Shamisen Experience In Kyoto 【Private】

This was so much more than a shamisen lesson! Like any true dojo, Jack’s Shamisen Dojo is an experience. Before we began my private session, we took a few minutes to learn about each other and a little about the instrument, the music, and the culture associated with shamisen. Jack patiently (I mean, very patiently 😊) explained the scales we learned, and we practiced at least one song in each scale. He even pulled in some songs I was familiar with (Smoke on the Water and a Johnny Cash tune) and broke down riffs from those on the shamisen for us to play together. It was quite impressive to see him listen to about ten seconds of Cash’s Riders in the Sky, then retune our shamisens and play the Intro riff less than a minute later. Jack is an amazing musician! After the lesson, we enjoyed a cup of green tea together and learned more about each other’s musical and artistic interests. It was a beautiful experience, and I absolutely could not recommend this more strongly.

Jack, the teacher, is super friendly and so knowledgable. He has a real pssion for music generally and for the shamisen in particular, and is a master of the instrument. He teaches how to play the instrument, shamisen techniques, traditional japanese scales and a traditional song. He does so in a way that can be both enjoyed by people without a lot of background with music, and for those who know their way around instruments. For anyone that loves music and loves playing, this is a great place to go to in kyoto.

I had such an amazing experience at Shamisen Dojo and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and memorable experience in Kyoto. Before finding Shamisen Dojo, I had searched quite a bit for opportunities to learn about and experience the shamisen, but I didn’t have much luck finding something that felt like what I was looking for. I was really happy when I came across this place, and it completely exceeded my expectations. Jack, the owner, is such a genuinely kind, welcoming, and friendly person. From the beginning, he made the lesson feel relaxed and enjoyable, and his passion for the shamisen really comes through in the way he teaches. What I particularly appreciated was how well he tailored the lesson to my level. Whether you’re a complete beginner who has never touched a shamisen before or an experienced player looking to develop your skills further, Jack is able to adapt the experience so that it feels both approachable and rewarding. I learned so much during the lesson not only about how to play the shamisen, but also about the instrument itself, its history, and its place in Japanese culture. It felt like a much more meaningful experience than simply trying an instrument for an hour, and I came away with a much greater appreciation for the shamisen. If you’re visiting Kyoto and looking for something a little different from the usual tourist experiences, I would definitely recommend giving Shamisen Dojo a try. It was one of the highlights of my time in Kyoto, and I would absolutely visit again the next time I’m in the city. Thank you, Jack, for such a wonderful experience!

This experience was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Kyoto. As a family, we were looking for something authentic and meaningful, and it exceeded all of our expectations. What made it especially memorable was seeing my daughter so happy. She absolutely loved learning to play the shamisen! The instructor was incredibly warm, patient, and encouraging, making her feel comfortable and confident from the very first moment. Watching her smile and become so excited about this beautiful instrument was priceless. We also appreciated learning about the history and traditions behind the shamisen. It wasn’t just a lesson—it was a genuine cultural experience that we’ll always remember. Thank you Jack, for sharing your passion, talent, and kindness with us. You made us feel so welcome, and we left with beautiful memories that we will treasure for years to come. We wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto! ❤️

Jack-san is an amazing teacher. He is patient, very knowledgeable, and exudes enthusiasm of his craft and life. While I had some guitar experience (which helped me a bit when picking up a shamisen for the first time), my father had never played any instrument before. Jack-san was patient and stuck with my dad through the whole lesson - even when he was ready to give up. My dad pushed through and did very well, much to Jack-san’s help! This experience will definitely be one of things I will remember the most on my first trip to Japan! Arigatogozaimasu, Jack-san!

I had a lesson with my daughter (12) and wife. We all had a great time! Jack Sensei was polite, patient, and very encouraging. He also fielded questions along the way. We went from basic posture to performing a basic song in our 1.5 hour lesson. We would highly recommend this experience!

