Shiga: Explore the Secret World of Koka Ninja

From the outside it resembles a farmhouse, but inside are hidden staircases, trapdoors, revolving doors, and escape routes designed to protect families during the turbulent Sengoku era. These features were not theatrical but practical, enabling survival against sudden raids. Walking through the house, visitors discover how ninja blended ordinary life with covert defense, turning their homes into fortresses of secrecy. The Yashiki offers rare insight into the daily strategies of the Koka ninja, showing how their reputation for adaptability and clever design was rooted in necessity and community resilience.

Projection mapping and curated exhibits separate fact from myth, explaining how Koka’s mountainous terrain and independent villages produced skilled practitioners of intelligence, survival, and guerrilla tactics. Visitors can try interactive activities such as the “Five Escape Techniques” to experience stealth and agility firsthand. Optional ninja costumes enhance immersion, while displays highlight the work of the Koka Ninja Research Group. More than entertainment, the museum offers historical context and living culture, giving travelers a deeper understanding of how the Koka ninja protected their communities and why their legacy endures.