Samurai Movieworld – Kyoto

Posted on May 13, 2007 by Adam R.

Kyoto Studio Park – Kyoto

We are speeding from Shiga towards being dropped off to meet my in-laws' son who is a manager at one of Kyoto’s best hotels. We are staying over night and in the morning we are going to stay at his home and he is going to show us around Kyoto over his next two days off.

My in-laws who took my wife and I to Hakone Castle in Shiga Prefecture have told us we are making a stop for lunch just before arriving in Kyoto. We arrive at a carpark and walk a block or two too arrive at Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Movie Museum; this is where some classic Samurai movies and TV series have been shot. Even current Samurai TV Drama shows are filmed here I am told, so as a devout Samurai and Ninja movie fan from way back this is going to be interesting. As soon as we are inside there the walls are covered with larger than life photos stills taken from various movies and there are ninja weapons and tools all over the wall in front of me.

First thing is time to eat and after an ice cold beer and a kilo of yakisoba I won’t want anything to eat for a few hours. Around the first corner from where the street the food is available there is a ninja clad guy minus the headgear throwing “shuriken” ninja stars at a practice board. Seems you can win prizes if you hit the bulls eye so I front up for my turn to be told it is only for kids. I am about to show him who the ninja is when my in-laws grab me and tell to run fast.

Not from the ninja guy, but some show is about to start that can’t be missed and I unleash my new SONY Cybershot to catch it all. In front of us come two women in Kimono and about twelve Samurai. They all have “KatanaCurved, single edged longsword traditionally used by Samurai.” Japanese long swords and one has a “Yari” Japanese spear, so something good is going to happen I assume. A director appears and explains that these are the top stuntmen at the park who are going to put on a demonstration of their skills for us. Each one has a signature move with their weapon and shows off for the crowd now swelling at around four hundred.

After a few trial runs and jokes the stuntmen go at it full speed for a good ninety seconds until only one man is left standing. The show is over they announce to everyone’s disappointment but to counter it they say everyone can get a photo with the group of Samurai and two Kimono Girls. Who is standing smack bang in front of the gate but me and am first out of hundreds to get a photo to envious stares.

Next we are off to the replica Samurai town walking through the streets, I see a GeishaTraditional female entertainers. Trained in such arts as singing, dancing, and playing Japanese traditional musical instruments. coming my way but get told it is a #Maiko# apprentice Geisha. She is in those platform “GetaTraditional sandals consisting of a wooden base elevated by a pair of blocks. Usually worn with kimono or yukata.” Japanese clogs and is doing a real funny super slow walk. I actually think back in the day it would take them three hours at that rate to walk one kilometer, but it some traditional thing they do to show off. Further down the street is the replica “Yoshiwara” Red Light District where ladies can choose to be made up a Geisha or Men can take a picture with a Maiko actress. A picture with a Maiko actress is very expensive but will make a lasting memory and after Memoirs of a Geisha fresh in everyone’s minds it will get more popular with GaijinJapanese word meaning "outsider" commonly used to describe foreigners. Considered somewhat impolite. visitors.

Across the old style bridge and there is a mock fight on with Samurai running everywhere so I figure I have wandered onto a set where they are filming a battle scene but later I am told they do this several times a day to freak out the visitors. There are heaps of Samurai goodies to buy from several outlets inside the park offering T-shirts, wigs, swords, and full Samurai outfits.

This place is a definite must do for any Ninja or Samurai movie fan, I was watching MUSASHI on TV and actually saw Atsushi of Lonbo in it as a serious Samruai.

Below is link to the main site in Japanese, though there is an English section on the right hand menu.

Samurai Movieworld Website