Kenbu: Explore Samurai Performance Culture with In-Depth Talks and Training in Kyoto

Immerse yourself in the world of samurai culture with Kenbu, a captivating sword performance in Kyoto. Experience in-depth talks, traditional and new-style Kenbu performances, and even learn about Japanese swords and folding fans.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Samurai Kenbu Theater - Make your way to Samurai Kenbu Theater, conveniently located in downtown Kyoto. After removing your shoes and taking your seat, you’re introduced to the Japanese traditional art of Kembu through informative narration on stage.
    Before each demonstration, you’ll learn about the culture of the samurai, a warrior class that…
What's Included
  • Watch a Kenbu show
  • Mini sword experience and photo opportunity after the show
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Kenbu, a sword performance, is among the many traditional Japanese arts that showcase the samurai culture, a warrior class that dominated Japan for 700 years. Kenbu masters, dedicated to preserving the essence of samurai culture, perform this art. The stage show, lasting about 30 minutes, is held at the Samurai Kenbu Theater. Engage your intellectual…

Location
Samurai Kenbu Theater
35-7 Sanchome, Higashiyama-Ku, GOZAN Hotel B1F
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(110 Ratings)
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Vicki_s
Aug 16, 2025
Great - Wonderful experience and very informative. Loved it and would highly recommend to learn the history.
Review provided by Viator
Lbi3005
May 29, 2025
Samurai Experience - A very interesting presentation of Samurai dances. We enjoyed the hands on activity with the swords. We have some great pictures of ourselves using them. The video was quite informative. The presentation might have been better if the video was shown first.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ktari3
Mar 8, 2025
A Fascinating and Immersive Samurai Experience - If you’re interested in samurai history and culture, the Kembu Samurai Theatre in Kyoto is a must-visit. The performance is both engaging and educational, showcasing the precision and artistry of traditional kembu sword techniques. The performers do an excellent job of bringing this historical practice to life, making it a memorable experience for all ages. For those wanting to dive even deeper into the world of the samurai, I highly recommend the book written by the owner, who is also one of the performers. It’s well-written and informative, offering valuable insights into the philosophy and traditions of the samurai. A great read for anyone looking to learn more! Overall, an excellent experience that blends history, culture, and performance in an intimate setting. Definitely worth visiting while in Kyoto!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisa
Jan 12, 2025
Samurai Show - The show was entertaining and immersing and gave us insight into Japanese culture and history. Would recommend to everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Perlinedayan
Jan 2, 2025
A must do if visiting... - A must do if visiting Japan. Great show followed by hands on training and photo session. The staff was so informative and nice...we had a great time!!
Review provided by Viator
Jenniferf2645
Aug 18, 2025
Interesting traditional show - Interesting show with some history of the samurai culture. It was not flashy, much more traditional presentation of Kenbu. Great for kids interested in trying it out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nathaliet630
Aug 18, 2025
Samurai Experience - Yeah, sure. Participatory. However, some interventions in English were sometimes difficult to understand (a prompt of the text, projected onto a screen, could fix this).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brettgs7065im
Apr 13, 2025
Excellent kenbu performance, but I could have passed on the brief sword lesson - The Kenbu portion of the performance was wonderfully executed. The performers showed a great degree of skill and was very enjoyable. I felt the brief sword lesson felt touristy and rushed. I personally would have traded that time to extend the Kenbu performances.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helen_f
Feb 2, 2025
Learnt a lot about Samurai history - Small group which was good. Lovely English speaking girl did the intro. 2 Samurai were excellent and it was fun at the end when we took part & had photos. It's near the Gion district which is also good to walk around.
Review provided by Viator
Rebeccamj9560pp
Sep 5, 2025
Eh - The man who did a great deal of the speaking during the presentation was almost completely unintelligible - I only understood maybe a quarter of what he was saying. The performance part was well done but hard to see, and the rest was just eh.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $33
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).