Kyoto 2 Hours Genuine Kendo / Samurai Experience In Japan

It was very fun and cozy introduction to kendo. Fantastic experience, paticularly in the morning :) we really got to wake up :)

Our instructor was wonderful. He walked a beautiful line between treating kendo with respect, but still making the experience fun for new participants, The kids learned a great deal. I lead tours to Japan, and will be returning with more groups.

Great kendo experience! We learned the basics, the different postures and the first movements, with very good explanations. It was really interesting, fun and super immersive. We loved the experience, I recommend 100%! 🥋✨

Great kendo experience! We learned the basics, the different postures and the first movements, with very good explanations. It was really interesting, fun and super immersive. We loved the experience, I recommend 100%! 🥋✨

The master Hayashi is very didactic to teach you the basics of Kendo. You will explore the protocol, the footwork, the swing, how to hit and how to fight during a match. It is definetely a great experience. Go for it :-)

My son and grandson raved about the experience. Then my grandson was able to get a connection to purchase his much anticipated Gatana. They both would highly recommend this activity.

Well organized, fun for kids and adults. The instructor is a 7th dan kendo máster. You go from 0 to kendo strikes in a short time!

Our guide and instructor helpfully met us at the station. He has 30 year experience in Kendo. For us, two adults with no martial arts experience and our teenage son who is a black belt in TaeKwonDo the class was pitch perfect. We learnt the basic Kendo etiquette, steps, strikes and fights all in full kendo uniform. Thank you - would definitely recommend!

it was a very interesting and fun experience. they were very good teachers and were very informative on kendo.

Our instructor was professional, thoughtful and patient with our family. He answered all of our questions and we had a chance to spar with each other for awhile. I highly recommend the experience!!

We had a wonderful Kendo experience at Seido-Kan. Felt very authentic and our instructor shared much of his talent and passion for Kendo. An experience and memories for a lifetime. Thank you!

Excellent fun for the whole family! The teenagers have thoroughly enjoyed it. The instructor was very knowledgeable, explained well the exercises as well as cultural background. Highly recommended if you want to experience something different than visiting the temples. The meeting point was not 100% clear to us, it may be worth mentioning that you meet the instructor outside of the train station.

My partner and I had a wonderful time! The instructor was very encouraging and made the class enjoyable for all skill levels. I would highly recommend the class to anyone visiting Kyoto with an interest in trying Kendo!

A taster session including around 10 minutes of competition. We were shown elements of Kendo etiquette, a few commands in Japanese, key feet/voice/hitting/defending skills and wore protective gear. We were first asked to take tops off in order to put on cotton undergarments after which pictures were taken (see photo). We were then provided with the remaining full armour (headgear & gloves). The teaching was fun and instructive. After the session we were introduced to a souvenir room on the floor below. Please do check the design of any fan by opening it up as the decorative cover may not necessarily relate. Children will also enjoy it, perhaps above 10 years old.

Incredible experience learning traditional kendo and the ways of the samurai. I had such an amazing time, truly the highlight of our trip!! Many thanks Anastasia, Andre and Maxim!

10/10 experience, if you’re doing anything in Kyoto, this is a must. It was hands down the best experience my group of five friends and I had on the trip. Super fun, super cool, and incredibly memorable from start to finish. Everything was well organized and exceeded our expectations.

I would recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto. It is my favorite memory of Japan. The instructor is very skilled and also very kind. The class is well structured and easy to understand thanks to the incredible teacher. Please take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

Very fun experience with a kind and patient instructor. We learned a lot and were also able to test out what we learned on each other. Highly recommend!!!!!

Me and friend really love the experience. The instructor was very polite and professional but at the same time made it fun for us to learn the lessons. Recommend that you please check this out!

What a fun, educational and workout experience this was!! Easy to get to on the San-In line, instructor met me at the station and the dojo is less than 5mins away. Great historical learning and an introduction to the martial art. Bring a towel as it does get hot in the outfit also water is provided.

Great experience! Very impressive skill and teacher! Learned a lot for two hours! Introduction to Kendo was very interesting!

We had great fun in our introduction to kendo. The instructor explained things very well and gave us lots of time to practice and take photos.

