Naoki was Awesome - Naomi was the man. Super helpful with everything and very knowledgeable. Even waited a bit for us when we were late, that’s my guy.

Shrines and Temples and Samurai - oh my! - I didn’t know what to fully expect from the tour other than perhaps a walk through an old village/city where our tour guide would point out historical sites, and that we would visit a museum or something dedicated to samurai. Interesting for sure, but nothing too exciting. My first surprise was that there was no “we” - I was the only one booked for the tour! I panicked a bit not sure how having a tour ALL to myself would go, but my guide, Hitome, quickly put me at ease with her personality. She showed no sign of dismay that I would be her only customer that day and was cheerful, upbeat, and personable - even in the heat and humidity of the day. Kagurazaka is far from the old village I had envisioned, though there are definitely old buildings and offshoots that we walked past and through. It was delightful to see the blending of the old with the new - which is a major factor in why I wanted to visit Japan. Along the way, Hitome took us to a few temples and shrines, giving brief historical facts about each. She had a folder of sheet-protected facts and drawings that helped provide a visual to her spoken information. Though not my culture or beliefs per se, it was an honor to observe in my own way these important cultural facets, and nice to see the citizens still visiting and showing respect to them as well. We also stopped at a few places for snacks and drinks (iced tea). The first establishment was a tofu company that had been in business for over a hundred years. Small, and not too much to see, but still cool. Hitome mentioned that we should get something to eat there and that’s when I thought “okay, here’s where I have to start paying for every place we visit” but she quickly told me that no - it was already paid for! The next few food stops were less significant (a convenience store and a place to get what I would call bao), but still tasty! A bit more walking and we eventually arrived at the theater. There, we were greeted by the actors (I unfortunately didn’t get their names) that were dressed in traditional samurai clothing. To my surprise, I was informed that both Hitome and I would also be outfitted and I got to choose my clothing. We were assisted by the actors and then shown seats where they gave us a demo on a sword battle. Rather than focusing on a detailed history of the samurai (I think Hitome’s folder helped with that), the actors focused on the swordplay - stances, correct holding positions, nomenclature of the sword parts, etc. After each mini lesson, we were given the chance to stand and execute what we learned. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that we both got (wooden) swords of our own! Finally, the actors taught us the choreography for the skit we first saw them do when we entered and we got to act it out - complete with dramatic music and sound effects. I was too nervous to see if I recognized my music, but Hitome’s was from one of the seasons of My Hero Academia, which I thought was cool/funny when I recognized it. The entire thing was amazing! I would definitely recommend this theater and experience to others. After leaving the theater, Hitome took us to get lunch at a quaint restaurant. The food was tasty but I enjoyed the conversation with Hitome perhaps even more. She seemed very open and friendly and like she really enjoyed her job, though I didn’t really feel like I was “just another client”. We talked about our families and experiences, corrected each others’ languages (her English is light years better than my Japanese), and she gave me tips on other fun things to do while in Japan. After lunch we stopped by a gift shop and I only mention this because like at the gift shop and the temples and shrines we visited, Hitome would say something like: oh people like to buy this or that, or this would make a good gift - which I think is part of her job, but I never felt pressured into buying anything at all. She made it seem (and perhaps it really was) like it was just a suggestion of things I might not know about. By the time we departed - I felt that I had a very enjoyable experience and sure, that I had made a new friend. I would certainly recommend this tour to others, though I strongly believe that Hitome made it as enjoyable as it was, so book her if you can! I would also recommend perhaps not eating too large of a breakfast as the snacks and lunch provided were filling, and that the tour be booked not in very hot/humid seasons. One more thing I will admit - had I read my tour itinerary more closely, I would have been less surprised by the events that took place since they were all described there, ha!

Fun and knowledgable - The guides were great and had lots of knowledge to share about the area. Samurai experience was fun. The snacks were tasty and the lunch was good too.

A must experience tour - It was a very engaging, fun, entertaining and informative tour. The guide was immensly helpful, talkative, open to any questions and gave us many tips for great spots to visit, not to mention her genuine approachable and friendly demeanor. Tha samurai training part is also very fun and stylish. 100% recommend getting this tour, it is very worth it.

Imcredible tour, experience and lunch - I went on this trip with Mark, and it was a really cool tour of the area. The Samurai experience was awesome and totally fascinating! We also had a delicious meal.

My Samurai Experience - Mark made this tour unforgettable. Walking through Kagurazaka’s streets, he shared to me the history of the places and how they are now operating. I was really interested with the samurai and geisha facts, he also brought me to shrines and temples, explaining their histories as well. The samurai fighting lesson with professional instructors was the highlight, it was super fun and interactive. I really felt like I was becoming a master :D We explored hidden alleyways and shops, ate tofu snack, and ended with a fantastic lunch in a traditional Japanese house. Mark’s knowledge and warm personality turned this into a perfect blend of culture, history, and flavor. This tour is highly recommended to everyone wanting to experience being a samurai 😁

Great experience- we all lived it. - Great guide - great people - great settings. Something for every one, both adults and teenagers/kids. Highly recommendable.

A great way to spend a day - Had a fantastic trip. Our guide was very friendly, fun and knowledgeable. The samurai part was a bit artificial, but still fun. And getting to know the parts that are not on every front page is very nice.

Fun and educational experience - Mai was an excellent guide, showing us historical locations and interesting shops in Kagurazaka. We then participated in samurai sword play in traditional Japanese kimono. This was great fun for my 12 year-old son and I. We finished the experience with a traditional lunch which was fabulous.

Mai and Samurai Masters were truly the best !! - Mai did a phenomenal job on the Samurai experience and tour. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and just a joy to follow through the city. The samurai masters provided excellent guidance and made the whole experience truly unforgettable!!!