Shamisen Discovery In Kyoto 【Group】

I booked this experience for my husband and me as part of a group and little did we know, it was just the two of us so we got a wonderfully personal experience with Jack. He is an amazing teacher who gauged our abilities and matched our paces of learning. It was a lovely foray into the world of Shamisen. We would definitely have more lessons with him given the chance. In fact, it has me thinking about getting my own shamisen (which he can also help with!). This was by far our favourite activity in Kyoto.

Had a wonderful session with Jack. Such a great host and patient teacher. As a guitar player this instrument is very humbling. It would take a lot of practice to master the technique. Jack asked us about our music background and easily gauged our ability. We were playing a jam session right away. I only wish I could spend the entire day playing Shamisen.

Great experience! Very fun and interactive!

The instructor was great and easy to talk to! We had a great time learning from him and he made the introduction to this beautiful instrument very simple, and we had so much fun playing music together. This is definitely something every visitor in Kyoto should put on their itinerary!

Absolutely phenomenal experience! I’d no doubt do this again in a heart beat!

The group Shamisen lesson with my sister was my favorite experience in Kyoto. Jack was a great guide. He taught us shamisen history, proper form for holding the instrument and bachi, several Japanese scales, and by the end of the lesson, my sister and I were able to play a whole song together. Shamisen Dojo is about a 15 minute walk from Kinkaku-ji temple. It worked perfectly to visit the temple in the morning and then make it to our 1pm lesson in the afternoon. Please don’t hesitate to book this incredible experience!!

I always loved the shamisen and to be able to learn it and from such a knowledgeable and good teacher it was a great experience! Myself and my partner really enjoyed it and it was the highlight of our Kyoto trip for sure. I definitely recommend if you’re interested in music or just want to experience something unique while in Kyoto.

Unique experiece in Kyoto, outside of crowded venues. Jack is an amazing instructor and time flies quickly while learning the beauty of shamisen. Can't recommend this experience enough.

We had so much fun during the workshop. Jack is an amazing music teacher (and very inspiring musician) who really tunes in with his students. He will guide you step by step. We enjoyed it very much. So don’t hesitate and book this lesson when you want to give yourself an experience you’ll never forget!

This was such a lovely experience, highly recommend both to those with a music background and those without! The instructor is so kind and gentle and we were able to play through a song by the end of the hour. As a westerner trained in classical music it was really interesting to see how Japanese traditional music compares and learn a new style of playing. I would definitely do this again on another trip to Kyoto! Thank you so much.

My 17-year-old son and I had an amazing experience with Jack. He truly is a master! He played a bit for us and we were blown away. Compared to the many other tours and activities we’ve been doing over the past two weeks in Japan, this ranks near the top for fun, hands on, and feel good.

This experience was amazing and great learning moment! Jack is excellent teacher, very polite and fun. Recommending!

Jack Sensei is incredible! His love for music and dedication to his craft shines through in every aspect of the lesson. He was quickly able gauge my understanding and adapt the session accordingly. He was also knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Indian Classical music in addition to Shamisen, which made it a very interesting conversation as well. I just wish I could have done the full 90 minute experience!!

Attended a Shamisen lesson with Jack, and had the best time. Jack is an amazing instructor and person. He taught us about the history of the instrument, some scales used in the traditional Japanese music, and how to hold/play the instrument. By the end of the lesson we were all jamming together and improvising on the shamisen. I’d highly recommend this lesson to any music lover, instrumentalist, or anyone interested in learning about traditional Japanese music. Thanks Jack!

My brother and I took a lesson with Jack at his dojo and had a great time. We both play music in our free time and Jack was an amazing teacher and got us playing Shamisen within the hour. I highly recommend you take a lesson with him and learn about a very interesting traditional Japanese instrument.

I must say this was extraordinary and fabtastic experience! The teacher has great metodhology and it will be good for both experienced musicians exploring new instrument or a complete beginner. It was educational and more important entertaining. I am thinking about buying shamisen and co tinue my learning. Arigato gozaimasu!

We had a wonderful time learning about the Shamisen. Jack did an excellent explanation about the instrument. We were able to play the traditional song Sakura by the end of our time. We got to experience a part of the amazing musical tradition that makes Japan so amazing.