Kendo is the closest you will ever get to samurai training. It is a martial art that requires technique, cardiovascular and physical conditioning, but above all, a great spirit. Master Hayashi, 7th dan Kendo, is an incredible teacher, who has mastered to perfection his skills, and has opened the way for everyone to enjoy a taste of Kendo training. These is as close as you can get to enjoying the way of the sword in your stay in Kyoto. The dojo is conveniently located close to Hanazono train station, and Hayashi Sensei has training gear available for his students - something spectacular you might not get in any other dojo. Not only that, but Hayashi Sensei will adapt his class to your particular skill and level, guaranteeing everyone has a great experience. This was my second visit and Hayashi Sensei spent additional time sparring with me and getting me ready for my next competition in November. I cannot understate how incredible is to get attention from such a high level master. If you are new to Kendo, do it to understand the true meaning and beauty of Kendo, you will be hooked forever. If you, like me, already practice Kendo, do it to get a Kendo masterclass for correcting your skills and polishing your technique. It doesn’t get any better than this, and the environment of the Hanazono dojo is captivating. I plan to come back next year to keep my progress in check with master Hayashi.

I recently attended a Kendo class and had an awesome experience! During the session, we were introduced to the **basic rules and fundamental techniques**. Our instructor was very professional, explaining everything in a simple and easy-to-understand way. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to try Kendo, especially if it’s their first time. .Thank you again for a great lesson.

We had a wonderful time. The instructor (Takahiro Hayashi) was very friendly and knowledgeable. His positive attitude and vigor helped create an amazing experience for our whole family! I would definitely recommend it!

The teacher was very friendly. The progression from learning footwork, then weapons on a dummy, to a match against each other made it pretty easy and fun to follow along. One of our earlier concerns was the meeting at the train station, but it ended up being a very short walk and wasn’t at all an issue. Similarly, the instructors English was good enough that it was only very rarely an inconvenience, and the translation app worked fine. Finally the instructor recommended us a lunch place nearby that ended up being very good and cheap. Overall it was a very nice and fun experience, one I and the rest of my group definitely recommend trying. Though if you go, make sure to wear shorts as you’ll get quite hot.

The Kendo Experience in Kyoto was very cool! Sensei is an effective teacher, kind & patient. He lets you go at your pace. In two hours, I was trained on the fundamentals of Kendo including educate. We finished the session with an unofficial match to apply all that was learned. It was also a joy to watch Sensei’s Kendo. He is an amazing martial artist! I will return next time in Kyoto. Highly recommended to those interested in Kendo!

I expected a lot with this experience and was given so much more than I expected. After a good warm up, I was given a rich history of Kendo through bowing in practice, terminology and a tour of basic techniques. Within thirty minute, I felt like I'd taken a pilates course with the way that my muscles were learning the new movements. Sensei was patient, encouraging and even setup my phone so we could have good photos and videos of our practice. The class ended with sparring which was nothing but fun and laughs as I worked to bring everything together. This is a must do for any martial arts enthusiast and a great way for anyone looking to learn more about Japanese cultures and traditions. 10 out of 10. I would book this again the next time that I'm in Japan.

It's an authentic experience. The sensei is very patient and explains things very well, making you feel welcome. The best part is the battles. There were only a few of us, and I was fortunate enough to fight against the sensei. It was amazing. The best experience in Japan.

Of all the martial arts of Japan, none resembles the samurai experience closer to Kendo. It has the same sharp technique of Iaido, but also requires physical capacity similar to what a true samurai might have endured in their training and war application. The Kendo Experience turned in my case into a Kendo Masterclass. If you are not coming from the Kendo world, it’s difficult to relay the prowess and mastery of Hayashi Sensei technique and physical ability. This is not a tourist activity but the real kendo practice, right down to the dojo, top notch equipment, and instruction. I was very lucky and got the personal training session - again, from a 7th dan master, an extremely rare event in the kendo world. I learned so much and got so many corrections and improvements to my own techniques I can’t wait to comeback in October. I can imagine that for someone new to kendo (even if you have experience in karate or judo) Hayashi Sensei is the perfect onboarding to a whole new world of Budo. The whole experience feels like a movie, arriving to Hanazono station, and walking to the dojo close by is as amazing as it gets! If you are new to martial arts and curious about the Japanese sword do it because Hayashi Sensei if full of wisdom and excellent teachings. If you already practice Kendo, do it because this is a chance to improve your skills and correct little errors. Turn your vacation into a masterclass like I did.

We loved everything about the kendo lesson. Takahiro Hayashi is a great instructor, very professional and makes sure that we learn and ENJOY the session. I recommend this course 100% Elisa from France

We had a great time with our teacher and another couple and their son from Germany. It was a very interesting and fun introduction to Kendo. We learnt some words, moves, and we even got to wear the amazing gear and combat one another. After speaking to the teacher, our daughter has decided to start Kendo lessons once we return to France. We exchanged a few words with the teacher, who encouraged her and we all felt grateful when we left. Thank you again

This was was a great introductory Kendo class, where you learn footwork, attacks, defense, and get to spar. The class was really fun, and it was serious training in Kendo fundamentals. The instructor was very knowledgeable and friendly. I wish I could keep practicing Kendo after this introduction.

