A basement stage in Higashiyama where kenbu performers run a sword class and a one-hour show.
Pick a day, or the first and last day of your stay in Kyoto. We check the booking calendar of every session and show which ones still have places.
Type: Kenbu sword class
Type: Kenbu show
The Samurai Kembu Theater, run by the company Ginbu, is the central address for kenbu in Kyoto. It sits in the basement of the Gozan Building in Higashiyama, east of the Kamo river at Sanjo. You can learn kenbu sword technique there in a class or watch the performers in a show.
| Photo | Experience | What you actually do | Group | Min. age | Duration | Photos | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
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Samurai Sword Class Samurai Kembu Theater | Costume, sword etiquette, drawing and sheathing, stylised strikes, demonstration | Up to 10 | Not under 4; experience advised 5 to 10 | 1.5–2 h | In costume, during the class | ★ 4.9 (875) | $63per person | Book now |
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Samurai Kenbu Sword Dance Show Samurai Kembu Theater | Kenbu performance, then a few minutes holding a sword | Not stated | Not stated | 1 h | Only after the show | ★ 4.5 (488) | $32per person | Book now |
Per-person prices are loaded from GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees. Paid extras such as the kunai at the forging class are not part of the price shown.
Each session with the same facts, so age limits, location and what you actually do can be read across. Tap a session to see its programme, venue and house rules.
Kenbu sword technique in costume, in a group of up to 10 near Sanjo, with a certificate at the end.
Kenbu is the sword dance of the Japanese stage. In this class at the Samurai Kembu Theater near Sanjo you put on a costume, learn kenbu sword technique and leave with a certificate and photos. Groups are capped at 10, and you can add a 10- or 30-minute show.
Kenbu is a performing art, not a martial art. Children can join from 5, though martial arts experience is recommended for ages 5 to 10.
Samurai Kembu Theater, Gozan Building B1F, Sanjo (Higashiyama).
Details as the studio lists them on its booking page; points it leaves open are marked as not stated in our tables.
A one-hour stage show with a short hands-on part at the end. A show, not a class.
Performers of the Samurai Kembu Theater show kenbu, the samurai sword dance, on stage. A short hands-on part follows, in which you hold a sword and try a few swings.
Photos are not allowed during the show. If you want to learn technique, the theatre's sword class is the better fit.
Samurai Kembu Theater, Gozan Building B1F, Sanjo (Higashiyama).
Details as the studio lists them on its booking page; points it leaves open are marked as not stated in our tables.
The address is 35-7 Sanchome, Higashi-iru Sanjo-hanamikoji, Higashiyama ward, Gozan Building B1F. Sanjo Keihan station on the Tozai subway line is a 4-minute walk away, Sanjo station on the Keihan line 5 minutes. Daimyo, which runs the samurai walk in armour, is on Kiyamachi on the other side of the river, so the two fit into one morning.
The class opens with a four-minute film on samurai basics. You change into a samurai outfit, learn to bow, draw the sword and sheathe it, and then practise stylised strikes under the instructor. A demonstration of kenbu with commentary is part of the class; depending on the option you book, it lasts 10 or 30 minutes and comes before or at the start of the lesson. Photos in costume, a bow to the teacher and a certificate end the session, and you keep a tenugui cloth.
Groups are capped at 10, though several groups can share the room. Reviewers mention that the shorter option leaves little practice time, and two critical reviews found the English of their instructor hard to follow.
Cancellations go through the booking platform, free of charge up to 24 hours before the start for both the class and the show. What the show itself looks like is described on the samurai show page.
The two-star review, translated from German, concerns the instructor's English. It matches a three-star review we did not quote, which also found the explanations hard to follow. Other guests on the same class name their instructors and found the explanations clear.
“There were 2 parts to it: 3 masters performing kenbu theatre based on samurai poetry, which was intense, obviously involving swords and certain themes around life and death of a samurai. The second part was us being instructed by Julia, our guide on the day, on the basic sword moves, dressing up as samurai and performing on stage.”
“I am a solo traveler and i had so much fun. There was a couple of groups but the organizers made sure I was able to get photos and videos.”
“Was a fun and interesting activity. Very authentic and well explained. I liked the training session and being able to see afterwards the masters.”
“Unfortunately the leader barely spoke English, or spoke very unclearly, so the explanations were hard to follow.”
Reviews written by guests after their session, from GetYourGuide.
In the basement of the Gozan Building, 35-7 Sanchome, Higashi-iru Sanjo-hanamikoji, Higashiyama ward. It is about 4 minutes on foot from Sanjo Keihan subway station.
No. The theatre has no space for large luggage or travel bags.
Comfortable clothes you can move in. You change into a samurai outfit, and hoodies or tights make that harder.
Only registered participants are admitted. Ask the organiser in advance if you need to accompany a child.
The class comes with a kenbu demonstration of 10 or 30 minutes, depending on the option you book. Reviewers note that the shorter version leaves less time for practice.
Format, minimum age and area for each one.
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