emd

My son and I would like to tour Nijo Jin'ya. Of the 3 guidebooks I have, only one (Exploring Kyoto: On Foot in the Ancient Capital) mentions that kids under 15 are not admitted. I am wondering if they check passports for admitance here. My son is 14 but mature and over 6 ft tall; if they don't check passports they likely are not going to catch his age and ask, and I am of the "don't ask, don't tell" philosophy on this one. If they check passports then we would need to plan a trip to Uga Uneo instead to see the ninja house there (which I do not want to do- we already have several day trips planned from Kyoto).
I am aware that we will have to have a Japanese guide to get into Nijo Jin'ya since we do not speak Japanese (although my son speaks some, 6 months so far in school) and am planning on that.

framboise

If you mean Nijo-jo
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguid...LcQWuo.QhHFWoL
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Kinki.ink_html
http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.c...#Fodors_Review

it is actually a castle, not shrine (jinja).

They do accept children of any age.
Their website says:

Admission

Adults: 600 yen
High school & Junior High school students: 350 yen
Elementary School students: 200 yen
Kindergarten and under : free

Yes, perhaps they could take your son high school student
unless he mentions his age presenting his photo ID

I visited there when I was fourteen.

emd1

Hi, Framboise. No, it is separate from Nijo-Jo. Nijo-jo is the castle; Nijo jinya is in a reseidential area close to the castle. It is a former inn used by feudal lords who were visiting Kyoto in the Edo era. In order to protect them, the house was equiped w/secret pathways, trap doors, hidden escapes, and other gadgets.
Has anyone been there?

lcuy

We went there several years ago. At the time, there was an age limit, as my 13 year daughter and husband were admitted, but I had to stay outside with the younger daughter.

None of my guide books mention the aage limit, but I would guess that at 6 ft tall, they are not even going to question your son.

A better ninja place is in Kanazawa- My husband and daughter enjoyed this one way more than the one in Kyoto. "More dramatic", recalls my husband. Here also, the younger one wasn't admitted.

She forgave us though when we found some really cool ninja stars in a nearby shop while we waited. they're still has on display in her room!

emd

Thanks Lucy. The one in Kanazawa sounds good, but not for this trip as we are not planning to go near there (don't get me started though, as I am still grieving some over missing Takayama w/him). We are big Bond fans and I read that Ian Flemming went to Nija Jin'ya while researching sites for one of the films, but he thought that Nijo Jin'ya was too unbelievable to use. Maybe we will go to Iga Uneo at end of the day in Nara instead, as we don't need a Japanese guide for Iga Uneo's ninja house. That tour is in Japanese (w/pink clad ninja women, yes really) and is so visual that people say it doesn't matter if you don't understand Japanese.

framboise

Sorry for my misunderstanding. I have to apologize.

I have just phoned Nijo Jin-ya office, cause its website
said that to visit there, one had to apply in advance via phone or by mail.
As one of your guidebook tells
they accept children only high school students and over.
(In Japan we sort children rather by their schools or their grades, than by age.)
But your 14 year old son can visit with you
as long as any Japanese speaking guide accompanies your party.

emd

Framboise, once again you have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Thank you. Arigato gozaimasu. Muchas Gracias. Merci. etc....
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