Samurai Swords Tour

•  Visit Matsunaga Genroku sensei’s forge and dojo– a master swordsmith from the city of Arao, watch and learn how a traditional samurai sword is made from iron smelting to the finished blade.
• Chance to experience hammering out a piece of red hot steel. 
• Watch a display of ‘tameshigiri’ cutting techniques by Mr Matsunaga’s students.
• Learn how to hold a katana and try tameshigiri yourself, the aim is to cut cleanly through a tightly rolled tatami mat.
• Talk to Mr Matsunaga in his home and see his collection of ancient armour and weapons up close.
• Vist Unganzenji temple home of the sacred Reigando Cave, where Japan’s most famous swordsman rmeditated and wrote the Book of 5 rings
• Explore Tatsuda Nature Park, peaceful gardens with ancient teahouses where the tombs of the Hosokawa lords lie. There is also a monument to Musashi Miyamoto.
• Half day or full day experience available
• Small group tour with dedicated transport
• Highly rated, friendly and informative English interpreter guide.

Samurai Swords Full Day Tour Sample Itinerary:

Timings are approximate and timings for the swordsmith visit and will vary according to the size of the group.

09:00 Meet up with your guide at your hotel or pre-arranged meeting spot.

09:20 Tatsuda Nature Park  

10:30 Unganzenji Temple and Reigando Cave 

12:00 Restaurant 

13:45 Arrive at Swordmith

14:00 to 15:00 Forge

15:00 to 16:00 Dojo

16:00 to 16:30 Mr Matsunaga’s sword and antique collection

17:00 Drop off at Arao Station

Full day Tour duration: 09:00 to 17:00 (8 hours)

Meeting Point: Usually your hotel in Kumamoto, if you are travelling down from Fukuoka by train the meeting point can be at Arao station or Kumamoto Station. 

Drop off: Arao Station – from there it’s a 40 minute train ride either to Kumamoto City or Fukuoka City.

Tour Inclusions:

Entrance fees to the Reigando Cave and temple, entrance fees to Tatsuda Nature Park, Swordsmith visit fee, English interpreter guide fee & transport.

Tour Exclusions: Lunch is not included in the tour price but please inform us of any dietary requirements when making a booking so we can make sure to visit a suitable restaurant.

No. of guests: Minimum 1 person, maximum 8.

Activity level: Gentle – Moderate, there are some uneven stairs to climb at Reigando cave so it is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs. Taking part in hammering the metal in the forge and practising tameshigiri – the art of sword cutting are purely voluntary. Children under 15 cannot use the swords for cutting but with supervision can hold a sword for photos.

Weather: The tour can usually go ahead in all weathers, we will contact you in advance if the forecast is for rain.

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Half day Tour duration: AM 09:30 to 12:30 or PM 13:30 to 16:30 (approx 3 hours, but time will vary according to the number of people)

Meeting Point: Arao Station, approx 40 minutes from Kumamoto City

Drop off: Arao Station – from there it’s a 40 minute train ride either to Kumamoto City or Fukuoka City.

Tour Inclusions:

Swordsmith visit fee, English interpreter guide fee & transport to and from station.

No. of guests: Minimum 1 person, maximum 8.

Activity level: Gentle – Moderate, taking part in hammering the metal in the forge and practising tameshigiri – the art of sword cutting are purely voluntary. Children under 15 cannot use the swords for cutting but with supervision can hold a sword for photos.

Weather: The tour can go ahead in all weather.

Swordsmith Visit only: approx 3  hours

Pricing:   

1 person – 20,000 Yen

2 to 6 people 12,000 Yen                                                                                 

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Full day Samurai Swords Tour

Pricing                                            

1 person –          34,000 Yen

2 to 3 people –  17,000 Yen per person                     

4 to 6 people –  16,000 Yen per person

These prices refer to the total number of people on a tour. So if you book a tour for 1 person and no-one else joins then your price is 34,000 yen, if 2 more people join then your price is 17,000 Yen per person etc.               

