Samurai in Shibuya: Heavy Duty Fun!

Aside from kimonos, perhaps one of the iconic outfits one would associate with Japan are the armor of the Samurai.  They have a historic, rugged look to them, but when looked at closer, they certainly have a style, a fashionable flair (even the old school Japanese had an eye for fashion, apparently!), and they certainly bring about curious thoughts of the long history behind them.

With the opportunity to wear and be photographed in samurai armor, and having a pretty significant personal connection with Japan, I thought, why not give Samurai Armor Photo Studio a try?

Having a friend equally enthusiastic about becoming a Samurai for a day also adds to the excitement and fun.

As we were outfitted, the resident "warrior" as I'll refer to him, Takemura-san, informed us about the history of the particular suits of armor we were donning, the historical figures who made the armor famous, and various other trivia that made the experience even more immersive.  Not that it needed more flavor, but it certainly gave us a greater appreciation for what we were experiencing.  And once the process was done in less than half an hour, it felt like we were transformed into different people.

We posed for some photos in the studio, before we made our way to street level and then, two Samurai were spotted on the streets of Shibuya!

We're friends of course, but even friends can have the occasional beef.  Especially for the sake of good cosplay:

And we shared a moment with the warrior himself:

Similar to the kimono, one of the best feelings from this experience from a physical standpoint is getting out of the armor, because of the weight/pressure it puts on you from just wearing it.

This studio and experience was great in so many ways, from absorbing the history to the actual wearing and posing for photographs.  The most memorable part, and surreal part of the experience was being out on the street in armour.  It’s similar to the feeling of wearing kimonos out in the modern Tokyo setting, but you kind of stand out a lot more so while you're in the samurai form because it isn’t as normal to see.

Also, the staff were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic in their support, and added to the value/enjoyment of the experience.  They conversed with us both English and Japanese.  If you are visiting Tokyo and have limited time to get one experience in, this would be one of the few things I’d highly recommend in that situation.

Recommendations:
- The studio offers both "studio-only" experience and the opportunity to go out on the streets in Shibuya.  Though it will cost more, I can't recommend the street experience enough!  Putting on the armor is a unique experience in itself, but walking the streets of Tokyo as a Samurai is indescribable.  Just go for it!
- The armor is a bit heavy, and it will wear you down after some time of wearing it.  Don't go in to the experience hungry; have a snack/meal before.  And don't do strenuous activity/exercise right before it either.

- Don’t worry too much about taking photos; the staff will take plenty for you (and will give you the data/files afterwards)!
- The studio has a restroom for customer use; recommend using it right before they start getting you into the armor.

Specifics:
Samurai Armor Photo Studio

Advance reservations are required, on their website

Location: