・Former name: Toei Kyoto Studio Park
・Opening hours: 10 AM–9 PM (Evening tickets allow entry from 5 PM)
・Admission: Adults: 2,800 yen; children: 1,600 yen (Evening tickets: 2,000 yen and 1,300 yen, respectively)
・Selected attractions included with admission: Evangelion Kyoto Base, the Village Guide Tour, Ninja Show NINJA MISSION, the live-action superhero exhibition, and the “100 Years of Uzumasa’s Jidaigeki －Behind the Scenes of Period Dramas－” exhibition marking the founding of Uzumasa’s film studios

For a closer look at what makes the park special, join the Village Guide Tour. It runs around three times a day and lasts about 20 minutes. No advance reservation is needed: simply meet by the signboard beside the costume rental shop at the designated time.

Your guide is a professional actor with experience in period dramas or films. Follow them through convincing Edo-era streets built by the craftspeople behind Toei Kyoto Studio’s productions. The route takes in shop-lined Karasu Street, Oike Street with its traditional bathhouse buildings, the photogenic Mugen Pond, an imposing samurai residence, and outdoor filming sets that change to suit different productions.

Along the way, your guide brings the streets to life with explanations of the sets’ clever details, amusing filming anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes stories. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a film crew at work!

After the tour, make time for the revamped Ninja Show NINJA MISSION in the multipurpose hall on the third floor of Padios.

This roughly 15-minute live show was created by writer and director Tsuyoshi Kida, known for his work on the Kamen Rider series, together with veteran Toei Kyoto Studio action choreographer Kazuto Seike.

For the park’s 2026 refresh, the show was reworked into a largely nonverbal action performance with minimal dialogue, making it easy for international visitors and young children to follow.

Professional performers unleash explosive parkour and martial arts stunts, backed by immersive 3D projections, powerful sound, and dramatic lighting. The result is an up-close battle that feels startlingly real.

The theater isn’t huge, which brings the audience even closer to the action. Performers don’t stay on the stage, either: they appear around the seating area, so the excitement reaches you wherever you sit.

Seating is limited and the show is a park highlight, so arrive early to line up and avoid missing out.

Ninja Show NINJA MISSION runs three times daily, with each performance lasting around 15 minutes, in the third-floor multipurpose hall at Padios. Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited throughout the show to avoid spoilers and preserve the experience for everyone.

Beyond action shows and rides, Uzumasa Kyoto Village offers quieter ways to experience traditional Japanese culture. Two different workshops are offered each day. Sado (Japanese tea ceremony) is available on most days, with an instructor guiding you through preparing and tasting matcha. The second workshop rotates among activities such as flower arranging, Noh, kyogen comedy, shamisen, taiko drumming, koto, Kyoto-style dance passed down in the geisha districts, and festival music. Check the monthly schedule on the official website before visiting.

On our visit, the choices were tea ceremony and Japanese dance. As a complete beginner, I found the dance session a wonderful surprise. The roughly 35-minute class was both engaging and fun. There’s no need for prior experience: the teacher starts with basic posture, carefully explaining hand and foot placement and how to use a traditional folding fan gracefully.

In about half an hour, I picked up several elegant steps and came away feeling I’d learned a lot. The teacher even complimented my aptitude, which made me seriously consider taking regular lessons! If you’d like a hands-on introduction to the grace of traditional Japanese dance, this is well worth adding to your day.

One of the park’s biggest draws for Japanese and international visitors alike is dressing up as a period-drama character. In the past, some professional costumes were limited to studio photos, but following the refresh, most outfits can now be worn while strolling and taking pictures around the outdoor Edo-style streets. Toei’s experienced makeup and wardrobe teams can quickly transform you into a Shinsengumi warrior, samurai, Machimusume (town girl), Ohimesama (princess), or Kyoto maiko.

To go beyond dressing the part, try the Samurai Experience at Otemon Plaza. In this 20-minute introductory session, you’ll learn how to hold a sword, draw it, perform basic movements, and get a taste of the samurai mindset. By the end, you might just find yourself standing a little more like a warrior!

Uzumasa Kyoto Village isn’t just a place to discover traditional culture. It’s also an interactive theme park full of energetic challenges. With attractions designed for different age groups, you can dive into the world of ninjas and Edo-era Japan rather than simply looking around. Whether you’re an adult seeking a thrill or traveling with kids who need to burn off some energy, there’s something to enjoy.

The year 2026 marks 100 years of period-drama filmmaking in Uzumasa. After screen star Tsumasaburo Bando founded the first studio here in 1926, eight major studios gathered within a stretch of just 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles). With craftspeople preserving Edo-era traditions and historic temple buildings nearby, the area became known as Japan’s Hollywood. From the 1960s, period dramas moved from cinemas to television, and production companies including Toei and Shochiku continue to create new works here today.