Private & customisable tours available contact us for details                        

Family discounts available. (Please contact us with your children’s ages to find out more)

All tours are paid for in cash on the day, no deposit is required.                                      

About Matsunaga Genrokuro the Swordsmith

 Japanese swords are famous worldwide for their unique properties of  strength, flexibility and the keenness of their blades.  The techniques of forging a katana were perfected a thousand years ago and the best Japanese swords are said to last a thousand years and can cut a man’s torso in half with a single cut.

Though the days of Samurai have gone there still exist some traditional Japanese swordsmiths in Japan producing collector’s items worth thousands of dollars. Kumamoto with its long samurai heritage used to have many of these dedicated craftsmen. However, these days, chances to meet and witness a master swordsmith at work are rare.

Now in his 70’s Mr Matsunaga has built up a reputation as one of Japan’s top swordmiths. In his distinguished career he has made copies of famous, historical swords for museums, ceremonial swords for the highest ranking sumo wrestlers, presidents and more. He has been recognised with many awards and has been welcoming people from all around the world to his forge and dojo for many years. His purpose is to keep the art of Japanese sword making alive and relevant. Mr Matsunaga is not only a swordsmith he is also highly trained in smelting ‘tamahagane’ the raw material used to make a sword and the most expensive steel in the world. Thirty years ago he created a martial art called Kobudo Shodai Ryu Zanshi. Many students come to his dojo to study and practice Tameshigiri – the art of cutting using a katana and he often travels with them around Kyushu to perform displays of cutting.  Mr Matsunaga speaks little English but he is always very happy to answer questions. If there is time he will also invite you into his house to see his collection of antique weapons and 400 year old Japanese samurai armour.

Tatsuda Nature Park – these beautiful gardens near Kumamoto University are the resting place of the ancient samurai Lords of Kumamoto. In a fairytale grove in the center of the gardens there are two ancient tea houses. The gardens are also the resting place of many generations of the Hosokawa lords. The four largest tombs belong to the first two Hosokawa lords and their wives, one of whom had a very tragic life. In the rear of the gardens is a special monument to Miyamoto Musashi, Japan’s greatest swordsman.

Reigando Cave and Unganzenji a Zen temple on the mountainside of Kinpozan famed for its 500 buddhas. The cave has been a sacred spot for over 1000 years and the temple was founded by a Chinese monk in 1371. Japan’s greatest ever swordsman Musashi Miyamoto came to live in the cave during the last years of his life to meditate and write. His classic book on the samurai art of war ‘Go Rin no Sho’ The Book of Five Rings is world famous.

Covid 19 Precautions

Our priority is to continue to offer fun, friendly and informative tours but to also run tours as safely as possible. 

Due to the continued spread of the Covid 19 virus, we have put safety measures into place to make booking a tour with Explore Kumamoto as risk free as possible. Read our safety measures below also please note  no tour deposit is needed and there is free cancellation when you book an Explore Kumamoto tour.

Below are the measures we will be taking in order to prevent the spread of Covid 19:

 1. Reduced number of guests

To ensure proper ventilation and space for social distance in the tour van, we will limit the number of tour participants. If one group is booking then we can cater to 8 people. If 2 groups are booking we will limit the numbers to 5 participants, this will allow the groups to be separated by one row of vacant seats.

 2. Frequent disinfection and cleaning

We will ensure that good hygiene is a priority by cleaning and disinfecting the tour van before each tour. During the tour we will also ventilate the van by opening the doors and windows regularly and disinfect parts of the van that are often touched.

 3. Social Distancing

Different groups will be asked to remain at least 1 metre apart from each other as we walk around. We will also follow all the social distancing requirements in place at the different sites we visit during the tour.

 4. Body Temperature Check

Before the tour begins we will conduct a body temperature check on all participants.

 5. Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer will be provided in the tour van for all participants to use. There are plenty of places to wash your hands at the scheduled tour stops as well, however, please note soap may not always be available.

 6. Face Masks

All participants will be required to wear a face covering or mask while in the tour van, any inside location and outside in the presence of other people.