The Shamisen Dojo is a great place to be introduced to Shimasen, and Japanese music in general. Jack (Matsumoto-Sensei) is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Shimasen. He is also very friendly, speaks English well (although please try some Japanese if you can!) and will tailor lesson(s) to your ability and preference. Our group comprised those with various guitar and drum experience. Left-handed Shimasen is available if you ask when booking - Jack restrung specially for me. If you’re planning to purchase Shimasen, we would also recommend enquiring with Jack. He can ship or allow you to transport yourself with case and other gear you need. Jack is also in a band called “The Shamisenists” definitely worth a listen / checking out! The band also features world’s only shamisen bassist. You will enjoy if you’re into The Hu and similar music. This was one of the best experiences of our Japan trip, so don’t miss out!

Jack Sensei was great very knowledgeable, it was really fun, his English was excellent and I learnt a bit about how to play the Shamisen. Jack Sensei also played a song for me which was really enjoyable and showed off his skills (in a good way). He explained how to use all the equipment, scales and how to play an ancient song. Jack Sensei is very easy to talk to and is very kind. I would recommend to anyone interested in music and Japanese culture

I came to Kyoto hoping to see someone play the shamisen and before I knew it I had one in my hands! I got in touch with Shamisen Dojo, did a lesson with Jack and absolutely loved it! He taught me some traditional Japanese shamisen techniques and scales which I am looking forward to translating to my own guitar playing. If you are in Kyoto and want to hear or play shamisen, send Shamisen Dojo a message! I was unorganised and had a limited time there but he managed to fit me in and provide my favourite experience in Kyoto. I’d strongly recommend this to any musicians who want to experience a traditional Japanese instrument.

Had a great time learning to play shamisen for the first time and felt more culturally connected with Kyoto through this experience. A special thanks to Jack for being very good host and a sensei for during this experience. Thank you for the small present and a wonderful memory! I recommend this to everyone!

This experience was awesome! It allowed me the ability to learn about how the shamisen is played which in turned convinced me to buy a shamisen and be a student to learn how to bring out its rich, deep and rhythmic sound (characteristic of its percussive aspect). The instructor, Jack, was super patient, kind, and very knowledgeable. He was great in making the experience a fantastic one. If you ever wondered about the shamisen, this is the trip to do it with. I highly recommend this experience!!!

Jack was an incredibly welcoming and friendly guy. He made it very easy to find his house in the suburbs of Kyoto. He is a great teacher and made the experience for me as a complete beginner very supportive and friendly. By the end we were able to jam together and make some great music it was really fun :) Very fun experience and very fun person to be around. He even showed us his favourite ramen place afterwards and we had a fantastic lunch together across the road :)

A must-do experience in Kyoto! Jack-san's instructions were fun, engaging, and in a short time we were able to learn how to play a famous traditional song. Jack-san is a member of a shamisen band name The Shamisenists so it was so cool learning from him! It was an incredibly unforgettable experience and definitely the highlight of our Kyoto trip! Thank you Jack-san!

Very cool experience! Sensei is very kind and helpful I have some experience with the guitar and ukulele, so in the end of the lesson I played the whole song by myself! Made a great video

We went there with my wife on November. We were received by the teacher, Jack, who was an absolute delight and a really charismatic fellow. I have some experience with string instruments, while my wife only dabbles a bit with ukelele and we both could follow the class no problem. The session consisted in a brief shamisen and ended with a short jam session (which was really fun!). It was the best activity we did in Kyoto and an absolute must! (now, excuse me while I figure out how to get a Shamisen in my home country)

This triangular experience is really cool! Teacher's teaching method makes it easy to understand and enjoy learning When learning, teachers are very professional and have extensive teaching experience. Immediately point out the points that can be corrected, how to do better, timely encouragement The atmosphere of the whole course is very pleasant Experience the special Japanese culture Added some highlights to my trip

It was the first time in my life that I had touched the shamisen, but it was a very easy-to-understand lesson and a very satisfying experience. I was very happy to be able to enter the shamisen world with growing interest and confidence, because I was taught gently and clearly what I was not doing well, and I was praised specifically for what I was doing well. In addition, the teacher has a wide range of musical knowledge and experience, and even those with musical experience can receive fruitful instruction. I highly recommend it. 零然我第一玩三線，但老師課程很有系，檪�明超清楥，锫闩到很撣的上課。 學生彈錯的時候，老師一直耐心CORRECTION 如果學生彈的錬不，联師馬上稱讚，具體告學生哪衣好，因此學生可以不淖加強印，三之的興职感到confidence。 老師很熟悉音樂的KNOWLEDGE，也有豐富經闩，如果具有或樂器的人也可以學到東東。 I highly recommend it.

It was amazing. Jack has a talent the size of his heart. It was undoubtedly one of the best experiences in Japan. I recommend this experience to everyone.