This was undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments of my trip to Japan. Jack is a phenomenal teacher and musician, and he has a real skill for drawing the best out of you during the session. We explored the scales of different styles, as well as some typical playing techniques, and then riffed off of them together. It was immensely enjoyable, I would highly recommend it! Thank you Jack!

My husband and I very much enjoyed our shamisen lesson with Jack at his Kyoto studio! Jack is a master of his craft and a great instructor. He creates a fun yet relaxing atmosphere and you do not need prior music skills for this lesson, and he will tailor the lesson to your comfort level. You'll receive plenty of pictures and videos, too. If you're looking for a unique experience for your trip to Japan and are at all curious about Japanese traditional instruments or music, then I highly recommend a trip to the Shamisen Dojo!

First of all, the location of this experience was very easy to find. Once you arrive in the area, it’s easy to recognize the building thanks to the signs. The house itself is cozy, and very aesthetically designed, which already makes the whole experience feel special from the moment you walk in. Jack welcomed me in a very warm and friendly way. He speaks fluent English, so communication was easy and enjoyable throughout the entire session. He shared interesting historical information about the shamisen and Japanese folk music, and made sure I had a truly enjoyable experience with both the instrument and Japanese culture. What I especially appreciated was how well he adapted the lesson to my level. He can teach complete beginners from the very basics, but if you already have some experience with string instruments, he naturally adjusts the pace and makes the lesson more engaging. We played music together, took photos and videos, and also had some wonderful cultural conversations. I left feeling genuinely happy, and I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone who wants to enjoy an authentic and memorable cultural activity in Kyoto.

Jack is an excellent teacher. He's an incredibly friendly guide to the enchanting world of shamisen.

This was worth every penny. Jack’s not only a knowledgeable teacher who can help anyone with any level of music experience, he’s also a genuinely cool guy. Not to mention a killer Shamisen player!! I will definitely come back if I visit Kyoto again.

We had a great time learning from a shamisen master! He explained everything very well and we had so much fun playing this instrument together. This lesson is definitely one that people should plan for while visiting Kyoto!

Jack is such an awesome teacher and so good at putting you at ease. We had a great time learning the basics of this amazing instrument!

It was a fun and chill smooth experience. The lesson was easy to follow and Jack was a good teacher. The Dojos aesthetics are calm and cosy.

My wife and I had incredible experiences every single day of our trip to Japan, and this was honestly the standout favorite for both of us. Jack is super friendly, easy to have a conversation with, and most of all is a fantastic instructor! He taught us fundamental scales used in various regions and eras of Japan which felt like we were really engaging with part of the musical culture and history of Japan. Each one he'd show the scale ascending and descending, then would shred some improv showing the emotions each scale could evoke. By the end of the lesson we were doing improv solos of our own (admittedly much less impressive than his). We also learned some traditional Japanese songs perfect for beginners (we've both had Sakura stuck in our heads since we left the Dojo). Jack went above and beyond our expectations, and we both plan on doing online lessons with him in the future.

This lesson and experience was even better then if I imagined it myself. Jack is an experienced teacher and player and keeps the lesson geared toward instruction AND fun at the same time! I can see anyone wanting to learn and play a literally in a living Japanese art form would love this experience. Now I think I am hooked on this instrument thanks to Jack!

This was a wonderful experience. Very simple to book online. I travelled to the dojo by bike which was easy to find. Jack is an accomplished player and a skilled teacher. He is calm and encouraging. The 90 minute lesson went by quickly and I left with a deeper appreciation for an instrument I had little knowledge of before visiting Japan. A great way to mark New Year’s Eve in Kyoto. Thank you Jack!

Me and my family came into the Dojo, all of us except my dad had no experience on any instruments. Jack changed that quick, me and my family got the hang of the shamisen quick, and learned to play many songs! The dojo looks really nice too. Everything about this place was amazing, but Jack was what made it amazing. And to anybody reading this, check out the music he produces, it’s amazing!

I'm going to stop you right there cause you gotta listen to the tale of the legendary Shamisen sensei. Patient, disciplines and skillful in the art of teaching to play such a delightful instrument. Japan has many options for instruments, but the strokes of the cords of the shamisen rival any instrument in the west. Don't miss out on the opportunity of finding a new passion.

