Kouka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki, the residence of the lord of ninja

Kouka city, Shiga, is famous for their history of ninja as well as Iga city, Mie.

Ninja in Kouka got their popularity at the battle of "Magari no Jin" in 1487.
At the war, Shougun Ashikaga Yoshihisa took a military expedition against the hostile daimyo Rokkaku Takayori, however Takayori used Kouka ninjas who belonged to him effectively.
As a result, Takayori achieved successful defense, and he and his ninjas got a fame for the battle.
After that, thanks to the fame, Kouka ninjas have been employed by many daimyo as a mercenary.

Even though trails of ninja are hard to find nowadays, there are some clues.
Still today, a residence of the lord of Kouka ninja remains in Kouka.
It is called "Kouka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki (Kouka style ninjutsu residence)".

It is located in a residential quarter in paddy fields.
The residence was built at the Edo period for the one of Kouka ninja lord Mochizuki Izumonokami.
It looks ordinary traditional Japanese residence from outside, but you can find many interesting points inside.

It has secret windows, a secret door and hiding places inside attic and under the floor.
You can tour inside the residence with explanation by staffs.
Also you can see exhibitions of tools of ninja there.
Besides that, they serve you a cup of medicinal tea (it have been sold by Mochizuki family in hundreds of years) for free, and if you pay extra money, you can experience to throw shuriken (a throwing-knife) to targets or you can disguise a ninja.
When I have been to there, I tried to throw the shuriken.
In throwing that, I was not so bad as a ninja.

Mochiduki family has made medicine in peaceful times for their living.
They could get ingredients of medicine from a nature-rich surroundings such as Mt. Ibuki.
I hope you can enjoy history and nature of Kouka and Shiga.