I had a day off and no one else was free. My husband and friends were all busy with work, and I did not really want to stay home. Since I had some free time, I decided to go to a ninja show in Shinjuku by myself. It was something I had always been curious about, and the place was pretty close to Shinjuku Station, so I thought it was the perfect chance to try it.

The venue was actually pretty close to Shinjuku Station, which was good because I am terrible with directions. I got there a few minutes before the show started. The staff were friendly and told me to wait in the small waiting area. There were only two other people there when I arrived. I was a little nervous sitting there alone, but it was okay. It was not a big crowd or anything, so it felt manageable.

A few moments later, the show started. The MC came out and right away made everyone feel comfortable. She was an expat too and spoke English, so it was easy to follow along. She asked the audience where we were from and made small jokes here and there. It made the whole atmosphere feel lighter, not stiff. She explained that we could take photos during the show but we were not allowed to take videos during the main ninja fights, which made sense.

The first part of the show was a ninja battle between the black ninjas and the white ninja. The lighting was colorful and really set the mood. The stage was small, but the way they used the space with the lighting and smoke effects made it feel much bigger. The fights were choreographed very well, and it was exciting to see them jump, roll, and use traditional ninja weapons. It felt like watching a live anime.

After the battle, the mood shifted, and the ladies came out to perform. They wore colorful kimono-like costumes and danced using Japanese fans. The lights changed to softer colors, and it felt almost like a festival. We were also given fans and were encouraged to wave them during the performance, which made the whole experience more fun and interactive. Everyone, even the couples who looked shy at first, started joining in and waving their fans along with the music.

I will be honest, most of the people there were couples or groups of friends. I think I was the only solo guest at my table. At first, it felt a little awkward, but once the lights went down and the performances started, it did not matter anymore. Everyone was too focused on the stage to even notice who came alone.

After the main performances, they announced that we could take photos with the cast. They came out in full Edo period costumes, wearing armor, ninja outfits, and old-style clothes. You could even borrow props like swords and fans for the photo. Even though most people were taking pictures with their partners or friends, the staff were really nice and helped solo guests like me take good pictures too. I really appreciated that because it could have easily felt awkward otherwise.

At the very end, they set up a shuriken throwing challenge. They paired people up to throw ninja stars at a target. I got matched with another lady. I was honestly terrible at it, haha. I missed almost every throw and ended up losing the little “battle.” But it was fine because everyone was laughing and just having fun with it. No one took it seriously.

When the show ended, the cast all came out again to thank everyone and take a final bow. The whole experience was lively but also had a very personal touch. It was not a huge, overwhelming show like the big theaters. It felt more like being part of a small special event where the performers really interacted with the audience.

After everything wrapped up, I walked back toward Shinjuku Station feeling really happy that I decided to go. Even though I was by myself, the whole event was lively, colorful, and just different in a good way. It reminded me that sometimes you do not have to wait for other people to be free to enjoy something. Going alone was a little scary at first, but in the end, it was so worth it.

The ninja show was not just about action. It was about having fun, learning a little about Japanese culture, and just enjoying the moment. If you ever have free time in Tokyo and you want to do something a bit different, I definitely recommend giving the ninja show a try. Whether you go with friends, a partner, or even by yourself like I did, you will make a good memory out of it.

If I get another chance in the future, I would love to go again and maybe even bring my husband next time so we can try the shuriken challenge together.

Stay tuned for more exciting content like this! Follow us on our social media platforms and check out our blog regularly to stay updated on the latest news, trends, and insider stories from Japan. Don’t miss out on future updates—sign up for our newsletter for exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox!

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterPost on X
FollowFollow us
PinterestSave