Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture is launching a new one-night, two-day experiential tourism programme that invites travellers to step into Japan’s warrior past. Set along the historic Shingen-bo-michi mountain trail, the Two-Day Ninja Training Experience Tour blends nature, history, traditional lifestyle and regional cuisine into a deeply immersive cultural journey.
Led by the Yatsugatake Historical Road Tourism Promotion Committee in collaboration with local governments, travel agencies and regional businesses, the programme highlights Hokuto City’s unique setting, surrounded by Mount Fuji, the Southern Alps and the Yatsugatake Mountains. With strong cultural ties between Hokuto City and Taiwan, the tour is positioned as a premium inbound experience for international travellers seeking authenticity beyond major cities.
Shingen-bo-michi is believed to have been developed by Sengoku-era warlord Takeda Shingen as a military route. Sections of original stonework and natural terrain remain intact, allowing participants to walk the same paths used more than 400 years ago through forest landscapes at the foot of Yatsugatake.
Participants wear traditional ninja attire and, guided by professional instructors, learn ninja walking techniques, etiquette, breathing practices and mindset. The experience is educational rather than theatrical, offering insight into the philosophy and daily discipline of historical warriors.
On Day One, the programme begins near JR Kobuchizawa Station with costume fitting and foundational instruction, followed by training in movement, awareness and mental focus. The evening is spent at the traditional inn Oyado Izumien, where guests enjoy locally sourced cuisine and a quiet woodland setting designed to deepen immersion.
Day Two features a full walk along Shingen-bo-michi, passing grasslands, forests and stone Buddhist statues, with a stop at Sanbuichi Yusui, one of Japan’s 100 Famous Waters. The journey concludes with a certificate of completion, creating a lasting memento of the experience.
For more information, e-mail Yatsugatake Historical Road Tourism Promotion Committee.
