Kumamoto Afternoon Half Day Miyamoto Musashi Tour with Hired Car

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 English-speaking guide. If the director is unavailable, explanations will be given by the the English-speaking guide.

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."

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.