Learn About the Ninja Spirit with a Visit to the Ninja City of Iga in Mie Prefecture

Iga is known as the birthplace of the Iga-ryu ninja, one of the leading schools of ninjutsu (art of stealth) in Japan. Iga-ryu was a renowned group of ninja warriors known for their skills in the dark arts of espionage, stealth, and shadow warfare during Japan’s feudal period (1192-1600). Iga, with its quiet location in the western part of Mie Prefecture surrounded by mountains, was the perfect place for this deadly art form to develop in secrecy. Prior to the Edo Period (1603-1868), ninja were involved mainly in espionage activities, where they would infiltrate enemy territory and bring back information. Those days might be long gone, but ninjutsu is alive and well in Iga, making it an ideal place to delve into the ways of the ninja and learn about their culture and history.