Jack-san is an excellent sensei. Took his time teaching me the basics and even taught advanced things he normally wouldn't. If you wish to try your skills and taste japanese traditional music. This is you sensei!

Joyful from beginning to end, so much fitted into 1.5 hours I learned so much and left very inspired. I wish I could have a lesson every week! Very fun.

I got my husband a private shamisen lesson with Jack for his birthday, and my friend and I were lucky enough to watch. It was the highpoint of our trip to Japan. Jack is a phenomenal teacher: patient, systematic, encouraging, and funny! My husband was able to play a traditional song at the end, and then Jack regaled us with a mini-concert of different kinds of music on the shamisen. He is an extraordinary musician. I only hope I have another opportunity to hear him play. If you love music and have some previous musical experience this is a must-do opportunity in Kyoto. You'll never forget it.

We booked the private session, which was wonderful. We were both complete beginners, never having held a Shamisen before. Jack was really patient with us as we learned from him, and he not only taught us the various scales but also the history behind each of them. After this he taught us to play a traditional Japanese song, served us green tea while we chatted and then taught us to play the opening to a rock song we enjoy which he had just heard for the first time. As we were leaving he gave each of us a Shamisen charm to put on our bags, which was lovely. This was a perfect experience and we are looking forward to seeing Jack and his band when they perform in England next year.

An amazing musical experience at Shamisen Dojo! Jack is not only a wonderful musician but also an excellent teacher. Thanks to him, I discovered the joy of playing this beautiful instrument, the Shamisen, and was able to let my creativity flow during the awesome jam sessions. Even if you don’t have a musical background, Jack is very supportive and will make you feel comfortable so you can quickly succeed and enjoy your time practicing the instrument. If you love music, I highly recommend this experience, it was definitely a highlight of my trip to Japan.

I have never played a string instrument before, so I was a bit hesitant before this experience, but Jack was not only a really good teacher; he also made us comfortable and put smiles on our faces that stayed on for hours afterward. A class at Shamisendojo is a perfect break from all the temples and crowds, and you will experience something out of the ordinary and leave with a warm smile in your heart. Thank you, Jack-sensei, for a class full of laughs and awesomeness.

A wonderful and unique experience diving into the world of Japanese music! Jack was a phenomenal host who taught us about the different scales and played samples of songs that used them. He taught us the different notes and then an entire beautiful Japanese song. He recorded our session before we took a brief break to talk. We then learned the intro to a traditional folk song before wrapping up. If you are interested he has an affordable shamisen option in his shop that you can buy and take home to continue practicing. Jack will also do video lessons if you are interested. Overall it was a wonderful experience for any music lover even if you are an absolute beginner like us!

Jack is clearly a talented musician, but it's his fun personality, encouraging nature and patience that make him a great sensei. As a family of four, he paced the lesson well for all of us. Jack engaged with us to understand our existing musical experience and what we hoped to get out of the lesson, which meant our session felt highly personalised. We all left smiling, impressed with what we'd learned in a single lesson, and with appreciation for the instrument and for Japanese culture. Highly recommended.

It was a great experience and I highly recommend you try it out! Jack-sensei was very patient and always made sure to be reassuring and positive. You feel very accomplished at the end and can take home a wonderful experience!

Really great experience for getting a taste of the Shamisen! Jack is a great sensor and true music lover; This class is a major highlight of my Japan trip and my life!

This was the first time I've played an instrument.The teacher was eager to help me play my first enka song.It was very fun

As a guitarist, I always wanted to try fretless instruments like this. Jack is amazing at adapting his lessons for your background and getting the angle that will interest you the most. Jack is very friendly, we discussed about many things related to music (music genres, ethnic instruments, whatever interests you). I could not hope for a better introduction to shamisen !

