Nagano Zenkoji Temple and Samurai Experience
Nagano, Japan
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- English Speaking Guide
- Admission Fee - Entry/Admission – Samurai Experience Activity
- Samurai outfits and swords rental during the activity
- Guided tour of Zenkoji Temple
- Miscellaneous fees during the activity (meals, snacks, souvenirs etc.)
- Insurance (Travel Insurance, Private Insurance, etc...)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup point
- Nagano Winter Olympic Torch Tower & Memorial Park381-0000 長野 県 長野 市 鶴賀 問 御所 町 １３１０, 問御所町-1310 鶴賀 長野市 長野県 380-0834, Japan
Your guide will be waiting near the small Olympic cauldron in Nagano Central Square.
Pickup details
Your guide will be waiting near the small Olympic cauldron in Nagano Central Square.
Itinerary
1
Zenkōji temple
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Niomon Gate, Zenkoji Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Please note that the stairs leading to the samurai experience venue are short, but steep and narrow. If you have any accessibility needs, kindly inform us in advance.
- In Japan, authentic katanas are classified as illegal weapons under strict licensing laws. Tourists can see them in museums or specialty shops, but theatrical swords are widely used in performances, training, and during our samurai experience.
- This activity focuses on proper sword techniques and kata accessible to all including families. It does not involve any type of slicing or cutting of objects.
- There is no minimum age requirements
- Children less than 6 years old can participate for free (kid’s outfits and foam swords are included at no additional fees)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 9 reviews
prachi_p, Apr 2026
Amazing experience, our guide Kei was amazing. We experienced the Zenkoji temple, learn their customs and managed to catch an ongoing ceremony, then went on to sample the famous matcha icecream and try out different sake at the local brewery.
The best part was learning samurai moves. How to draw your swords, attack and block in the full outfit. An experienced samurai master he made us travel back in time, we felt grand as samurai and are grateful for this wonderful experience which would not have been possible without our wonderful guide Kei. The best way to learn and appreciate culture with a local! Arigato gosaimasu Kei
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We are very pleased to hear that you saw a ceremony at Zenkoji! As you said, the Samurai Experience makes you step back in time and enjoy the culture of Japan not just as it is today, but as well as the depth of culture we have spanning different time periods. We are very happy knowing that you had a fun and fulfilling day with us. We hope to see you in Nagano again someday!
Danielle_W, Feb 2026
Highly recommend!! The samurai experience was amazing - Kei sensei is a very kind, fun and detailed teacher. I really appreciated his willingness to review the specifics of each move and take the time to help me perfect the different movements covered in the class. It was such a cool and fun experience! And the location is great too. Tucked away in an old house, you really feel like you go back in time.
My guide Tom was incredibly knowledge about the temple and history of the area (and all Japan!), which was a huge plus since this was my first stop on my trip. He taught me the significance of the various Shinto/Buddhist gods and even made time to show me how the temple stamps/goshuin work. He even went above and beyond by providing recs for the best oyaki buns in the city, transportation advice, and even provided insider recs for the rest of my time in Japan. So grateful!!
Would honestly do this again if I come back to the area in the future (gotta further hone my samurai skills and show Kei sensei how much I’ve improved with more practice ;) ).
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for spending the day with us! Kei sensei takes the samurai training seriously, and it sounds like he gave you the time and attention to really work through the movements. The old house does help set the tone for the experience.
Our guides enjoy walking people through Zenkoji and the broader context of what you're seeing, especially when it's your first stop in Japan. Good to hear the oyaki and goshuin tips came in handy. We appreciate you taking the time to share all this.
We'd be happy to see you back for another round with Kei sensei. Safe travels, and hope the rest of your trip went well.
Mauricio_P, Jan 2026
Excellent experience, great walk and explanation around Nagano temples, and the Samurai experience is really enjoyable and a great learning experience
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your review. We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the walk through Nagano and found both the temple visit and samurai experience rewarding. We appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you again.
LAURIE_p, Dec 2025
The samaraii experience is amazing and Tom our guide was very informative and knowledgeable.Well worth the trip.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for joining us at Zenkoji! We're glad the samurai experience made the trip worthwhile and that Tom could give you the cultural context behind what you were seeing and doing. Hope to welcome you back to Nagano.
Susan_H, Oct 2025
Absolutely loved the Samurai experience, Kei explained everything very carefully and we learnt a lot, Tom our guide was excellent had a huge amount of local knowledge and being Canadian could understand his English!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed connecting with Japan's martial tradition through the samurai experience. Kei is careful with his explanations, and it sounds like you got a lot out of the session. Tom has lived in the area for years and genuinely enjoys sharing what he knows about his adopted home. We're pleased his storytelling and insights helped bring the sights to life for you. Thank you for joining us.
From $81.57
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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