Kumamoto Samurai Experience: Spirit of Miyamoto Musashi

【STORY】

This plan offers a private experience. It is recommended for those who wish to deeply experience the history and spirituality of Kumamoto samurai, as well as for individuals with martial arts experience. Discover the Spirit of Miyamoto Musashi, the Strongest Samurai in Japan (For Experienced Participants, Private Session)

Miyamoto Musashi, renowned as Japan's foremost swordsman, spent his twilight years in Kumamoto at the invitation of the first lord of Kumamoto Domain, HOSOKAWA Tadatoshi. In the heart of Kumamoto city, Musashi authored the "Gorin no Sho" in a cave known as Reigandou, a compilation of strategies and wisdom designed to conquer inner turmoil and doubts, ultimately leading to success in battles. He also finalized his distinctive martial art style, Niten Ichi-ryu.

Today, the 18th-generation headmaster, Master Matsunaga, carries forward the legacy of Miyamoto Musashi's Niten Ichi-ryu and contributes to the advancement of iaido. This exclusive experience, personally guided by Master Matsunaga, allows you to delve into the genuine martial arts and spiritual essence of the samurai, a tradition upheld for nearly 380 years.

We will design a tailored program just for you, taking into consideration your prior experience and interest in martial arts, whether it's iaido, kendo, or other disciplines. Immerse yourself in the cultural and spiritual heritage of Kumamoto's samurai, embracing the ethos of self-improvement.

【HIGHLIGHTS】 

• Receive direct instruction from Master Matsunaga, the 18th-generation headmaster who upholds the Niten Ichi-ryu tradition of Japan's most formidable samurai, Miyamoto Musashi.
• Tailor the experience to your preferences, considering your prior martial arts experience in disciplines such as iaido and kendo, and your level of interest.
• Immerse yourself in the teachings and philosophy of Miyamoto Musashi and the samurai spirit while enjoying matcha and traditional Japanese sweets.
• Engage in interactive sessions with the instructor to deepen your learning through questions and answers.
  

【SCHEDULE】

Please select your start time in the box on the upper right.

[00:00] Change into martial arts attire under the guidance of the instructor.
[00:10] Enjoy a session in a traditional Japanese room, sipping matcha while receiving explanations about the samurai spirit and posture.
　　　* We will inquire in detail about participants' experience levels and areas of interest.
[00:25] Sensei's performance at the dojo
[00:30] Iaido experience
* We will teach techniques tailored to participants' preferences and experiences.
[01:20] Engage in interactions with the instructor and receive a tenugui (hand towel) as a gift.
[01:30] Change back to your clothing
[01:40] End

【EXPERIENCE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION】

The following two points are the characteristics of Musashi Miyamoto, the founder of Niten Ichiryu, which you will experience this time.

(1) He was a samurai who focused and improved on his artistic sense. He created various works of art, believing that enhancing artistry is the most important way to hone his swordsmanship. Miyamoto Musashi's ink paintings and tsuba (metal sword guards) are stored at the Shimada Museum of Art in Kumamoto City.

(2) He mastered his own swordsmanship in order to protect his family and master. As the era changed from the Sengoku period, which was an era of war, to the Edo period, which sought peace, people lived not only to win battles, but also to master swordsmanship in order to protect and keep the peace. This style of swordsmanship and spirituality is Iaido.

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：100 minutes
• Meeting point：Musashi building 3F
  1-6-4 Shimotori, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, 860-0807 [MAP]
  
• Access：
  ●15 minutes walk from Kumamoto Castle
  ●Take the Kumamoto City Tram (Line A, heading towards Kengunmachi) from JR Kumamoto Station. Get off at Torichosuji station and it's a 5-minute walk from there.
  
• Language support：Japanese, English（additional fees apply）
• Included：
  ・Experience fee
  ・Matcha
  ・Japanese sweets
  ・Martial Arts Attire Dressing
  ・Hand towel
  
• Excluded：
  ・English-speaking guide（additional fees apply）
• Clothes：
  When changing into martial arts attire, please remove thick jackets and similar outerwear. However, you can keep wearing T-shirts or sweatshirts, as we will arrange the dressing process accordingly.
  Therefore, we kindly request that you wear clothing that is easy to be dressed in. You can keep your pants on, but please refrain from wearing skirts or dresses, as they may restrict movement.
  
• Participation requirements：
  ・Height 150cm or more
  ・This is an exclusive private experience for one group only.
  ・We do not accept observers-only reservations. If you wish to accompany a participant as an observer, please make a prior reservation. The fee for observers is 3,350 yen per person (includes the observation fee, tea, sweets set, and hand towel).
  ・Strollers are accessible..
  ・Not recommended for travelers with back problems.
  ・Not recommended for pregnant travelers.
  ・Not recommended for travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
  
• Special support：Luggage storage is available.
• Free WI-FI：Yes
• Toilet： Yes (Western-style)
• Other things to note：
  ・In this tour, we will use imitation swords, but we kindly ask that you follow the instructor's safety guidelines and participate with care.
  ・While we provide tea and sweets during the experience, if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance and consume the provided items accordingly.
  ・This plan will be conducted in Japanese. If you need an English-speaking guide, please select from the options. (English-speaking guides cannot be arranged on the day of the experience.)
  ・An optional English-speaking guide can be reserved up to 5 days before the experience date. Thank you for your understanding.
  ・ For groups of 5 or more, we can accommodate extended experience times. For details, please inquire separately.
  ・If the tour is cancelled due to weather or other circumstances, we will notify you by phone by 4:00 p.m. the day before the tour.
  

【HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES】

・Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
・Social distancing enforced throughout the experience
・Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
・Gear/equipment sanitized between uses
・Guides required to regularly wash hands
・Regular temperature checks for staff。
・Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
・Contactless ticket redemption

【CANCELLATION POLICY】

Until 72 hours before the experience start time: 0%
From 72 hours before the experience start time to start time: 100%
Cancellation after the experience has started or cancellation without contact: 100%
※Right after the online settlement is made, a cancellation fee of 10% will be incurred in case of cancellation.
※The cancellation fee includes handling charges.