I was welcomed by Jack the professional shamisenist teacher. I immediatelly understood I chose the right dojo to learn this traditinal Japanese instrument. Within one hour only, he was able to teach me how to play the instrument properly, the history and the different genres precisely. Finally I was even able to manage to play an Okinawa folk song. Worth a visit if you are into whether the cultural or musical instrument in Kyoto. Really impressed and will definitelly get back for my next lesson the soonest.

Had an amazing experience at Shamisen Dojo! Jack was a great teacher, very patient, flexible and knowledgeable. The experience is perfect for absolute beginners, or people wishing to try a new instrument, and has inspired me to learn the Shamisen.

Visiting Shamisen Dojo was a highlight of my Kyoto trip. Tucked down a quiet, traditional alley near Kinkaku-ji, the location feels like stepping back in time. The dojo is a beautifully preserved zen-style room inside a historic house—rare to find these days! The lesson with Jack was outstanding. As someone with almost zero musical ability, I was amazed to actually play a full song on the shamisen. Jack’s teaching is perfect for beginners and more experienced musicians alike. Colored strings, numbered finger placements, and step-by-step guidance made learning fun and accessible. We even learned both a traditional song and a modern one! Jack is personable, patient, and speaks near-native English, so communication is effortless. He moves at your pace, encourages questions, and clearly loves sharing the shamisen. Exploring a neighborhood most tourists miss and entering a historic Kyoto house made this experience truly special. Thank you, Jack, for an unforgettable cultural memory!

It was indeed a beautiful experience to have a hands-on experience on such a beautiful instrument. The instructor was patient enough to guide and explain how to use the instrument well. If you love the culture of Japan, you may explore this. Not necessary that you need to have any prior musical experience. The instructor is also a Ninja instructor as well. Well spent day.

I had the BEST time learning with Jack about the shamisen. He taught a bit about the history and basics of the shamisen. He was so patient and kind with his words that I felt encouraged the entire way through. When he realized that I was picking things up pretty quickly, he started adding more techniques so his flexibility is very much appreciated. It was difficult but super fun time jamming with him in the end. I highly recommend the private session if anyone wants a more in depth conversation about the shamisen.

This experience was definitely one of the highlights of my recent Japan trip. Jack-sensei was extremely kind and knowledgable and an excellent teacher! He explained both some history of the Shamisen as well as fundamental techniques so it was easy to understand and try for myself. I've been wanting to try my hands on the Shamisen for a while and after this experience I purchased my own Shamisen from Jack, who kindly packed it so it made it back safely to Copenhagen with me. I can't wait to get started on my own Shamisen journey after a wonderful introduction to this beautiful instrument! I don't have experience playing an instrument, but it felt very intuitive to pick up and start playing with the guidance from Jack. I'd recommend it to anyone that is interested in music, culture or just want a unique experience! Thank you very much!

My husband and I are both musicians, and I have a degree in ethnomusicology, so we wanted to try out a traditional Japanese instrument. Sensei Jack was fantastic and started the lesson by teaching us a traditional Japanese scale. After we got that down, we played the folk song Sakura. I had mentioned to him earlier in the lesson how much I love a certain J-rock band, and turns out that he is also a fan! Since we ended up well ahead of schedule, he quickly figured out how to play my favorite song and taught us! It felt very surreal. This was such a great experience and has been both my husband's and my favorite activity on our Japan trip so far.

I loved every bit of it! Jack is a great instructor and I learned a lot even if the lesson was 90 minutes long. I would 100% recommend it to whoever is interested in Japanese culture and wants a unique experience: It's a great opportunity to fall in love with a wonderfu but sadly not so popular instrument.

I was an amazing experience!! I learned a lot in the session and had a lot of fun playing. The teacher is an amazing musician and has a very good way of teaching.

