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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Discover the Legacy of Japan’s Greatest Swordsman
A journey to locations with a connection to bushido and Miyamoto Musashi, known as Japan’s strongest swordsman
Kyushu Tourism Organization
Miyamoto Musashi is a samurai who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries and established a reputation as being an indomitable swordsman. The locations in Kyushu related to Musashi’s life have been well-preserved, and a journey to these places helps visitors learn about his accomplishments, as well as the inner strength and beauty that comes from continually improving yourself.
Kumamoto Prefecture is home to several sites with a connection to Musashi, including Reigando Cave, the Shimada Art Museum, and the Musashikan dojo. Reigando Cave in Kumamoto City is a kind of pilgrimage site for Musashi fans. It is the place where Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings, a practical instruction manual on swordsmanship and life that is said to have influenced foreign business leaders. The Shimada Art Museum in western Kumamoto houses approximately 1,000 works of art and antiques related to samurai history and culture, including some of Musashi's personal belongings. And at the Musashikan dojo, where Musashi's teachings are passed down from generation to generation, visitors can experience authentic iaido and learn about the spirituality of the samurai.
This route also includes traditional shrines in Fukuoka Prefecture such as Kushida Shrine, as well as the Izumi Buke Yashiki and Senganen in Kagoshima Prefecture, where visitors can experience the lifestyle of the samurai of the time.
How to get there
From Hakata Station, take the Fukuoka City subway to Nakasu Kawabata Station (about 5 minutes). From there, walk 5 minutes to Kushida Shrine.
1-41 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken
