honestly do it again.

Not all experiences are equal. I looked at several samurai classes before I arrived at this one and I was not disappointed. This class, as he expressed, is not entertainment. This class is for someone who is actually interested in learning the ways of the samurai in conduct, sword and bow. The sensei was incredible and this class and the memory from it will last me a lifetime. If you’re not sure which one to choose, trust me….. it’s this one. Just remember to arrive early or you risk disrupting the class!

This was absolutely the best and richest experience I had during my trip. i enjoyed and LOVED every single second of the experience!! As Master Sumida says, this is not just a tourist trap. Through this experience, he taught us the basics of the arts that make up the figure of a samurai through REAL training that will definitely make you sweat a little, but it is absolutely worth it. He is not handing out souvenirs: he is passing down an art. Master Sumida guided us through well-structured, fun, and engaging training sessions, making us truly experience what it feels like to train like a samurai. He was always very clear in his explanations and, even though my English is not perfect, I was able to understand everything without any problems. He was also very funny and made the whole experience even more enjoyable with jokes and many interesting insights. If you are planning a trip to Japan, you ABSOLUTELY have to try this experience. It is 100% worth it!!

Easily the highlight of my trip to Japan, amazing class with experienced and kind instructors teaching real techniques. No flashy unrealistic gimmicks. If you want a genuine sword and how experience this is the best place to learn.