This is Japan’s very own Hollywood. Toei Movie Land is the only theme park in Japan where visitors can observe the filming of period dramas. You can freely walk around a film set owned by Toei Kyoto Studio, the largest studio in Japan (36,000m2), that depicts a street from the Edo era. Numerous movies and over 200 television period dramas are filmed here every year. You can truly enjoy the atmosphere of ancient Japan by taking in the acrobatic Samurai show or dressing up like a geisha or samurai which is exactly what Nigel did.

Although the golden age of the samurai dated back to the 13th- 17th centuries, the Samurai is still a key symbol of Japan. Of all weapons that man has developed, few induce as much fascination as the samurai sword. Once Nigel was in his samurai gear, he tested out his sword fighting skills. Instructed by Musaki, an expert in samurai acting who instructed Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, Nigel proved he is a lot better at sword fighting than sumo wrestling.

The swords played a very important part of the samurai’s identify. The sword was considered inseparable from his soul.  At birth, a sword was brought into the bedchamber during the delivery and at death; the samurai was honored by his sword which was placed by his side. The skill that went into crafting a sword was remarkable. Not only did it serve as a weapon of war, but was also a cherished work of art and was often pass down generation to generation.

The sword was such an important part of the Samurai spirit, that Shinto priests would even bless the beginning of the sword making process. Sword masters were valued as highly as European artists such as Raphael and Leonardo Da Vinci. In mastering his sword, Zen Buddhism played a big part in helping the samurai to make his thoughts and actions instantaneous so that he could kill an enemy with one smooth movement.

As Nigel showed, the battle between the two men often reached sharp and dramatic climaxes. But with the samurai’s both perfecting their skills, often the two would kill each other simultaneously.

There are plenty of other things to see and do at the park including a movie school that teaches moviemaking tricks.

Open: March to November 9.00 – 17.00
December to February 9.30 to 16.00
Closed: The end of the year