One of my first experiences in Japan happened to be near Smith’s School of English in Otsu. I went to the Koka Ninja Village with some Ritsumeikan friends. It was a fantastic and unique experience. After arriving at the Koka train station, a Ninja Village employee picked us up in a van and took us to the village. I expected the village to be like an amusement park, but actually it had a very authentic feeling. Many of the buildings and equipment were old from many years of use.
After being introduced to our ninja guide, we rented ninja uniforms to enhance our experience. We could choose black, blue, or red. Of course I chose black! After putting on our uniforms, we went through various trials of ninja training . First, we explored a ninja house that was full of tricks, traps, and hidden places. Ninjas were very clever! Then, we tried climbing a rock wall. After that, we climbed across a wooden wall that had notches in which to put our feet and hands. Next, we did water-walking by putting our feet into tires that were wrapped with plastic, then pulled ourselves across a pool with a rope. I almost fell into the dirty water! Lastly, we threw ninja throwing-stars at a set of targets. Maybe you won’t believe me, but I hit the bullseye on my first try! There was also a small museum with old paintings and ninja equipment.
I loved going to the Koka Ninja Village. If you are in the area for a lesson at Smith’s School of English in Otsu, please check it out. I promise that you will have lots of fun!
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