 Last additions - Koka Ninja House 甲賀流忍術屋敷 |
This is an autograph by Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko who visited the Ninja House on April 24, 2009. In red reads "Mottainai," her motto meaning "Wasteful," in reference to spending of tax dollars.Mar 27, 2010
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Little ninja at target practice.Feb 16, 2009
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For 500 yen, you can rent a ninja costume of various colors.Feb 16, 2009
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Ninja phone strapsJun 02, 2008
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The Ninja House also displays autographs by celebrities who visited the house. This is actor Harrison Ford who visited in Feb. 2000. He came unannounced with a taxi driver, interpreter, and his son.Jun 02, 2008
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Healthy "Ninja tea." Free samples in the living room.Jun 02, 2008
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Ninja souvenirsJun 02, 2008
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Gift shop selling medicines, tea, and ninja goods.Jun 02, 2008
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Outside the ninja house. This ninja house is very impressive. It does have an air of authenticity, although there are, unavoidably, a few touristy elements. This house should be designated as a Important Cultural Property or an National Historic Site.Jun 02, 2008
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Hooks for hoisting ropes on walls, etc. The Koka ninja reluctantly moved to Edo (Tokyo) around 1634 as requested by the shogun, and worked as castle guards, gathered intelligence on daimyo lords, and formed a gun battalion.Jun 02, 2008
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Wooden ad sign for aspirin.Jun 02, 2008
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Swinging chain with weights on the ends. Wrap it around the opponent's neck.Jun 02, 2008
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The array of ninja weapons and tools was very impressive. This Ninja House strives to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions of the ninja. A visit is highly recommended.Jun 02, 2008
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Metal finger claws worn on the fingertips.Jun 02, 2008
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Blow darts with poison tips maybe.Jun 02, 2008
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Straw ninja hat with a deep brim to hide their face. Dressing like a priest, merchant, etc., would arouse the least suspicion while they traveled.Jun 02, 2008
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Soft rubber shuriken (toys). Special thanks to Takayuki Mochizuki (ninja descendant) for taking me to this Koka Ninja House.Jun 02, 2008
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Straw sandals with metal claws for traction.Jun 02, 2008
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Contrary to popular belief, ninja cannot walk on water. "Mizugumo" means water spider. To move across water, they used a wooden floating ring shown here, and sat in the middle.Jun 02, 2008
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Display case showing ninja costumes. Real ninja mainly wore one of seven disguises instead of the stereotypical black costume. They could be dressed as a priest, merchant, jester, etc.Jun 02, 2008
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Medicines made by the company which owns the house.Jun 02, 2008
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The famed Bansenshukai Ninja Bible detailing ninja tools and techniques. This is a replica.Jun 02, 2008
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They wore wooden geta clogs with flippers which helped them propel themselves underwater. The wooden floating ring is collapsible and quite light. Almost like balsa.Jun 02, 2008
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Manga cells. Ninja manga characters are famous. However, real ninja never became famous. Being famous in name or face would greatly decrease the value of that ninja.Jun 02, 2008
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Bullets with various gauges.Jun 02, 2008
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Medicine (gunpowder?) case.Jun 02, 2008
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One room's upper walls display a chronological history of the Koga ninja.Jun 02, 2008
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Ninja sword, very short.Jun 02, 2008
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Blow tube and blow darts.Jun 02, 2008
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Dart-shaped shuriken. Shuriken were not only star-shaped. These were either thrown straight-on, or thrown while the point rotated 180 degrees turning toward the target. It was difficult to throw, and much practice was required..Jun 02, 2008
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A sketch shows how they were "water spiders." They were largely submerged in the water, with the wooden ring also submerged, but buoyant enough for them to float across while kicking through the water with the flipper clogs.Jun 02, 2008
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Real ninja shuriken throwing star knives on display. Made of steel, they come in many different shapes.Jun 02, 2008
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A flaming starJun 02, 2008
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Gunpowder caseJun 02, 2008
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Ninja toolsJun 02, 2008
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The Koka Ninja House also has a Shuriken Dojo. Pay 200 yen for five shuriken throwing stars (300 yen for 10) and try hitting the bull's eye.Jun 02, 2008
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Small gun concealed as a sword.Jun 02, 2008
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Maki-bishi spikes thrown on the ground to poke your feet. These are made from dried water chestnuts (aquatic plant found in marshes). One of the four spikes will point upward.Jun 02, 2008
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Real ninja obviously did not wear a pink costume, but in the manga/anime world, pink looks cute.
