Explore more curated experiences in Kyoto

View all Kyoto tours

Chambara at Myokaku-ji: Sword Choreography Filmed on Temple Grounds in Kyoto

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: GOATtrip株式会社
Chambara at Myokaku-ji: Sword Choreography Filmed on Temple Grounds
Chambara at Myokaku-ji: Sword Choreography Filmed on Temple Grounds 2
Chambara at Myokaku-ji: Sword Choreography Filmed on Temple Grounds 3
+7
more

Learn the sword techniques used in Japanese period drama from actors who perform them professionally, in kimono, on a temple where Nobunaga stayed.

Chambara at Myokaku-ji: Sword Choreography Filmed on Temple Grounds: Key Facts

PriceFrom $159 per person
Duration1 hour
Group sizeUp to 6 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Samurai Experience at Myokaku-ji

One hour of chambara instruction in kimono with a filmed sequence and photo downloads included. Maximum six people.
1 hour
English
$159
Free cancellation

Full description

Chambara is the sword choreography of Japanese period film and television — a discipline of its own, with its own schools, and nothing like Western stage fighting. The instructors here are professional period-drama actors, which is what separates this from a costume photo opportunity.

You learn to hold and move the sword, then two of the fundamental cuts: makkogiri, the vertical downward strike, and kesagiri, the diagonal cut named after the line of a monk's robe. Both are harder than they look and the difficulty is in the stopping, not the swinging.

You are dressed in kimono for it, which is included, and taught the dressing itself as part of the hour.

The instructors then perform, and this is the part that resets everyone's expectations — watching people who do this for a living move at full speed, at close range, makes the film versions legible in a way no explanation does.

Then you perform what you have learned, and it is filmed. Photography and video are taken on your own camera, with a download service included.

The setting is the point of the whole thing. Myokaku-ji is a temple in Kamigyo-ku where Sengoku-period warlords stayed, Oda Nobunaga among them, and the dojo sits inside the grounds. Doing sword work on that ground is a very different proposition from a studio in a shopping centre.

The group caps at six. Instruction is in Japanese, demonstrated throughout, which works for physical training. Transport and meals are your own.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Gather at the dojo inside Myokaku-ji's grounds

Kimono dressing, taught as you go

Sword handling and stance

Learn makkogiri and kesagiri

Watch the instructors perform at full speed

Perform and film your own sequence

Includes

  • Chambara sword instruction from professional period-drama actors
  • Kimono rental and dressing
  • Performance by the instructors
  • Filmed sword sequence
  • Photo download service
  • Photography and video on your own camera
  • Insurance

Excludes

  • Transport to and from Myokaku-ji Temple
  • Meals
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Important information

Meeting point

Myokaku-ji Dojo, 602 Shimoseizoguchicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto 602-0007 — to the left after entering the temple's main gate.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 1 hour
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

You might also like...

Share
Main Tour Price
Starting from $159
$159
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.9/5
based on 99 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
P
Pt
September 3, 2026

This was an absolutely brilliant experience played out in an incredible setting, making it totally unique! To add to this, what made our session extra special were our two instructors who explained everything about what we needed to do and how to do it via some very skilful demonstrations! They are (I’m so sorry but I can’t remember your names), both actors from film and TV, with genuinely warm personalities who looked after us with clear instructions, patience, with the emphasis on having fun, Samurai style! A must do when in Kyoto!

5
M
Mani
July 17, 2026

Absolutely amazing training. I had multiple sessions with them because they were so good. I learned a lot. Very patient and astute trainers. Will definitely train with them again next time I am back in Kyoto.

5
B
Björgvin Thorir
October 30, 2025

So much fun, entertaining and an absolute gem of a memory that I can take home and show everyone

5
I
Ismail
October 14, 2025

Found this activity by luck and ended up being one of the most fun parts of my trip in Japan. Highly recommend to anyone to have a bit of fun with a samurai sword (fake one). The two guides also samurai actors were amazing!

5
K
Katrina
September 26, 2025

Amazing! The hosts were so kind, patient, funny and it was truly entertaining to see my son having fun!

5
A
Anna
September 13, 2025

Incredible experience from start to finish! Training with inside a temple felt like stepping back in time. We learned the basics of samurai sword techniques and even got to try choreographed moves. The setting made it even more authentic and spiritual. It was powerful, exciting, and very safe thanks to the clear guidance. Truly one of the highlights of my trip to Japan!

5
A
Annette
July 11, 2025

Amazing class and actos. Amazing class and movie shoot experience. Highly recommended

5
R
Ren
July 10, 2025

If you’re looking for an experience in Japan that you’ll never forget this is it! The hosts are so fun, you’ll learn samurai sword tricks, you will laugh, and you’ll have the most epic footage of your trip. Definitely recommend, especially if you’ve always dreamed of having a samurai experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Myokaku-ji Dojo, 602 Shimoseizoguchicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto 602-0007 — to the left after entering the temple's main gate.
The price does not cover transport to and from myokaku-ji temple, meals and hotel pickup and drop-off. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Religious sites expect shoulders and knees covered, and shoes come off before entering many of them. A light scarf is worth carrying. Where a site enforces this at the gate, arriving dressed correctly saves the whole group time.
GOATtrip株式会社. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Chambara sword instruction from professional period-drama actors, Kimono rental and dressing, Performance by the instructors, Filmed sword sequence, Photo download service, Photography and video on your own camera, Insurance
The duration of the Chambara at Myokaku-ji: Sword Choreography Filmed on Temple Grounds is typically 1 hour. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$159