Afternoon Musashi Tour: In the Steps of Legendary Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi
PLAN
Afternoon Musashi Tour: In the Steps of Legendary Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi
Reigando (in Unganzen-ji Temple)
Unganzen-ji Temple
Reigando (in Unganzen-ji Temple)
Shimada Museum of Art
Shimada Museum of Art
Tour Details
1. Visit places associated with Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's legendary swordsman who was undefeated in over 60 battles, on this tour in Kumamoto where he spent his later years.
2. Tour around the Shimada Museum where several items related to the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, such as his swords and portraits, are on display.
3. Visit Nishi-no-Musashizuka, one of the possible burial sites of Miyamoto Musashi.
4. Spend some time for Zazen (seated Zen meditation) at Reigando, the cave where Miyamoto Musashi retreated and wrote about swordsmanship and martial arts in general in The Book of Five Rings.
About Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism:
- This tour promotes Cross-cultural Understanding as stated under Sunrise Tours' Sustainable Development Goals.
- We advocate for responsible travel, and urge one and all to become responsible travelers. Please check the dedicated page for details.
http://jtbgmt.com/en/g-web/sdgs
Reigando Cave (image)
Tour Overview
Req. to Run Tour
2guest(s)
Req. per Booking
1guest(s)
Departs
Kumamoto
Guide Service
English
Tour Guide/Conductor Language
Not Available
Audio Guide
Not Available
Tangential multilingual assistant or multilingual reception accepted
Not Available
Meeting Place/Time
In front of Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center/13:50
Included
National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter fee; Other admission fees, experience fees, and transportation costs included in the tour
Not Included
Remarks
Remarks
Planning Company: JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.
Address: 2-3-14 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agent (No. 1723)
A member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents
[Reception Method]
At reception, please show the reservation confirmation sheet or e-mail (printout/digital copy on mobile device) to staff.
[Cancellation Charge]
- Cancellation fees will be charged from 10 days in advance.
[Operation Conditions/Tour Conditions]
- The number of customers for 1 group booking for this tour is 2-4.
- The last reception day (reservation deadline) is 8 days prior to the tour.
- If the minimum number of participants (2) is not met by 4 days before the scheduled date, or due to other operational management circumstances, the tour on that date may be canceled.
- If the tour is canceled, customers will be notified by the conducting company or their travel agent.
- The itinerary displayed on the booking screen is the final itinerary.
- Please note that participants may not join partway through the tour.
- 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.
- During the tour, the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter will confirm with customers their drop-off location on the return trip. (Drop-off is available only for hotels in Kumamoto City. )
In front of Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center *Customers who are late for the departure time will have their reservations canceled. Please give yourself plenty of time.
- 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.
[Important Notes/Supplements: What to Wear/Bring]
- As Reigando Cave is located within the grounds of Unganzen-ji Temple in the mountains, some paths may have poor or uneven footing. Please be sure to participate in shoes which are easy to walk in. Furthermore, 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.
In the event that a bus company not listed in the Remarks/Important
Notes will be used, customers will receive a separate confirmation document via email at
least 1 day in advance.
Tour Calendar
2025
＜
＞
Seats available
Few seats available
Not available
Requests Accepted
Number of stocks
Request date
Price (per person)
Adults
(12-99)
JPY
children
(6-11)
JPY
Infants
(0-5)
JPY
Number of People
Adults
Children
Infants
Payment in Advance Total
JPY
The Terms & Conditions Document will be delivered via
electronic means. Customers are to check and save the content themselves.
The [Plan Name], [Tour Date], [Tour Price], [Tour
Outline], [Remarks/Important Notes], and [Itinerary] on the booking screen are part
of the Terms & Conditions Document (Important Items). Print or save as PDF.
The Terms & Conditions Document (General Items) has been
displayed and saved.
Payments must be made using credit card.
After the payment has been processed, the travel contract
will be finalized once the customer receives a reservation confirmation email along
with an attached reservation confirmation sheet.
The cancellation policy has been checked and agreed upon.
The information displayed for this tour is valid for the next possible departure date.
This date was automatically selected. Please select a departure date to show the most
accurate information for that date.
Day
Time
Duration
Itinerary
Itinerary Details/Special Items
Transportation
Meal
Start
End
(min)
1
13:50
14:00
10
In front of Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center
Meet-up
Please show your reservation confirmation sheet at reception. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure time.
1
15
Transfer
Hired car
1
45
Shimada Museum of Art
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 English-speaking guide.
1
10
Transfer
Hired car
1
20
Nishi-no-Musashizuka
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."
1
30
Transfer
Hired car
1
60
Reigando Cave (in Unganzen-ji Temple) Seated Zen Meditation Experience
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 for seated Zen meditation. 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
30
Transfer
Hired car
1
17:30
(2025) 18:00 (2026) 17:40
Drop-off at Specified Hotel in Kumamoto City
Tour ends at hotel specified for drop-off.
*Hotel drop-off service is limited to hotels in Kumamoto City. During the tour, the guide will confirm with customers their hotel accommodation.
Itinerary
The information displayed for this tour is valid for the next possible departure date.
This date was automatically selected. Please select a departure date to show the most accurate
information for that date.
Day
Time
Duration
Itinerary
Itinerary Details/Special Items
Transportation
Meal
Start
End
(min)
1
13:50
14:00
10
In front of Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center
Meet-up
Please show your reservation confirmation sheet at reception. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure time.
1
15
Transfer
Hired car
1
45
Shimada Museum of Art
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 English-speaking guide.
1
10
Transfer
Hired car
1
20
Nishi-no-Musashizuka
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."
1
30
Transfer
Hired car
1
60
Reigando Cave (in Unganzen-ji Temple) Seated Zen Meditation Experience
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 for seated Zen meditation. 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
30
Transfer
Hired car
1
17:30
(2025) 18:00 (2026) 17:40
Drop-off at Specified Hotel in Kumamoto City
Tour ends at hotel specified for drop-off.
*Hotel drop-off service is limited to hotels in Kumamoto City. During the tour, the guide will confirm with customers their hotel accommodation.
