Miyamoto Musashi,the Strongest Samurai in Japan : Experience Musashi's spirit and Zen meditation in the Reigando Cave (The Book of Five Rings: The Book of Emptiness)

【OUTLINE】

Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest swordsman and undefeated samurai. Musashi was invited by the Hosokawa family, the feudal lord of the Kumamoto domain, to spend his later years in Kumamoto, where he founded the Niten-Ichiryu and wrote the Book of Five Rings, which greatly influenced the spirit of bushido. In Kumamoto today, the spirit and culture of the samurai built by Miyamoto Musashi and the Hosokawa family are passed down from generation to generation, along with the spirit of the Book of Five Rings. The plan is to learn the essence of the spirit of the Book of Five Rings at Reigando Cave, where Musashi wrote the Book of Five Rings, by studying the Book of Five Rings and experiencing Zen meditation with the samurai of today, who have inherited Musashi's spirit and thoughts to this day.

【HIGHLIGHTS】

• Throughout your stay, you will learn about the spirituality of the Book of Five Rings (The Book of Emptiness).
• Please face yourself and experience the spirituality of the Samurai through a Zen meditation experience led by the deputy priest at Reigando Cave, famous as the place where Musashi Miyamoto wrote “The Book of Five Rings”.
• This tour is a fascinating opportunity to meet Kumamoto samurai living in the modern age. The experience will be led by a special guide who is well versed in Musashi and the samurai spirit, as well as the assistant chief pries of Reigando(Unganzen Temple). Please enjoy the encounter with the Samurai who live in the present.
  

【SCHEDULE】

[13:30]　Gathering、Advance Explanation
　　　　・Explanation of Reigando
　　　　・About manners

[13:50]　Prologue
　　　　・Meet our Special Guides
　　　　・Explanation ofthe Book of Five Rings (The Book of Emptiness ).　
　　
[14:45]　Practice the Zen meditation

[14:55]　Preparing to move to Reigando

[15:05]　Move to Reigando(Unganzen Temple) (by taxi)

[15:35]　Walking around the site
　　　　・Face to face with the assistant chief pries of Reigando
　　　　・Walking around the site
　　　　・Explanation of Musashi and Reigando
　　　　・Explanation at Reigando Cave

[16:40]　Zen meditation at Reigando Cave

[16:50]　Move to the main hall of the temple

[17:00]　End

【DETAILS】

At the Musashikan Dojo, special guide, who is well versed in samurai culture, will explain in detail about the plan's theme, Miyamoto Musashi and The Book of Five Rings (The Empty Scrolls). Then, you will practice a simple Zen meditation. After that, we will move to Reigando(Unganzenji). Upon arrival, you will hear a secret story about Musashi's character from the assistant chief pries of Reigando, and walk around the site, including Reigan-do Cave. Finally, at Reigando, where Musashi wrote the Book of Five Rings, you will experience Zen meditation, where you can unify your mind, face yourself, and become detached, just like Musashi.

◆About of Reigando
The cave is located at the foot of Mt. Reigando-do Cave is located on the hill behind Ungan Zenji Temple, which is covered with dense trees and is known as a mysterious sacred place. It is known that the great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who spent the last five years of his life in Kumamoto, stayed in this cave and wrote his book “The Book of Five Rings” on the art of war.

◆About Musashikan Dojo
Musashi Kan Dojo is an iaido dojo run by the 17th and 18th generation of Niten Ichiryu, the school founded by Miyamoto Musashi.

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：3.5 hours
• 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（Guide / Menu instructions）
  ・English（Guide / Menu instructions）
  ・Chinese（Guide）
• Included：
  ・Experience fee
  ・Admission fee
  ・Guide（Japanese / English / Chinese）
• Excluded：
  ・Traveling expenses (from Musashikan Dojo to Reigando)
• Clothes：
  ・Please wear loose-fitting clothes that do not constrict the body for the zazen experience.
  ・Please wear comfortable shoes for walking in the park.
• Participation requirements：
  ・We do not accept participants who only wish to observe. Please contact us in advance if you will be accompanying another participant and wish to observe the activity only.
  ・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：No
• Toilet：Yes (Japanses-style only)
• Other things to note：
  ・Please note that the content of the experience may change slightly due to weather and other conditions.
  ・If the tour is canceled due to weather or other circumstances, we will notify you by phone by 4:00 p.m. the day before the tour.

【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%