BROTHER JOYFACTORY TOKYO Admission Ticket & Samurai Experience (Tokyo)

BROTHER JOYFACTORY TOKYO turns you into the main event: put on a samurai outfit, perform sword moves in front of a giant screen, and see the scene transformed with visual effects. The standard ticket also includes a T-shirt featuring your samurai image and a short video to take home.

I like two things about the idea: you make a souvenir from your own experience, not just buy one, and the optional activities offer very different ways to play with Japanese culture. You can sing a Japanese hit for a small vinyl record, try giant-brush calligraphy, or sew a patterned pouch.

The main catch is that the standard ticket covers only the samurai activity. The other experiences and most extra merchandise cost more, so check what your chosen ticket includes before you book. Plan to arrive on time, too: being more than 10 minutes late may mean missing the samurai session.

What to Know Before You Book

1 / 8

• The samurai scene is the core activity: Wear training clothes over your own outfit and perform in front of a large LED screen while VFX create the action.
• Your ticket includes take-home keepsakes: The standard ticket includes a T-shirt printed with your samurai image and a short video of the experience.
• Optional activities are sold separately: Choose a Plus One ticket for one additional activity, or ask about buying one at the venue.
• Karaoke becomes a record: Pick from 100 popular Japanese songs and take home your recording on a 7-inch vinyl record, with a photo jacket, plus digital audio.
• The venue is easy to reach by train: It is about an 8-minute walk from Tokyo Station and 2 minutes from Kyobashi Station.
• The facility is cashless: Bring a payment method other than cash for extra activities or goods.

👉 See our pick of the 25 Best Guided Tours In Tokyo

Your Samurai Scene Takes Center Stage

The two-hour visit begins with the activity included in every ticket: SAMURAI LEGEND. You put on a Japanese-style training outfit over your clothes, then take part in a sword-training scene staged in front of a large LED screen. VFX and AI processing turn your movements into a high-definition samurai image.

This is not a lesson in traditional sword technique. Think of it as a playful performance, with you acting out the part and the screen doing much of the storytelling. The experience was developed with Japanese film and game creators, including director Shinji Aramaki, known for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, and Monster Hunter producer Shintaro Kojima.

Afterward, your samurai appearance is used to make a T-shirt, and you receive a short video of the experience. That personal touch is the strongest reason to choose this activity over a more conventional cultural attraction. Instead of simply posing beside a prop, you help create the image that goes home with you.

The shirt and video make the standard ticket feel more substantial than an admission-only pass. Still, the appeal depends on what you enjoy: if you like playful photos, visual effects, and making a souvenir, this should land well. If you want a historically grounded lesson in samurai life, this is not that.

Wear light clothing, since the training outfit goes on over your clothes. Avoid green garments because the VFX setup uses a green screen. You need to be at least 8 to take part in SAMURAI LEGEND; one child aged 7 or younger may accompany each group for free, but cannot join the activity.

Karaoke That Leaves on Vinyl

KARAOKE RECORD gives you a more unusual keepsake: a recording of your own voice pressed onto a 7-inch record. Choose from 100 popular Japanese songs and sing in a professional recording booth. Your record comes with a jacket featuring your photo, and you also receive the audio as a digital file.

There are two recording modes. In Singing Voice As Is Mode, your voice is recorded as it sounds. In Singing Voice Correction Mode, the system corrects the pitch and automatically converts your voice to Japanese. That second option is a playful choice if you want a polished souvenir, while the uncorrected mode keeps the performance closer to your actual singing.

The song selection is made up of Japanese-language tunes, so this activity suits you best if you are comfortable trying a song even if you do not know every word. You do not need to be a singer. The point is the novelty of making a small record with your own voice on it.

Karaoke is not part of the standard ticket. It is available with the Plus One Activity Ticket, which includes the samurai experience plus one selected activity, or may be purchased separately at the venue if available. If recording a vinyl keepsake is your priority, choose the package that clearly includes it rather than assuming it comes with admission.

Giant-Brush Calligraphy and a Sewn Souvenir

SHODO STAGE puts you in front of a large brush for a calligraphy performance with visual effects. You write a kanji character, which is digitally processed and made into a small foil-stamped hanging scroll. The setup gives beginners a chance to make something bold without needing prior calligraphy skills.

This is a good pick if you want a keepsake that feels more connected to a traditional art form than the VFX shirt or karaoke record. The final scroll is also compact and easy to pack. Your choice of character and the brushwork itself make the result personal, even if you are new to calligraphy.

SEWING STUDIO takes a hands-on route. Using Brother sewing machines, you can make a small item, such as a drawstring bag or pouch, from colorful Japanese-patterned fabric. It is the most practical of the optional activities: you leave with something you can use, and the process gives you a little time to work with the material rather than simply select a design.

Both activities require an extra ticket if you have the standard admission. You can select one of them as the Plus One activity, or check whether a separate purchase is available onsite. If you are visiting with family or a group, it is worth agreeing in advance which activity everyone wants. The Plus One option is for one added activity, not all of them.

CREATE KOBO Turns Photos Into Custom Goods

CREATE KOBO is a separate goods-making corner where you can design more than 15 types of items, including T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and can badges. Use photos taken at the facility, images from your phone, handwritten illustrations, or pixel art inspired by Japanese culture.

The creative freedom is a plus, but do not mistake the workshop for an open-ended included perk. The standard ticket does not cover goods made here, except for items already included with an activity. You pay extra for additional designs and products, with listed prices ranging from ¥825 to ¥8,800 depending on the item.