Jun 02, 2008
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The veranda is another escape route after opening trick windows from the inside. Ninja avoided direct combat and preferred to defend themselves and escape from enemies. Assassination was only a minor part of their activities.Jun 02, 2008
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Trying my shuriken skills. You throw it with an overhand throw (like a baseball) and not like a frisbee. Also see my YouTube video here.Jun 02, 2008
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Stairs to go back down to the 1st floor. There's a rotating door. Ninja worked behind the scenes and were very secretive. They hardly told others about their activites nor left written records. Sometimes they worked as spies or mole.Jun 02, 2008
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Maki-bishi made of steel. Used for escape when they encountered an enemy. Many of the ninja's weapons were designed to buy time for the ninja to escape.Jun 02, 2008
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Three out of five of my shuriken at least stuck on the board. But all missed the target which is quite low. Probably geared for kids.Jun 02, 2008
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The wooden railing on the right is slimmer than the left one. It means it is removable, allowing the ninja to escape from the 2nd floor.Jun 02, 2008
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Small revolving door connected to a closet. The Koka ninja's main activity was gathering information. As they traveled and sold medicines, they always talked to people and their customers. They tried to find out how many guns the enemy had, etc.Jun 02, 2008
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The 2nd floor, between the first floor and ceiling, has a very low height which can entrap an intruder going upstairs.Jun 02, 2008
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Ladder going to the 2nd floor. There's also a trap door on the floor below the ladder where the ninja could hide. Notice the rope. The ninja hiding under the floor would tug the rope connected to the 2nd floor.Jun 02, 2008
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Ceiling of Ninja House. Directly below the thatched roof.Jun 02, 2008
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Medicine ad sign reading Ninjutsu-gan. For belly aches. Although the ninja's medicine-making remains today, the art of ninjutsu is ironically no longer practiced in Koka. It is not a martial art like karate and judo.Jun 02, 2008
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Ladder going up to the attic.Jun 02, 2008
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Ceiling of Ninja House.Jun 02, 2008
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This room has display cases showing various ninja weapons, tools, and costumes. The ceiling is also quite low, designed to impede the wielding of samurai swords.Jun 02, 2008
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That rope goes to the second floor (see next photo).Jun 02, 2008
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Entrance to another room on the first floor. Although the Koga ninja and Iga ninja (in Mie Prefecture) were the most famous, there were actually numerous ninja groups in many other parts of Japan as well. They were most active during wars.Jun 02, 2008
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The rope is connected to a noise maker on the 2nd floor here. The intruder would then think that the ninja is on the 2nd floor and go up the ladder in pursuit. When the intruder is on the 2nd floor, the ninja below the trap door would remove the ladder.Jun 02, 2008
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Revolving door (opened). The floor also has a trap door (see next photo) where you can go down and escape through a tunnel leading to a well in the garden outside.Jun 02, 2008
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The left sliding wooden door is very heavy, about 50 kg, making it difficult to open. This buys more time for the ninja to escape.Jun 02, 2008
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The upper walls have explanations about the Koka ninja and Mochizuki ninja family. "Koka" is the correct pronunciation, but the kanji can also be pronounced "Koga" which has become more common.Jun 02, 2008
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Closet with a trap door on the floor.Jun 02, 2008
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The Ninja House, built in 1703, is owned and maintained by a local medicine company having ninja roots. Many Koka ninja were makers of medicine as a front for their clandestine activities. This background also made them expert at making gunpowder.Not a National Historic Site, but it should be.Jun 02, 2008
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Trap door on the floor opened.Jun 02, 2008
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The Koka Ninja House is located 2 km from JR Konan Station on the JR Kusatsu Line. There are no buses going to the Ninja House. The house is open every day 9 am - 5 pm. Closed Dec. 27-Jan. 1. Admission is 600 yen for adults. 望月出雲守Jun 02, 2008
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The first room you see in the house is the living room. You can sit and have free "ninja tea" while waiting for a guided tour of the house. Along with the geisha, the ninja is one of the most recognized but misunderstood things about Japan.Jun 02, 2008
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Inside the trap door is a hole and tunnel leading to a well in the garden outside. Hence the water.Jun 02, 2008
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Koka Ninja House (Koka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki) is the former residence of Mochizuki Izumonokami, the leading Koga ninja family of the 53 Koka ninja families. 望月出雲守 MAPThe house is in its original location in the Koka area of Shiga Prefecture.Jun 02, 2008
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