We got very friendly service and it was a very nice experience. The uniforms were cool and the dojo very cozy. We were a small intimate group, which were nice.

This was the first activity we did and it set the tone for the whole rest of the week! Our instructor was Hayashi and he was very fun, and helped us take photos and videos to share.

Really, really enjoyable! The instructor was very patient with our amateurish lack of coordination and skill. We learned about kendo etiquette, foot moves, voice training and weapon skills. We practised the moves, the blows and the calls and the experience ended with a three point match between my husband and I. I thoroughly recommend this activity - be prepared to sweat a bit though and wear light clothing! (Water was provided :-)

My husband and son had a fantastic experience leading the basics of Kendo. The instructor met us at Hanazono station and walked with us to the dojo where he teaches. It was probably one of the highlight of our trip! We’d definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking for an authentic experience in Kyoto.

Our family had such a great time at Kendo! The kids are 11 and 12 and loved it, and we all learnt a lot. The teacher is fun and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.

We felt comfortable from the beginning. The teacher had a welcoming and patient attitude and showed a lot of passion in his lesson. Although the teacher mentioned his English wasn't advanced, we felt that communication was not an issue for the kendo lesson or small talk. It was a great experience to go through as a couple. It was a physical and mental workout and now we have a great memory of our trip to Kyoto and Japan.

An excellent and bonding family experience. We came with our two children (ages 11 and 7). The dojo is located near the train station and very easy to find. The instructor welcomed us warmly, and throughout the entire session, there was a positive and respectful atmosphere. The instructor made sure we understood everything and enjoyed every moment. We learned basic moves in the art of Kendo and even got to wear the attire of real warriors. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, challenging, and bonding activity.

It was a lot of fun learning the basics of kendo, and getting to use the bamboo swords. Our guide was very friendly and patient with us, so we all felt very comfortable learning with him.

Comprehensive and exciting first glance at the world of Kendo. It was an awesome experience i can recomend to BOTH beginners and those who have already trained in other martial arts.

The whole experience was great. Besides how good and experienced they are, the Sensei and his crew are very friendly and welcoming people. They went out of their way to help one of us to find a place to exchange currency as well as connect us with a local group in the same sport hall that performed to us a piece they were preparing for a festival later this month. They didn't have to do any of this and we would still be happy with the experience. Goes to show that these people are genuinely welcoming and friendly and not just doing their jobs.

My 19 year old son and I both enjoy martial arts and booked the two hour Kendo training session in Kyoto. We were picked up by our instructor who introduced us to the etiquette of Kendo and proceeded to teach us several basic strikes... To the head, to the body, and to the side. We also practiced several footwork drills before fully gearing up and sparring with one another. Communication was clear and the level of the instructor, high. Whilst I had lots to learn, my son took to it like a duck to water and will check out potential Kendo clubs to join back in the UK. We are now both tired which confirms the fact that we had a decent, high intensity workout, which is what we wanted. Well worth the time and money. One I whole heartedly recommend.

Experienced kendo with my partner, and the lesson was a blast. We spent time learning some moves using the sword and Hayashi-san was an excellent teacher who made the whole lesson fun and engaging. He made sure we were well looked after and made the whole experience incredibly. ありがとうございます、林さん! Thank you very much, Hayashi-san!

My brother and I had a fantastic experience at our first kendo class. The pace and structure of the delivery were very well thought through. We highly recommend this experience for anyone who will be visiting Kyoto or the surrounding areas!

This was an amazing experience. Hayashi-san was an excellent teacher. We had a misunderstanding and was late to the meet-up location but Hayashi-san was so understanding. Please book with them because the class was so much fun but you will definitely work hard. I came away with new knowledge on basic kendo techniques and a new respect for the art of kendo. You won't regret the experience. Thank you so much Hayashi sensei. Miho-san was a wonderful translator and guide. Thank you Miho-san.

This was the perfect way to experience the Japanese martial art of Kendo! We were taught the basics by a master practitioner and were even able to have a short fight with each other. I recommend it to anyone interested in Japanese martial arts or samurai.

This was my first time doing Kendo which is a very special kind of sport in Japan, and it was amazing. Master Hayashi taught us a very simple way and in about 2 hours were able to take part in a small competition and it was really funny. I’m very thankful they held this event for us! 這是我第一次體驗劍道，在參加這次活動之前甚至只有聽過這項日本獨特的運動，在這邊兩個小時左右的體驗過得非常開心。林導師用簡單的方式教我們劍道的基礎動作，在最後我們還進行小比賽真的非常開心！感謝他們為我們留學生舉行這樣的活動，希望大家都能來參加！