Iga & Nabari
Iga City & Nabari City,
Mie Prefecture
Iga & Nabari,
the Birthplace of the Ninja
Iga ninjas never served under a specific clan.
Instead, they served under daimyos of the Sengoku Warring States period (from late 15th century to late 16th century)
in various regions and went into battles as freelance soldiers.
It is said that they contributed to a number of battles as many excelled at the art of the ninja and combat capabilities.
They are believed to have gone through intense trainings for
a long period at training sites on a mountain and strengthened their mind and body.
It has been told that on the battlefields, they were mainly engaged in information gathering,
but they also conducted night raids, snuck into and set fire to opponent’s base, and were adept at the use of guns.
大阪からのアクセス
Iga
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
This is a ninja museum that boasts the largest collection of ninja-related resources in the world. It looks like a farmhouse on the outside, but there are many traps and gimmicks inside. A collection of numerous ninja tools and old valuable documents on ninjas are on display at exhibition rooms “Ninja Experience Hall” and “Ninja Tradition Hall.” Visitors can see authentic ninja tools and materials. Ninja demonstration shows by Iga Ninja Group Ashura are also held.
Iga
KATAYAKI
It has been said that it was portable food of Iga ninjas, called “Ninka (ninja sweets).” It was valued as useful non-perishable food at battlefields because they last long. It is hard as the name suggests, and said to be the hardest crackers in Japan. It’s a plain and crunchy famous confection of the Iga region with subtly sweet flavor and sweet smell.
Nabari
AKAME FALLS
It is called “Akame (red eyes)” because the legend has it that when En no Ozunu was training facing the waterfalls, Fudo Myo-o (guardian of the Buddhism) appeared riding a cow with red eyes. The 48 falls of Akame is one of many 48 falls across Japan (48 is used to mean “many”). It’s a series of waterfalls in a valley along a rapid stream that runs through Akame Town, Nabari City, Mie Prefecture. It is said to be the training site of Momochi Tamba no Kami, the first Iga ninja.
Nabari
The village of ninja training Akame falls
Nabari City, famous for the Akame 48 Falls, is a town located next to Iga City, the birthplace of Iga school ninjas. This is a ninja training experience facility nearby the Akame 48 Falls. The Akame 48 Falls is one of the locations where ninjas trained. It is said that Momochi Tamba, the first Iga school ninja, trained here as well. Visitors can learn about the secrets of Iga school ninja skills through the training experience using ninja tools.
Nabari
Ruins of Kashiwabara Castle
Katte Shrine was founded by the lord of Kashihara Castle, Takino Juro Yoshimasa, in 1562. After it burned down in the Tensho Iga War, it was rebuilt in 1593. Kashihara Castle is where the remnants of the Iga force gathered and barricaded themselves in during the Second Tensho Iga War, one of the battles between the Oda clan and the Iga forces. It was a strong castle with earthworks covered with stones, surrounded by a deep dry moat, but was destroyed almost completely by the first attack by the Oda force, and the Iga force surrendered. There stands a stone monument that says, “Kashihara Castle, where the showdown took place.”
Well-known Iga Ninjas
「浜松博物館蔵」
Hattori Hanzo Masanari
He was the head of the Hattori Hanzo clan who referred to themselves as “Hanzo” for generations. It is believed that for generations, his ancestors lived in Chigachidani of Yono, Hanagaki Village in Iga Province, (current Iga City) and governed the area.
Momochi Tamba no Kami
He was a jizamurai (powerful farmer who achieved the position of samurai) of Ryuguchi, which was consisted of Nabari County of Iga Province (current Nabari City, Mie Prefecture) and Uda County of Yamato Province (current Murou, Uda City, Nara Prefecture). According to “Iranki,” Tamba was a part of the Momochi clan who lived in Hoojiro (current Iga City).
Fujibayashi Nagato-no-Kami
He was from Yubune Village, Ahai County (current Yubune, Iga City), which borders Koka County, Omi Provice (current Koka City, Shiga Prefecture), in northern Iga. His descendants compiled “Mansen Shukai,” which conveys the ninja skills used in the age of provincial wars (from late 15th century to late 16th century).