Summary
Ninjas are a huge staple in both Japanese pop culture and history.Naruto,Hell’s Paradise, andInuyashaincorporate the shinobi genre into their narratives. Because of this rise in popularity - along with maid cafes, nonetheless, it was only a matter of time until a ninja-maid collab was born.
Located on the streets of Akihabara, and just 3 minutes away from the main station,Sinobazuadvertises itself as a martial arts dojo where visitors get to watch “real” ninjas train. “Training” experiences include itawari (board breaking), shuriken (throwing darts), and more. Moreover, customers are encouraged to join in on the fun, thanks to their costume rentals and pictures options.
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The Secret Lair
Every ninja must be secretive, andSinobazu’s dojo is of no exception. Guarded by a kitsune statue above the entrance, inside is a dressed mannequin on display in a dark neon stairwell leading up to the dojo itself on the second floor. There are two rooms available: a performance room, where patrons can watch ninjas do tricks - and a regular room. Both are set up like common areas, with the performance room having a Japanese tea house theme, and the regular room organized more like a conventional Edo-style dining area. Upon entering either room, at least two ninjas will come by to act as the primary servers. Admission fees vary from 100-600 yen, which comes with a drink. Options for those are soft drinks, beer, and a special “NIN-NIN” cocktail. On the menu, for food there are five options to choose from, all around 900 yen. Most customers recommend their noodle dishes. Unlike othermaid cafés that have you chant “moe moe kyun” before your meal, your new ninja comrades have one of their own: “Nin Nin!”, just like their special cocktail.
As previously stated, visitors are also encouraged to purchase add-ons, which include an instax/chekki photo or a performance of your choosing. There are three options of the latter: A, B, and C; itawari (board breaking), “flame” dancing, and even a chance to try throwing shuriken first hand. We went with option A, and was it more than worth it?
The “True” Enemy
No oneenjoys stress, and jetlag from a 12-hour flight doesn’t go away overnight! Though,these kunoichi have your back. For board breaking (itawari), we were instructed to jot down a worry that’s been plaguing our minds. This would later on be written on the board, and one of the ninjas will personally break it in half, while the other (including you) cheers her on. Once her job is complete, she will then “disappear” into the night. And whatever it was that you were stressed about? Worry not! It’s all taken care of now.
But there is yet another enemy we fail to take heed of. That’s right, it’s the transportation! Thankfully, this one isn’t too high level, and you don’t need ninja skills for it - as once youexit Akihabara station, it’s only a straight walk down the “maid café” isle, in which various maids from different establishments stand in front of their respective shops and hand out flyers. From there, there’s a tiny street right off to right, and the entrance is hidden among the other buildings - and right across from KFC, nonetheless! A ninja’s hideout can never be easily found.
With a 5-star rating onTrip Advisor, and constant updates to their site,Sinobazuis definitely worth at least one visit. We all have an inner ninja waiting to be explored, after all.
