Why don't you make a one-day trip from Kyoto to the Ninja's homeland of Koka City?

Koka City is home of Ninjas, and is just one hour away from Kyoto.
It is a perfect place to avoid the big crowds of Kyoto and learn about the real Ninja.

Koka is a quiet, peaceful and beautiful rural town, and the best to go with a bicycle.
You can visit the real Ninja's ruins by electric bicycles in a safe environment.
You will feel the atmosphere of Ninja while riding through the heartland of Ninja.

At Ninja House, you will find many Ninja's tools, weapons, devices and the tricks that Ninja had developed.
We will visit one of the real Ninja's Twin Castles too.
And also, you will visit your guide's house to experience a coffee making by using Ninja's medicine making method, and learn how to write your name in Japanese Katakana character to create a name tag for your souvenier.

There is no such tour to visit real Ninja places but this.
Your guide happens to be a Ninja/local Samurai descendant, and happy to show you around the hometown of Koka Ninja.
So, you will be able to experience a very unique tour from this.

Here is the “basic itinerary” for the Ninja tour.

Meet up at JR Kyoto station at 9:00 a.m., then train ride to Koka City.
1) Koka Ninja House
—The only existing real Ninja House with many tricks inside such as revolving door, hidden second floor, escape tunnel, too heavy sliding door, etc. You can throw Shuriken there if you want. Closed on Wednesdays.

2) Ninja Centre
—Many displays of Ninja weapons, clothes, historical documents, etc. Closed on Mondays.

3) Lunch
—We will visit a local shopping centre. There are 3 restaurants.

4) Shingu Twin Castles
—Nation's historic site. High earthen walls. Hidden in the woods.

5) Narita Ranch
—Break for ice cream. Many animals to play with (cows, goats, sheeps, rabbits, etc.)

6) Murasame & Jizen Twin Castles
—Nation's Historic Site. Hidden in the woods.

7) Guide's house
—A typical Japanese house. We'll make coffee by Ninja's medicine making method. The guide's wife will teach you how to write your name in Japanese katakana characters. You will make a name tag for your sourvenir.

8) Riding through cherry trees street along the Soma river

9) Yagawa shrine
—Ninja's gathering spot for decision making. Nation's historic site.

(Optional) Koka Ninja Village
—Ninja's theme park. Ninja's trick house, Ninja training, etc. Closed on Mondays.

(Optional) JR Koka station
—Ninja's 3-D trick art drawings on the station walls. Enjoy photo taking.

Tour ends at JR Konan station or JR Koka station, then train ride back to Kyoto station.

On a rainy day, I have an alternative plan.

The itinerary can be customised according to your preference and time.