With our guided details and information designed to help you follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest samurai swordsmen of all time, Miyamoto Musashi, you’ll discover the truth about his life and times! See where Miyamoto Musashi was born, the little-known places where he was raised as a child, and other historical sites where he lived, stayed, trained and fought. Visit the sites of some of Musashi’s greatest duels, including those against the wandering swordsman, Arima Kihei, the three famed bouts against the Yoshioka School in Kyoto, and the ultimate showdown against Sasaki Kojiro at Ganryujima. See the sites visited by Musashi. Feel the mystical aura surrounding Musashi’s retreat, the cave known as Reigando, where he wrote the Go-Rin no Sho, Book of Five Rings, the castles he served at, and visit his true final resting place.
Go where Musashi Went, See what Musashi saw, Feel the spirit of Miyamoto Musashi.
*Please refer to the itinerary section for the full tour schedule.
The mysterious and sacred Reigando is a large, open fronted cave in Kumamoto, famed for being the site where Miyamoto Musashi retired to and spent the final years of his life as a hermit, meditating and writing one of the most perceptive and incisive manuscripts on swordsmanship, winning strategies, and warfare, the Go-Rin no Sho, the Book of Five Rings, while a guest of the Hosokawa clan, lords of Kumamoto.
Five hundred Rakan Buddhist stone statues are enshrined along the narrow path leading from the Unganzen-ji Temple to the historical Reigando Cave, adding to the atmosphere.
Ganryujima is a small island about 300 meters long and 100 meters wide along the coast of Shimonoseki in the Kanmon Straights. It is the site of the most celebrated duel of the samurai period, the bout between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, fought on the morning of April 13, 1612.
See the site of the duel where Musashi is said to have used a wooden sword carved from an old boat oar to defeat Kojiro and his overly long samurai sword, the statue depicting the two in combat, and the memorial to Sasaki Kojiro on Ganryujima.
Transfer from Kansai Airport to Kyoto and stay overnight in Kyoto.
Our tour starts at Kyoto Station, where your guide will greet you.
Your guide will greet you at Kyoto Station.
Hotel near Kyoto Station (e.g. Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto)
While in Kyoto we’ll show you where to go and what to see to truly follow in the footsteps of Musashi. Discover where he went and stayed, and the actual sites where he dueled with the Yoshioka clan three times, including the Ichijo-ji Sagarimatsu (the Spreading Pine) at Ichijo-ji, the Hachidai Shrine where he contemplated praying prior to the final bout with Yoshioka Matashichiro and the Yoshioka retainers, amongst other places. Visit the ancient temple complex where Musashi was meditating when he first learned about Sasaki Kojiro and spend the night in the city of history and culture, Kyoto.
Hotel near Kyoto Station (e.g. Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto)
From Kyoto Station, you’ll take the Shinkansen Bullet train to Okayama, where you’ll be greeted at Okayama Station, and driven to Mimasaka, the birthplace of Miyamoto Musashi.
After visiting Musashi’s birthplace, his fine statue and related historical sites, we’ll be driven to Hirafuku and Sayo in Hyogo. Here we’ll learn about Musashi’s early life. Walk the streets of the village Musashi grew up in, visit the home where he was raised by his stepmother and uncle. See the site and learn the story of Musashi’s first duel, fought at just 13 years of age against a wandering swordsman. View the Rikan Castle ruins from the observatory before returning to Okayama where you’ll stay overnight.
Hotel near Okayama Station (e.g. Hotel Granvia Okayama)
From Okayama, you’ll take the Shinkansen to Shimonoseki, and get your first look at Ganryujima from the site where Musashi stayed and probably carved the wooden sword used against Kojiro before departing for the duel the next morning. After that, you’ll take a boat from the port to Ganryujima, where Sasaki Kojiro and Musashi fought the greatest of duels. After exploring Ganryujima, you’ll return to Shimonoseki, then head to Kokura to visit Kokura Castle, rounding out Day 4.
Hotel near Kyoto Station (e.g. Rihga Royal Hotel Kokura)
Wake up in Kokura. Today you’ll go by car to visit the ruins of the castle Musashi went to directly after the duel at Ganryujima and discover what happened there. Traveling again by car you’ll also see the Kokura Hibun, a large monolithic memorial erected by Musashi’s son Iori and containing the most reliable details of Musashi’s life and adventures. From Kokura we head via Bullet Train to Kumamoto, where Musashi spent his later years. Stay the night in friendly and picturesque Kumamoto.
Hotel in Kumamoto City (e.g. Kumamoto Hotel Castle)
Kumamoto: See the legendary Reigando, the cave where Musashi spent the last years of his life and where he penned the Go Rin no Sho, the Book of Five Rings. Visit the Shimada Museum where a number of Musashi’s items are displayed, and Kumamoto Castle where Musashi served the Hosokawa clan. We’ll show you the actual site where Musashi lived, and where he died. We’ll also take you to the true grave of Miyamoto Musashi. Stay the night in Kumamoto.
Hotel in Kumamoto City (e.g. Kumamoto Hotel Castle)
Day seven sees you departing the castle town of Kumamoto for the castle town of Himeji, where you’ll visit the National Treasure and World Heritage listed Himeji Castle where Musashi spent some time. Stay a night in the castle town of Himeji.
Hotel near Himeji Station (e.g. Hotel Monterey Himeji)
In the morning we travel to a 1,000-year-old temple complex accessible only by car or bus and ropeway, and one of the locations used in the filming of “The Last Samurai”. Discover the fascinating — and the sad connections — between Musashi and the impressive and ancient temple complex. From Himeji we head to Akashi Castle, where Musashi was involved in the castle’s design and construction and the formation of the castle’s pleasure gardens. After viewing Akashi Castle, our next stop is Osaka.
Hotel near Namba Station (e.g. Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka)
Our Miyamoto Musashi tour ends in Osaka.
From Osaka go home via Kansai Airport
Hotel near Kyoto Station
Please be aware that there may be occasions where we will not be able to accommodate your luggage in the vehicle. In such cases, we kindly ask that you make alternative arrangements to transport your luggage.
Comfortable clothing and shoes for walking.
This experience is booked on request. The owner of the experience will respond to the request within 5 days
| Cancellation Date | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|
| No-show or cancellation after tour departure | 100% of the tour price |
| On the tour date | 50% of the tour price |
| 1 day prior to the tour date | 40% of the tour price |
| 2 to 7 days prior to the tour date | 30% of the tour price |
| 8 to 20 days prior to the tour date | 20% of the tour price |
| 21 or more days prior to the tour date | Free |
