Things to experience in Nara City
Experience Traditional Kyudo
Coming to Nara City always means having more than one arrow in your quiver. There’s plenty to do and we’re always trying to notch up one more. Japanese traditional archery, or kyudo, is just one of the latest cool things to experience in Nara.
Discover your inner Samurai spirit in Kyudo with this unique immersion into Japanese “Bushido” tradition and culture.
Available Dates For 2025
The Nara Kyudo Experience is available in:
June・September・October・November
What the Nara Kyudo
Experience is About
The Nara Kyudo experience is a full immersion into the Spirit of Bushido. Enter into the traditional Dojo where, after being greeted with a bow ‘n bow, you’ll be dressed and kitted out in full traditional costume. It’s nothing fancy, but elegant, comfortable, and reassuring. With friendly experts on hand, you’ll learn some basic Kyudo principles and then start on the road to becoming a great shot. But don’t sweat it, Kyudo is not so much about hitting the target, it’s more the spirit of Shin-Zen-Bi – truth, goodness, and beauty – and merging into Munen-Muso, the space of ‘no thought’ and ‘no desire’.
Once you’ve had all the time you need to find your comfort zone, you’ll enter the grand Dojo hall. It’s actually a kind of indoor pavilion stage and you shoot your arrows out the front towards the targets outside.
How to Book your Kyudo Experience in Nara
A booking for this activity is required, which you can do through this page. The event is in cooperation with the Nara City Kyudo Association. It takes place in the Rohto Konoike Sports Park, a 20-minutes walk due north of Kintetsu Nara Station. There’s a Starbucks close by for early birders.
*Reservations can be made up to 3 months in advance and up to 3 days before the experience day
- Day : Monday and Friday
- Mon & Fri : 1 to 5 people
- Start : 1 PM
- Fee : 12,000 yen
- Restrictions : Minimum age requirements - 13 yrs or older
- Day : Wednesday
- Wednesday : 1 to 6 people
- Start : 9 AM
- Fee : 12,000 yen
- Restrictions : Minimum age requirements - 13 yrs or older
Bookings are also not available on Japanese Public Holidays. For a list of public holidays in Japan, click here.
*Please note
September can be VERY hot in the Dojo, the Kyudo hall. The Dojo does not have air-conditioning or shower facilities. If you are comfortable with these conditions, we welcome you to make bookings during the hotter months.
What Should I Bring?
Please prepare these items for a comfortable experience:
(1) A T-shirt / long sleeve shirt
(2) Short pants
*You will wear (1) and (2) underneath your uniform.
(3) A pair of socks
*Please bring your socks as walking barefoot is not allowed in the Dojo.
(4) A towel
(5) Something to drink (There’s a vending machine at the venue too.)
Venue
The Kyudo experience is held in Rohto Konoike Sports Park. There’s a map at the bottom of this post. It’s about a 25minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station or alternatively, you can catch a Nara Kotsu Bus from platform 13 outside Kintetsu Nara Station. Buses 115, 209 or 210 will take you there. You will need to get off the bus at Shiei Kyujo Bus Stop (市営球場). The fare is ¥250.
Keep an eye out for the big Starbucks on the right-hand side.
Our meeting point is at Rohto Nara 2nd Martial Arts Field. We’ll take you to the vennue, Rohto Nara Kyudojo.
This is quite an exceptional thing to do in Nara and time slots are limited. So, make sure to contact with us for specific dates and to secure your place in the Kyudo activity. The event is in Japanese and English only.
*Although the instructors speak some English, they make use of electronic translation devices to ensure they can thoroughly impart their knowledge, wisdom, techniques, and etiquette related to Kyudo and Bushido. The experts are eager to share their knowledge and wisdom, so should you want to go deep down that rabbit hole, you’ll be guided all the way down to the bottom.
Unique, fun, engaging, and memorable
This Kyudo experience is a unique and fun activity in Nara. You get the full run of a traditional Dojo and the opportunity to practice with expert instructors. After the event, you will be awarded a certificate of merit in Japanese with your name in Katakana script to acknowledge your inner prowess. It’s an engaging full morning activity.
Traditional Archery in Japan
After the innovation of modern weaponry, it became more closely bonded to mental, physical, and spiritual discipline. Since ancient times, the Japanese longbow has had a unique association with dignity and fine character.
Popular Questions and Answers about Kyudo
① Is Kyudo popular in Japan?
About half or more of kyudo practitioners are high schoolers, and their numbers exceed Kendo sword swishers. The number of schools offering Kyudo is only about 2,000. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation has around 145,000 members.
② What is the difference between kyujutsu and Kyudo?
Kyujutsu refers more to archery as an art of weaponry before the Meiji era. The official use of the word kyudo was from 1919. Kyudo can be said to be more focused on the inclusivity of ritual, etiquette, and spirit rather than just the shooting.
③ How much does a Kyudo bow cost?
④ How long is a Kyudo bow?
The bow, or yumi, of Japanese archery is the longest longbow in the world. There are 6 categories of bow length based on your height and draw length ranging from 212 cm to 245 cm. So your bow is always taller than you.
⑤ What is the highest rank in Kyudo?
According to the International Kyudo Federation there are 10 Kyudo ranks called dan. The highest rank has no description, being the zenith or to have entered the experience of Zen via the Kyudo.
*We accept no liability for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience arising from your participation in or attendance at this event.
For inquiries: kyudoexperience@gmail.com
It may take some time to get a response to your inquiries, so please be patient.
- Nara City General Foundation
-
13-1 Sanjo - Hommachi, Nara City,
Nara Prefecture, 630-8122