In Japan, from April 5 to May 6 of 2014 a Ninja Festival is being held at Iga Ueno (part of the Mie Prefecture). In such festivities (and specially in the weekends), the people (and pets!!!) dress like ninja and walk around town in plain daylight (basically like a 80's ninja movie). But it doesn't stop there. Head to the Ninja Museum, where you can learn even more about these warrior; such as their weapons, houses, customs and code language (color coded rice grains!). There is also the Iga Ueno Castle, a magnificent fortress that holds a collection of artifacts (this castle was used by Akira Kurosawa for the movie Kagemusha). And last but not least, there's the Danjiri Museum, which holds an exhibition about the Ueno Tenjin and Oni-gyoretsu festivals. If you are in Japan or planing to go to Japan (everybody should), this is a must-see for otakus and people interested in culture.
Warning
Even though the castle and museums have English translations, most of the town people don't speak English. If you plan to go, try to learn the basics of the Japanese language. Also, getting to Iga Ueno can be really tricky, here's a link that will help you get there by train. If you plan to go to Japan, buy a Rail Pass here (it's a must).
Here's a link to the Ninja Museum website.
Until next time!!! (またね)
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