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Offered languages
- English
Embark on a journey to Kumamoto, where the unrivaled swordsman Miyamoto Musashi spent his later years, and visit places associated with him. Begin with a tour around the Shimada Museum where several items related to this famous swordsman, such as his swords and portraits, are on display. Afterwards, visit Nishi-no-Musashizuka, said to be one of the possible burial sites of Miyamoto Musashi. The last stop of the tour is Reigando, the cave where Miyamoto Musashi retreated and wrote about swordsmanship and martial arts in general in The Book of Five Rings, to spend some time meditating and think about what the famed swordsman's twilight years must have been like.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet In front of Information Center entrance inside Kumamoto Station building by 1:50PM. Access: Inside Kumamoto Station Building. Customers who are late for the departure time will have their reservations canceled. Please give yourself plenty of time.
If you are staying at a hotel in Kumamoto City, you can use our drop-off service. During the tour, the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter will confirm with customers their drop-off location on the return trip.
Itinerary
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1
The Shimada Museum of Art houses many items related to Miyamoto Musashi. Look forward to seeing swords said to have been owned by Miyamoto Musashi, as well as portraits such as those of this legendary swordsman and that of his duel with rival Sasaki Kojiro at Ganryujima. Enjoy a guided tour by the director along with explanations from the National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter. If the director is unavailable, explanations will be given by the National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2
At Nishi-no-Musashizuka, in the family grave of Terao Nobuyuki, one of Miyamoto Musashi's students, there is a natural rock inscribed with characters for "Harunobu Koji." Harunobu is Musashi's real name, and Koji is the title for a man who devotes himself to Buddhism without becoming a priest. Terao Nobuyuki's brother, Terao Magonojo, is said to have been Musashi's most important student, and to whom the manuscript of The Book of Five Rings was given. There are several places in Kumamoto City that are thought to be Musashi's grave. There is a theory that his body was actually buried in the Terao family grave, so this tour will visit the Nishi-no-Musashizaka, "The Western Grave of Miyamoto Musashi."
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
Spending his last 5 years in Kumamoto, Miyamoto Musashi retreated to the Reigando cave and composed The Book of Five Rings. The Book of Five Rings is a text on the essentials of the art of war, such as secret techniques of swordsmanship. Take a moment to imagine the fabled swordsman in this cave, and spend some time meditating. At Unganzen-ji Temple, a swordsmanship display by Musashi's disciples and The Five Hundred Disciples of Buddha can be viewed. The Five Hundred Disciples of Buddha (Gohyaku Rakan) are a large number of stone statues, each distinctly shaped like disciples of Buddha, placed alongside a narrow path on the rocky mountainside from Unganzen-ji Temple to Reigando. In case of inclement weather, the meditation experience will not be held in the cave; instead it will be in a hall in Unganzen-ji Temple.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that participants may not join partway through the tour. Also, participants may join only from the meeting location specified in advance
- Itinerary locations and itinerary order may be changed depending on weather conditions and operating conditions of locations to be visited. Even when changed, the tour charge will not be refunded
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Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that participants may not join partway through the tour. Also, participants may join only from the meeting location specified in advance
- Itinerary locations and itinerary order may be changed depending on weather conditions and operating conditions of locations to be visited. Even when changed, the tour charge will not be refunded
- If it is difficult to have the meditation experience in the Reigando cave due to inclement weather or other reasons, the experience will be held in a hall in Unganzen-ji Temple
- There will be an accompanying National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter from the tour meeting location to the tour end location.
- Children up to 5 years old may join free of charge, but will not be provided with hired car seats and experience activities. If seats or experience activities are required, please make a booking under the child rate.
- Please participate in shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. As some locations require shoes to be taken off, please bring socks or wear them in advance.
- As large luggage such as suitcases cannot be brought during the tour, please leave them in a locker or at your hotel before participating.
- Parental permission in writing is necessary for all tour participants under the age of eighteen. Any participant under the age of fifteen or not yet enrolled in middle school must be joined by a parent or guardian on the tour.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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