Where does one even start? Through and through it was such a great experience. Jack is a very good teacher and is able to adapt to your level of playing on the fly with ease. It makes the session feel very natural and not tense. He’s really patient and wants to make sure you understand and is very encouraging. I have some guitar experience but I can truly recommend this to anyone regardless if you have music/instrumental knowledge or not. Will definitely go again, probably with friends next time I am in Japan again. Thanks so much for the amazing session! ありがとうございます😊

I always wanted to try the Shamisen so I found Jack on YouTube and decided to do his lesson the Kyoto Shamisen Experience. Jack was very personable and friendly he spoke good English so it was very easy to understand his clear instructions. In the lesson I was able to learn the Sukura Sukura song in just 1 hour. We had a good Jam at the end which was very fun too. Thank you Jack, keep up the good work!

This was a truly unforgettable experience, and one of the highlights of my trip to Japan. I am a professional musician and music teacher from the United States, and I just knew this activity would be a great way to experience traditional Japanese culture while also getting introduced to a new instrument. However, the private lesson with Jack was even more fulfilling than I could’ve ever imagined. Jack is an incredible teacher, and is able to tailor each lesson to the student’s skill-level and goals. Upon learning that my friend and I were more experienced musicians, Jack allowed us more time in the latter-half of the lesson to improvise and experiment. This was of course *after* walking us through the fascinating form, fundamentals, and history unique to the Shamisen. Jack is also diligent about documenting the experience, taking videos and photos so that you can share the memory later on. He was super hospitable as well, offering tea in the middle of the lesson and — perhaps most helpful of all — providing my friend and I with a local English-speaking contact in Kyoto. My buddy and I left Jack’s dojo, having gained not only new knowledge and skills, but also a new friend. I would highly recommend this class to anyone visiting Kyoto, whether you’re a music lover or just looking for a memorable lesson in Japanese culture!

My Husband just completed our shamisen experience and it was so much fun. Jack is a great instructor and very patient when giving the lesson. We would recommend this experience even if you aren’t musically talented it is still such a wonderful time. :)

What an inspiring and deeply fulfilling experience!! Jack took the time and care to understand my musical background and preferences, tailoring a bespoke shamisen lesson that truly made a dream of mine come true — learning to play Nada Sou Sou, my favourite Japanese song. I really appreciated how he started by teaching me the proper form and stance, laying a solid foundation before moving on to techniques like strumming and sliding. His teaching style was thoughtful and intuitive. He even created a custom chart for the song that was incredibly easy to follow — even for someone with no background in music theory. It reminded me of the visual cues in rhythm arcade games, which made the learning process feel accessible and fun. This was more than just a music lesson — it was a meaningful and memorable experience. I left not only with a new skill but also with a sense of joy and connection to the music I’ve always loved. I can’t recommend Jack’s lesson highly enough, whether you’re a complete beginner or a music enthusiast looking for something special in Japan. I’ll treasure this experience always, and I’m excited to keep building on the foundation Jack helped me lay.

We had an awesome experience playing the Shamisen and highly recommend it! It was our first time and we booked the 1,5 hour Shamisen beginner course, but were there 2 hours in the end, having learnt to play a beautiful traditional song. Jack is a great teacher and explained everything very well! He was also extremely encouraging and made us feel really comfortable. We had a lot of fun, good laughs and will definitely come back when we are in Kyoto again!

The teacher is very lovely and enthusiastic and although it took some time getting used to the improvising part on my end the experience was really fun and encouraging and might have even solved some knots in my brain when playing shamisen. I can highly recommend this experience for absolute beginners and shamisen players in their early stages, like me. I hope I'll be able to take some more lessons or at least come back on my next trip!

It was the best experience we had. He is very patient in teaching and also very very good at teaching, as well as playing. We also had a wonderful small tea break and an inside into the culture of shamisen. I wanted to purchase a shabo and he even helped me reach out to the shop in Tokyo

Such an amazing experience! Jack gave me and my wife a private shamisen lesson, complete with tea and souvenirs. The atmosphere was a perfect blend between serious musical exploration and friendly discussions and cultural exchange. A truly authentic insight into Japanese music and culture! We would like to extend a very special thank you to Jack for being helpful both in the context of the lesson, and outside of it, giving us helpful orientation advices and tips for Kyoto! Will definitely do it again when we come to the city and we highly recommend this to anyone looking for an authentic musical experience in Kyoto!