Samurai Museum, Tokyo, Japan - Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Start us off with an overview. Even children who normally balk at museums will flip for the Samurai Museum, a highly interactive spot in Shinjuku that delves into the life and times of Japan’s fearsome feudal warriors. With so many opportunities to dress up in samurai armor and watch live demonstrations, your kids won’t even realize how much they’re learning in the process. Admittedly, the museum glosses over some of the complexities of 800 years of history, but for an entertaining, easy-to-digest overview, it works well. What will we find in the collection? The experience, rather than the physical collection, is the main draw here. Most children are unlikely to care that the majority of the armor and swords on display are replicas. If yours are smitten with samurai lore after their visit, take them to the Tokyo National Museum to check out the genuine artifacts. Any temporary exhibitions of note? The lack of rotating exhibits and the slightly steep price tag of ¥1,900 (about $17) per adult make this more of a one-hit-wonder than a repeat attraction. Thankfully, the two floors are well laid out and intuitive to navigate. What did you make of the crowd? Expect to see a mostly international crowd with plenty of families. On the practical tip, how accessible is the museum? Regrettably, the museum’s designers do not seem to have factored wheelchair accessibility into their plans. Reaching the elevator requires exiting the building, and all of the steps and narrow entranceways present a serious obstacle. Also note that while the surrounding neighborhood of Kabukicho isn’t dangerous, it is on the seedy side. Plan to visit before the sun goes down—and before the neon pachinko parlor signs come on. Say we're looking for a bit more guidance through the museum—any tours worth checking out? Guided tours, which are included in the price of admission, are one of the highlights here. Enthusiastic English-speaking guides come armed with all kinds of anecdotes and enough patience to answer questions from even the most inquisitive kids. History buffs may want to shell out a few extra yen and reserve an hourlong lecture on Japanese swords with Paul Martin, a former curator at the British Museum, or a calligraphy workshop with Shiho Kurabayashi, the woman behind the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s logo design. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? Even if you aren’t in the market for a full-size katana, the gift shop is fun to browse—especially for kids. Should you suddenly find yourself wishing for a replica suit of armor, the museum will happily ship it to you. Say we're short on time—is the Samurai Museum still worth a stop? The museum’s compact size means that even little ones with limited attention spans can appreciate it. If you’re in a hurry, time your visit to the free sword-fighting demonstrations. They only last 10 to 15 minutes, but they'll leave a lasting impression. Take a few minutes at the end of the tour for a photo-op in full samurai regalia." - Diana Hubbell