Planning a group trip to Tokyo and looking for authentic Japanese cultural activities? Instead of contacting multiple venues one by one, you can let us coordinate everything for you. SYDO Inc. (operator of SAMURAI EXPERIENCE in Harajuku, Tokyo) can arrange samurai action lessons, taiko drumming, calligraphy, kimono dressing, origami workshops, and more for school trips, corporate team-building, and inbound group tours.
Below is a sample lineup of cultural experiences we can organize for groups. All of them can be combined, customized, and supported in English. For inquiries and bookings, please use the contact form at the bottom.
1. Samurai Experience (Harajuku, Tokyo)
This is our flagship program: a real samurai / stage-combat style experience designed and taught by professional action directors and instructors who are still active in the industry.
- Group size: approx. 40–50 people at one time (depends on venue size)
- Large-scale対応: with a sufficiently large space, we can prepare 100+ kimono/armor outfits and swords
- Run by professionals: all instructors are professional samurai / stage-fight trainers, not part-time staff
The flow of the experience can include:
- Dressing / costume experience: participants wear authentic-style samurai outfits
- Photo / video opportunity: we can set up time for group photos and simple video shooting
- Activity elements: not “dress and finish”, but actually learning how to hold a sword, basic etiquette, and simple choreography
Because participants actually move, not just watch, it works extremely well for corporate groups, school groups, and overseas incentive trips that want a “Japan-only” activity.
2. Taiko Drumming Experience
Taiko is one of the most powerful and group-friendly Japanese activities. Everyone can play together, match the rhythm, shout the calls, and feel the sound in their bodies.
- Start from basic strikes and rhythms
- Build up to a short group performance
- Suited for team-building and mixed-age groups
- Professional taiko instructors can be arranged
Even participants with no musical background can enjoy it, because the goal is “experience and unity,” not perfection. It is an ideal counterpart to the dynamic samurai program.
3. Calligraphy Workshop
Calligraphy (shodō) is a perfect “quiet” Japanese experience for groups. After a brief explanation of tools and brush techniques, everyone writes a character (kanji) that matches the theme of the trip — for example “samurai”, “peace”, or their own name in kanji.
Because everyone works on the same theme at the same time, it creates a sense of togetherness, and each guest can take their work home as a souvenir. This works very well for school exchanges, study-abroad programs, and cultural missions.
4. Kimono Dressing & Photo Session
We can arrange group kimono dressing with professional staff, and then schedule time for photos. Since our samurai studio is in the Harajuku / Meiji Jingu area, it’s easy to connect the experience with nearby sightseeing.
- Group dressing with pro staff
- Group photo / commemorative photo shoot can be added
- Ideal for overseas guests who want “real Japanese-style photos”
5. Origami & Japanese Craft Activities
For groups that include children or mixed ages, short craft sessions such as origami, Japanese paper (washi) crafts, or simple lantern making are very popular. Even if language levels are different, everyone can complete the same item and enjoy it together.
This is a good add-on activity when you need to fill 30–60 minutes between main programs.
6. Tea Ceremony (Optional)
If your group wants to experience the “quiet side” of Japanese culture, we can arrange a tea ceremony session with an English-speaking instructor. This works especially well when combined with more active programs (samurai, taiko) on the same day, so participants can feel both “movement” and “mindfulness.”
For large groups, we can divide participants into smaller rotations so everyone can experience it carefully.
7. About SYDO / Why Our Programs Are Trusted
SYDO has been providing samurai/action and Japanese cultural experiences for over 10 years, and our programs are used by major Japanese travel agencies, education-related organizations, and inbound tour operators.
- We operate one of the few studios/dojos in Tokyo that can actually host samurai/action programs.
- Our representative, Shinichi Godai, still works on the front line as an action director and fight choreographer.
- All instructors are professional-level samurai / stage-fight performers who can teach, choreograph, and perform — not part-time helpers.
- Our Japanese samurai school “SAMURAI’ve” is one of the largest in Japan in terms of active students.
- We receive performance requests from overseas events, domestic events, and closed VIP parties.
Because of this background, we can safely deliver large-scale, high-quality group experiences for overseas guests.
8. Group Booking & Coordination
We can coordinate all of the above activities as a one-stop service. Please tell us your preferred date, number of participants, and the types of experiences you want to include.
Group plan
Booking for normal plan: within 24 hours of the date of the experience.
Booking for private / customized group plan: at least 1 month before the date of the experience.
Other Inquiries
If you would like to arrange other Japanese cultural activities (for example samurai + taiko, kimono + calligraphy, or school-oriented workshops), please contact us from the same form. Our team will propose the best combination for your purpose, group size, and time.
👉 https://samurai-experience.com/contact/
Conclusion
Tokyo has many Japanese cultural experiences, but arranging several of them for a group can be time-consuming. By using SYDO — a company that actually runs samurai/action programs with professional instructors — you can centralize everything and offer your guests the highest-level Japanese experience available in Tokyo.
For group, corporate, and educational bookings, please contact us here:
https://samurai-experience.com/contact/
