About wearing the armor
・How much does a samurai armor weigh in total? The armor we offer you for this experience, including the helmet, weighs approximately 15 kilograms in total.
・How much does the helmet weigh? The helmet of this armor weighs about 2 kilograms. The helmet will be the last component you will wear.
・Is the katana used in the experience sharp? No, for safety reasons this katana is not sharpened. It is an "iaito" a katana that is used for training. The weight and balance are the same as an authentic katana. The decorations on the handle and the hand guard are ancient and date back to the 17th century.
・Can i keep my clothes on when wearing the armor? We kindly ask our customers to wear the sanitized traditional garment that we provide. There are three reasons: 1) To have a more authentic experience. 2) To protect the armor from buttons and accessories that could damage it. 3) To maintain a level of hygiene (especially in the summer months.) We appreciate your understanding. In our store you will find a private changing room where you can change in complete privacy.
・Is there a height/body limit to wear the armor? Japanese armor is "one-size-fits-all", which makes it suitable for everyone. The armor in our store is not a replica, but a real armor worn by a real samurai. In the 16th century, the average height for a man was about 165 cm and a weight of about 65 kilograms. If you have these characteristics, the armor will fit you perfectly. If you are taller (up to 190 cm) or weigh more, it is not a problem. The armor is adjustable with cords. The torso doesn't close well, the armed sleeves will be a bit short, but we assure you that the experience will be equally unforgettable!
・Is there a minimum and maximum age to participate? There is no upper age limit for this experience. Everyone has the right to make their dreams come true. Given the weight, older people might have some difficulty. Regarding the minimum age, we indicate 12 years, but only for a question of height. Japanese armors are "one-size-fits-all", but they were originally created for adults. If you are under 160 centimeters tall, this armor would be too big for you.
・Can women participate in the experience? Anyone can participate in this experience without any discrimination. Making a dream come true is one of the most beautiful things in this world.
・How many people can participate in the experience? The experience lasts 90 minutes and only one person can wear the armor. However, people in your group (up to 5) can participate as spectators.
・Do i need to have martial arts experience? No, it is not necessary. One of the good things about this experience is that anyone can enjoy it. The owner of the shop has 15 years of experience in karate and 7 years in iaido (martial art that uses the katana). In addition to dressing you up and telling you about the symbolism in the world of the samurais, he will also explain you the basic techniques of attack and defense. Using this techniques, you can take memorable photos with cool poses.
・Can i choose the armor i want to wear? For this experience we currently have only one armor available. But we already plan to add two more armors. Of course, also these two armors are ancient and are now being restored. As soon as they are ready, we will publish the experience on our page. Stay with us!
​About weaving the handle
・I am not skilled in manual labor. Can i participate in the experience? Of course! This experience is open to all those who want to see this fascinating world up close. It takes years of experience to master the weaving techniques. With this experience we offer you a "taste" of the basics with a difficulty level accessible to all. You will have time to do a little practice before weaving your personalized handle that will remain you as a memory of this experience.
・Is there a minimum and maximum age to participate? In particular, there is no age limit to participate. We generally think that children aged 12 and up can have greater concentration and "perseverance" compared to younger children. If your child is younger than this age, but you think he or she could enjoy this experience, come to Bushiya. We look forward to seeing you.
・How many people can participate in the experience? For now, only one person at a time can participate. However, people in your group (up to 4) can participate as spectators. We are thinking of doing sessions with two participants at a time. Anyway, we will update you via our page when we are ready.
Good to know
・What time should i arrive at the shop? What if i am late? We kindly ask that you arrive promptly at the time you have selected. Each experience lasts 90 minutes. After the customer has left, we need approximately 30 minutes to set up and best welcome the next customer. If you arrive 10 minutes before the time you have selected, we may not be able to welcome you. In any case, ring the bell. We will do our best. If you arrive thirty minutes or more late, we are sorry but the experience will be automatically cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.
・Do i have to confirm my reservation by email or...? Not necessarily. But an email from you in the days before the experience is appreciated. Bushiya was born essentially as a workshop where we do restorations, create new finishes for katanas and sell samurai antiques. We have only recently introduced this type of experience. Later on we would like to adopt a system where we are the ones who remind the customer of the reservation in progress.
・In which languages ​​is the experience available? English, Japanese, Italian
・Can i use my credit/debit card to pay? For the moment we accept payments in cash, bank transfer and through "Wise" application. We apologize for the inconvenience. We are working to have a payment system also through credit/debit cards.
・Is there parking for bicycles? Yes, in front of the "Machiya" house where Bushiya is located you can comfortably park up to 4 or 5 bicycles.
・Will there be other customers during my experience? Absolutely not. During the experience, our traditional house will be for your exclusive use. Once you enter, we will lock the entrance from the inside. The house is located in a quiet residential area, and since we do not make our address public, we are sure that no passing customers will come knocking. We want your experience to be unique and undisturbed, allowing you to immerse yourself in this world.
・Can i take pictures? Of course. Feel free to take pictures. You can take pictures of our lab, our products, or even during your experience. If you like, we can take pictures of you using your camera or smartphone.
・Is smoking allowed? It is absolutely prohibited in indoor spaces. For smoking you can use the outdoor space at the back where our internal garden is located. There you will find a wooden porch where you can sit and enjoy the peace of this little green corner. Obviously you will also find an ashtray.
・Are there any structural barriers for disabled people? To be honest, unfortunately yes. Access can be problematic for wheelchair users. As you may know, in Japanese homes you take off your shoes in the entrance, and then you have to climb a step to enter the house. The stairs to the upper floor are quite steep. This is a characteristic of traditional homes. In case a customer has mobility difficulties, the experience can take place on the ground floor. We will do everything possible to welcome you.
・Can i bring my children? It is difficult to answer this question. In our shop, in addition to armors, there are many antiques for sale and in our workshop there are a lot of tools. For this reason, for safety reasons, we believe that this is not a suitable place for children under 10 years old. But we are not the ones who should judge your children. If you guarantee us that your children are calm and listen to you (I know what it means because i am also a father of two children), i think it is interesting and stimulating for them to visit our shop as well. We only ask you to take this responsibility. Thank you in advance.
・Is it possible to do a "combo" experience on the same day? Absolutely yes. You can put on the armor and then go down to the ground floor and do the handle weaving experience. Or the other way around if you wish. Remember though that a single experience takes about 90 minutes. So the only problem is the availability of other free time slots. When you book, let us know if you are interested in doing both experiences. We will reserve two time slots for you.
・Are there any places of tourist interest near Bushiya? If you are interested in the "Shinsengumi", a small secret police organization formed by an elite group of swordsmen who protected the Tokugawa Shogun in 1863, then you must visit the "Mibu-dera" temple (壬生寺). This temple was the main headquarters of this police, and it is just a two minute walk from Bushiya! If you continue walking for about 6 minutes north, you will find the "Shijo-Oomiya" station. There are two train lines there. If you use the "Hankyu" line you can go to the center of Kyoto, or to Osaka in the opposite direction. If you use the "Randen" line you can instead move to Arashiyama (Northwest area) with a small picturesque local train that passes through the city.