If you want to make something beyond the samurai T-shirt, set a budget before you arrive. The facility is cashless, so cash will not work for add-ons. Order and design terminals support English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and French, which makes the process more manageable if you do not speak Japanese.

Two Hours Near Tokyo Station

The visit is planned for about two hours, and you select a start time when booking. Available sessions run from 13:30 through 19:00, with the facility open from 13:30 to 21:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is closed on Wednesdays.

The location is convenient for fitting into a central Tokyo day. BROTHER JOYFACTORY is at 3-3-8 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku. Kyobashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is about a 2-minute walk away; Tokyo Station is about an 8-minute walk from the Yaesu South Exit. Ginza-itchome and Takaracho stations are also within walking distance.

You can enter up to 10 minutes before your reserved time. Aim to arrive within that window, because arriving more than 10 minutes late may prevent you from taking part in SAMURAI LEGEND. The booking is tied to your selected date and time, and late arrivals or no-shows are not refundable.

Staff mainly speak Japanese, but English support is available. The terminals also offer several language options, so you can handle ordering and design tasks without needing to conduct every step in Japanese. The activity is limited to groups of one to four people per 30-minute reservation slot. Groups of five or more need to book different time slots.

Is the Ticket Worth the Price?

The standard ticket starts at US$55.49 and includes admission plus SAMURAI LEGEND, the custom T-shirt, and the short video. For a two-hour activity in central Tokyo, the value rests less on the number of attractions and more on whether you want a personal, made-for-you souvenir. If you only want to watch a show or learn about samurai history, the price may be harder to justify.

The Plus One Activity Ticket starts at US$83.25 and adds one choice from the optional activities. The price difference is worth considering if karaoke, calligraphy, or sewing is a key part of your plan. It also helps you avoid building an outing around the standard ticket and then discovering that your preferred add-on costs extra.

Optional activities may also be available onsite, but availability can depend on congestion or system issues. If a booked Plus One activity cannot be provided, the stated refund is the difference between the Plus One and Standard ticket when no substitute activity can be offered. If another activity is available, that difference is not refunded.

The staff’s friendly, accommodating manner is one of the experience’s practical strengths, especially if you are visiting solo or need help with the activity. You do not need to arrive with a group to make a souvenir. The small group limit also keeps the booking manageable, though it means larger parties must split across time slots.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

I would put this on the shortlist for families with children aged 8 and up, couples looking for a playful evening, solo visitors who enjoy making things, and anyone who likes unusual souvenirs. The combination of screen-based action and hands-on choices gives you several ways to engage, and the central location makes it easy to pair with other plans around Tokyo Station or Kyobashi.

It is also a good rainy-day option if you want an indoor activity that is more interactive than a standard museum visit. That said, the experience is entertainment first. It uses Japanese cultural themes and crafts, but it should not be treated as a deep lesson in history or traditional practice.

The venue does not recommend the activity for pregnant people or people with disabilities. Staff can assist guests who need disability support, and anyone using a wheelchair or mobility equipment should be accompanied. Check the venue’s accessibility details before booking if you need specific support. Outside food and drink, pets, and a range of prohibited items, including weapons, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, alcohol, drones, and sharp objects, are not allowed.

For the best value, decide which souvenir you actually want before booking. Choose Standard if the samurai scene and shirt are enough. Choose Plus One if you already know you want the record, calligraphy scroll, or sewing project. Set aside extra money only if you plan to use CREATE KOBO or add more activities.

Should You Book BROTHER JOYFACTORY TOKYO?

Book it if you want a lighthearted, participatory Tokyo activity and like the idea of leaving with something made from your own image, voice, or handiwork. The samurai VFX scene is the main draw, while the vinyl recording is an especially distinctive add-on. Its central address and multilingual terminals make it a practical choice for a short visit.

Skip it if you are seeking a traditional samurai demonstration, a detailed cultural tour, or an all-inclusive ticket with every activity. The standard admission covers one core experience, and the extras can raise the total. For a memorable souvenir and a couple of hours of hands-on fun, though, the package has a clear point of difference.

FAQ

What does the Standard Entry Ticket include?

It includes admission and the SAMURAI LEGEND experience, including training clothes, the VFX sword-training activity, a T-shirt featuring your samurai appearance, and a short video.

Does the standard ticket include karaoke?

No. KARAOKE RECORD is an additional activity. You can select it with a Plus One Activity Ticket or ask about purchasing it at the venue.

What is included with the Plus One Activity Ticket?

It includes the samurai experience and one choice of additional activity: KARAOKE RECORD, SHODO STAGE, or SEWING STUDIO.

How long does the visit take?

The planned duration is about two hours.

How old do you have to be to take part?

Participants must be at least 8 years old to join SAMURAI LEGEND. One child aged 7 or younger may accompany each group for free, but cannot take part in that activity.

Where is BROTHER JOYFACTORY TOKYO?

It is at 3-3-8 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The venue is about an 8-minute walk from Tokyo Station and 2 minutes from Kyobashi Station.

What languages are available?

Staff mainly speak Japanese, with English support also available. The order and design terminals support English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and French.

What should I wear for the samurai activity?

Wear light clothing because the training outfit goes over your clothes. Do not wear green, as the VFX setup uses a green screen.

Can I pay cash for extra activities or souvenirs?

No. The facility is cashless, so cash cannot be used for additional purchases.

Which days is the venue open?

It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 13:30 to 21:00. It is closed on Wednesday.