The Real Deal Ninja Training in Japan

Photo by k teezy

Akame, Japan is a tiny village and the home to a spectacular string of waterfalls known as "48 waterfalls".  This is where iconic, elite Japanese spies used to train for centuries.

This ancient village is also home to an elegant, three-tiered 16th-century castle known as the White Phoenix, which perches on a hill overlooking the town. Today, it's open to public with a display of artifacts from the legendary shogun named Takigawa Katsutoshi, who ruled the region in the distant past.  The man was in command of ninjas to settle with his political issues.

Not far down the hill, situated is the Iga Ninja Museum which was built about 50 years ago to showcase the history of the region’s renowned inhabitants. It resembles a typical ninja’s house, with features such as revolving doors, hidden rooms and secret exits so they could escape intruders and keep weapons safe.

Akame opened its ninja-training school only three years ago, recreating some of the ways that ninjas learnt and practiced their skills. Most ninjas started their training as young as six or seven, according to Professor Hiroshi Ikeda, who has dedicated a large part of his academic life to studying ninjutsu, the martial art of stealth and strategy.

The Akame 48 waterfalls are a collective name for a string of waterfalls flowing through Akame-cho, Nabari, Mie. In Japan, more than 1300 years ago, a legendary holy man named En no gyoja was active. It is said the name Akame (red eye) derives from a legend that he met Fudo-myoo (God of Fire) riding a red-eyed ox. It is also said the "48" was chosen to represent "Many."

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There are various waterfalls in Akame. Among them, five large falls, "Fudo," "Senju," "Nunobiki," "Ninai" and "Biwa" are popular under the name of "Amake Five Waterfalls." A recreational path about 4 km long along the waterfalls is used as a hiking path to enjoy walking while listening to the sound of waterfalls. The path is famous for its different aspects according to the season, from cherry blossoms in spring through tender green in early summer, colored leaves in autumn to frozen falls in winter. The place is also a habitat for giant salamanders, which are Natural Monument of Japan. You may be able to see them swimming in the river when walking between spring and autumn.

The village is one of the highest rated destination in Japan not only for local Japanese tourists but also by non-Japanese tourists as well.