Ninja!!

The next day we were off to... Ninja Town! Yes, there is a ninja town in Japan! Annoyingly, it takes awhile to get there. But at least your train is ninja-themed!


In Iga, we hiked up the mountain to reach the ninja house and ninja musuem. There are guides dressed in day-glo pink [girls] and dark blue [boys]. You get a spiffy tour, with demonstrations of trick doors, secret hidey-holes, etc. We got the chance to try out the spin door [think Indiana Jones 3]-- the middle-aged lady who went first was adorable! She slid up quickly, moving her hands quickly in vertical strokes, giggled "sha sha sha," and used the door with great speed. Then it was my turn. Yeah, I am not made to be a ninja. I was pretty slow- but funny, judging by the laughter.




We then toured the ninja museum, gawping at the spiffy tools and giggling at the demonstration video. So fun! Aaron n I bought some ninja-etched sake cups to add to our collection. While we didn't spend more than a few hours, this was one of the funnest things I've done in Japan. Goofy smiles for the rest of the day.