Samurai and ninja warriors have played major roles in the history of Japan, and they are well-known around the world for their discipline, weapons and fighting skills. If you are visiting Japan, the following samurai and ninja-related destinations are highly recommended:

Kakunodate Samurai District

The Kakunodate Samurai District is famous for its well-preserved samurai housing and architecture. It has several samurai houses but only six are open to visitors – the Aoyagi House, Ishiguro House, Odano Samurai House, Kawarada Samurai House, Iwahashi Samurai House and Matsumoto Samurai House.

It offers an interesting glimpse into the lifestyle and traditions of the samurai through collections of items such as samurai clothing, armour and drawings.

Hagi Castle Town

A former castle town and capital of the powerful Mori Clan during the Edo Period, Hagi offers beautiful centuries-old samurai mansions, white walls and temples.

It has three samurai houses open to the public – Kikuya Residence, Kubota Residence and Kido Takayoshi Residence – all of which feature traditional Japanese interior design, such as sliding doors, tatami floors, old lamps and tools.

There are also a number of museums that keep historical exhibits about life in the olden times. Check out the Kumaya Art Museum for nostalgic antiques, tea bowls, calligraphy and paintings, and coins; the Hagi Museum for dioramas and other documents regarding the town; and the Higayaki Pottery Museum for local pottery products.

Iga Ninja Museum

Located in Iga Ueno, the Iga Ninja Museum provides tons of information on the ninja warriors who featured so strongly in the feudal ages of Japan.

With two exhibition halls that display a wide array of ninja weapons and armour, a stage for presenting ninja shows, and a ninja residence that features trap doors, hidden compartments and revolving walls, a visit to the museum will surely fill any ninja enthusiast’s craving for everything ninja-related.

Koka Ninja Village

Found in a remote and rural area in Koka City, the Koka Ninja Village can take you back to the times when ninja were in full active mode. It covers a pretty large area and also includes the Ninja Museum with its collections of ninja clothing and weapons; the Ninja Star Training Hall that offers demonstrations on how to throw shuriken, walk on water, scale walls, and other ninja skills; and Trap House with its many hidden spaces, trapdoors and compartments.