KYOTO YUSHIN
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Samurai Training in Kyoto
Train where the master practices.
A 90-minute samurai experience inside the working Kyoto dojo of Yushin-sensei — known as the Modern-day Musashi for his rare mastery of the two-sword (nito) technique. Same dojo. Same kata. Same master shihan. The only thing different is your day.
Reserve Your Training¥20,000 / 90 minutes · Direct booking via Square
Why Yushinkan
Three reasons most “samurai experiences” don’t compare.
A Real Working Dojo
This is not a stage built for tourists. More than twenty serious students train here every week. The kata you will learn are the kata they practice. You step into a working dojo, on a day Yushin-sensei opens it to you.
The Modern-day Musashi
Yushin-sensei is one of the rare living masters of nito — the two-sword technique that defined Miyamoto Musashi’s school. Few in Japan today perform it at his level. You see it demonstrated up close in every session.
A Real Exam, Not a Show
You will not just watch. After learning the kata, you are called forward — one by one — and personally evaluated by Yushin-sensei, exactly as our regular students are. He will help you all the way through. Everyone passes.
The Honest Difference
Most “samurai experiences” are stages built for tourists.
“To stand in front of a master shihan, draw the sword, perform the kata — and have him watch you. That is what most travelers miss.”
Yushinkan is the dojo of Yushin-sensei, a practicing master shihan in the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū lineage. The kata you learn are the same forms practiced by his lifelong students. The exam you take is the same exam they take. The two-sword demonstration you witness is the technique that earned him the name Modern-day Musashi. None of this is staged.
Most Japanese will never see a master shihan perform tameshigiri in person. In your 90 minutes here, you will.
Your 90 Minutes
A real day in the dojo, compressed.
From the moment you arrive, you are received as a student.
Welcome & Dressing
You are received at the dojo and helped into authentic samurai attire — Dōgi, Obi, and Hakama.
Sword Handling & Safety
How to hold the katana, the etiquette of the sword, and the principles every samurai once learned.
The Foundation Kata
Stance, the draw, the cut, and the resheathing — followed by a defense and counter form.
The Kata Exam
One by one, you are called forward. Yushin-sensei watches your form personally and helps you all the way through. Everyone passes.
The History Lesson
A short, intimate lesson on katana history and the Yushin-Ryu lineage — including the rare left-hand drawing technique we still preserve.
The Master’s Demonstration
Kata at full speed, then his signature two-sword (nito) form — performed in every single session.
Live Tameshigiri
Up close in the dojo, Yushin-sensei cuts a tatami target with a real katana. The moment most guests describe as unforgettable.
+ Half an Hour More
The session officially closes at 90 minutes — but we typically reserve about 30 more minutes for changing back, photos, and unhurried conversation. Total visit, roughly two hours.
The Master Shihan
Yushin-sensei
Yushin-sensei has trained with the katana since the age of twelve. With over two decades of daily practice, more than fifty students of his own across Japan, and a transmission rooted in the Edo Yagyū Shinkage-ryū — the school of the Tokugawa shoguns’ instructors — he stands at the meeting point of two of the great traditions of Japanese swordsmanship.
He is one of the rare living masters of nito, the two-sword technique most closely associated with Miyamoto Musashi himself. Holding both katana and wakizashi at full speed, with the precision of a single weapon, is rare even among lifelong swordsmen. It is for this mastery that international visitors, his own students, and martial artists across Japan know him by a single name: the Modern-day Musashi.
And in your 90 minutes at Yushinkan, the master who watches your form is the same one who lives this tradition every day.
Beyond the Training
For guests who want to go deeper.
Three doorways the master keeps open for those drawn further in.
Private Lesson
A two-hour, one-on-one (or small group) session with Yushin-sensei. Customized to your interests — kata, lineage history, or two-sword fundamentals. Often arranged for guests of partner luxury hotels in Kyoto.
Inquire about Private Lessons →
Authentic Katana
The master shows authentic Japanese katanas from his own selection — pieces curated by Yushin-sensei himself, ranging from carefully chosen craftsmanship to museum-grade nihonto. Available for purchase by inquiry, with full international export documentation.
Inquire about Sword Sourcing →
Samurai Armor Experience
Wear authentic samurai armor in the dojo and pose for portraits. A separate, shorter experience that pairs beautifully with the training session.
See the Armor Experience →From travelers worldwide
Pricing & Booking
A single price, what’s included, and four daily slots.
¥20,000 / person
- Full samurai attire (Dōgi, Obi, Hakama)
- Professional English instruction · Max 9 guests per session
- Traditional iaitō for kata practice
- Personal kata exam with Yushin-sensei
- Master demonstration including two-sword nito
- Live tameshigiri on a tatami target with a real katana
- History lesson and photos in samurai attire
Direct booking · Instant confirmation · Best price guaranteed
Location & Access
In central Kyoto.
Five minutes from major Kyoto stations. Look for the blue torii gate next to a blue vending machine — the entrance is down a spiral staircase.
Address
Super Grand Bld. B1F, 452-4 Matsugaecho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8034, Japan
How to find us
Look for a blue Japanese-style torii gate. You will see signs for our dojo next to a blue vending machine. The entrance is down a spiral staircase.
Frequently Asked
Questions before you book.
No — most of our guests have never held a katana before. Yushin-sensei guides you step by step. Whether you are new or experienced, you receive instruction matched to your level.
Yes — just like our regular students. After learning the kata, each guest is called forward to perform it. Yushin-sensei watches your form personally and helps you all the way through. Everyone passes with his encouragement.
The training program is 90 minutes — from greeting through tameshigiri. We typically reserve about 30 more minutes after that for changing back, photos, and conversation with Yushin-sensei. Total visit is roughly 2 hours.
For your safety, you practice with a traditional iaitō — an unsharpened training katana built to the same shape and weight as a real Japanese sword. Authentic sharpened katanas (shinken) are presented for you to view. Tameshigiri is performed by Yushin-sensei only.
Participants must be 12 or older. For children under 12, please contact us — we may be able to accommodate younger guests in a private arrangement.
Wear something comfortable that lets you move freely. We provide all training gear — Dōgi, Obi, and Hakama. Multiple sizes and color options available.
Yes. Sessions are taught in English and Japanese by Yushin, Jordan, and Ken.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. Specific terms depend on how you booked (Square or Viator).
Ready?
Train where the master practices.
A 90-minute experience, an honest exam, and an extra half-hour with the Modern-day Musashi himself.
Reserve Your Training¥20,000 / 90 minutes · Direct booking via Square