An exhibition inside Uzumasa Castle (Event Hall) celebrates this remarkable history and is a highlight for 2026. Alongside valuable original materials, it features exclusive video interviews with directors and actors. A special attraction is the audio narration by Kento Nagao of pop group Naniwa Danshi, who serves as an Uzumasa supporter. His lively commentary accompanies visitors through a century of filmmaking in this historic studio district.

The exhibition also adds hands-on fun to the usual displays. In the “invisibility technique” area, for example, you can experience the special-effects magic of period dramas yourself. Apart from a few designated exhibits, photography is allowed throughout most of the prop displays and interactive areas, making this a great stop for film and TV fans.

One of the park’s most striking additions in recent years is Evangelion Kyoto Base. The story begins with signs of an Angel appearing in Kyoto, prompting the special agency NERV to establish a New Kyoto-3 branch in Uzumasa and recruit new pilots. Its centerpiece is a towering EVA Unit-01, its upper body rising 15 meters (49 feet) out of a pool of red L.C.L.

The attraction is billed as the world’s only place where visitors can board Unit-01. Make your way to the cockpit, or entry plug, 15 meters (49 feet) above the ground for a series of pilot aptitude tests. Grip the controls and the system measures your synchronization rate with the unit, while you take in Kyoto from its point of view. You can also pose on Unit-01’s enormous outstretched hand. The NERV Photo Store offers official professional photography and souvenir prints.

Afterward, stop by the shop beside the base for exclusive EVA merchandise and imaginative themed food and drinks. Keep in mind that boarding takes place on the fourth floor, and there are no elevators or escalators. Visitors must be able to go up and down stairs independently or with help from a companion. Last admission is usually 5:15 PM, extended to 8:15 PM on weekends and holidays in October and November. Entry may close earlier depending on crowds, so fans should visit early.

The Kamen Rider & Super Sentai History Exhibition on the second floor of Padios is a must for fans of tokusatsu, Japan’s live-action special-effects entertainment. Heroes from across the two long-running franchises come together here, inviting fans to immerse themselves in their worlds. Alongside a huge timeline charting both series, a photo spot lets visitors sit on an iconic motorcycle for a picture. It’s a thrill for longtime fans.

I’ve loved tokusatsu since childhood, especially Kamen Rider Den-O and Kamen Rider Kabuto. Seeing so many childhood heroes together on my first visit was incredibly exciting! If you share that love, particularly for Kamen Rider and Super Sentai, this exhibition deserves a place on your itinerary. Before leaving, browse the nearby shop for merchandise and take home a souvenir of your favorite hero.

You can sample Kyoto’s food culture as you wander through the park’s Edo-style streets. Its restaurants and shops offer everything from inventive sweets by long-established Sawai Shoyu to curry udon from Mimiko, which originated in Kiyamachi, and Japanese sweets from SASAYAIORI+, a brand with 300 years of history. Anime fans should also look out for the exclusive L.C.L. drink at NERV Cafe (Ninja Cafe).

One restaurant I particularly recommend is Shuiro Maguro, which specializes in creative tuna dishes. Using fresh tuna delivered directly from fishing ports, it serves both classic seafood rice bowls and inventive snacks. I tried three signature dishes during our visit.

First came tuna-flavored fries: crisp, golden fries sprinkled with a special tuna powder that gave them an irresistible savory aroma. Next was tuna tatsuta-age. Compared with familiar Japanese fried chicken, the fried tuna tasted lighter and less greasy, making for a distinctive treat.

The real conversation starter, though, was the tuna parfait. Its petite glass was generously filled with tuna sashimi, topped with glistening salmon roe and decorated with flowers. The layers of seafood flavors were delicious, while the colorful, playful presentation was practically made for a photo.

The souvenir shops are just as rewarding. At SOU・SOU, browse traditional Japanese clothing with a modern design twist, or visit AZUMA-DO for refined Mino ware to add a Japanese touch to everyday life. Fans of superheroes and history should also stop at the TOEI HERO MARKET (Kamen Rider Store, Uzumasa Kyoto Village), Shinobiya Souvenir Shop, and the Shinsengumi Shop. Replica swords, throwing stars, and exclusive anime collaborations make memorable keepsakes from your journey through the park’s different worlds.

Uzumasa Kyoto Village is easy to reach, whether you’re coming from Kyoto Station or combining your visit with a day in Arashiyama. Choose the most convenient option for your starting point:

Booking online before your visit saves time queuing for tickets and leaves more time for costume experiences and popular tours. Use the links below to check for occasional special offers and buy in advance. You can then scan your ticket code on arrival for a smoother start to the day.

Refreshed for 2026, Uzumasa Kyoto Village brings the atmosphere of Edo-era Japan together with anime and live-action superhero culture. Dress as a samurai or oiran and stroll through historical streets, watch a high-energy ninja show, or meet a 15-meter (49-foot) EVA Unit-01 and generations of Kamen Riders. With experiences for different ages and interests, it’s a fun way to step into the worlds of Japanese film and entertainment on your next Kyoto trip.

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