Shimada Museum of Art

About

Entrance to the Shimada Museum of Art in Kumamoto, surrounded by bamboo forest. Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Shimada Museum of Art (島田美術館) is a specialized private museum in Kumamoto dedicated to samurai culture, housing one of Japan's most important collections of artifacts related to legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, along with materials from the Hosokawa family and Kato Kiyomasa. Located in a serene bamboo forest setting, the museum offers an intimate cultural experience complemented by a tranquil cafe and contemplative garden. 🔗

The museum opened in autumn 1977, founded by Shimada Matomi (1886-1977), who dedicated his life to the preservation and study of historical documents and artistic handicrafts related to samurai culture in Kumamoto. Shimada, an independent antique art researcher who served as executive director of the Kumamoto Castle Promotion Association and chairman of the Musashi Society, passed away the same year the museum opened, leaving behind a remarkable collection of nearly 1,000 artifacts spanning from the medieval to modern periods. 🔗

The museum stands on the site of Shimada's hometown and is particularly renowned for its comprehensive collection of Miyamoto Musashi artifacts. Not many items related to Musashi are extant; most of those that are have been preserved in Kumamoto, and perhaps a third of them are housed in this museum. 🔗

Cultural & Religious Significance

Miyamoto Musashi Connection

The museum's centerpiece collection relates to Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645), the legendary swordsman, artist, and author who spent the final five years of his life in Kumamoto. In 1640, at age 57, feudal lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi invited Musashi to the region, where he received treatment as a 300-koku guest and was given residence at Chiba Castle ruins under the Kumamoto domain. 🔗

Musashi's time in Kumamoto was profoundly productive artistically and philosophically. He retired to Reigando Cave near Kumamoto in 1643 to write his masterwork "Go Rin No Sho" (The Book of Five Rings), completing it in the second month of 1645, just months before his death on June 13, 1645. 🔗

Hosokawa Family Legacy

The Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in the Edo period. Following the Battle of Sekigahara, the Hosokawa were granted the lucrative Higo Province domain (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture), assessed at 540,000 koku. In 1632, the domain was given to Hosokawa Tadatoshi, and unlike the humble beginnings of the previous Kato rulers, the Hosokawa were a family with a long history of status, influence, and culture. 🔗

The Hosokawa family maintained a profound connection to the tea ceremony spanning multiple generations. Hosokawa Tadaoki, a disciple of master Sen no Rikyu, was widely considered the best tea ceremony master in the country. His son, Tadatoshi, founded the Higo-Koryu school of tea ceremony by inviting Sen no Rikyu's grandson-in-law to Kumamoto and ordering that Sen no Rikyu's original tea ceremony be passed down in its authentic form. 🔗

The Eisei Bunko Foundation was established to preserve the legacy and cultural treasures of the Hosokawa family, totaling over 80,000 objects, including tea utensils connected to Sen no Rikyū from Tadaoki's personal collection. 🔗

Collection Highlights

Miyamoto Musashi Artifacts:

The museum's Musashi collection is extraordinary in both scope and significance:

• Paintings and Calligraphy: Musashi was an accomplished artist as well as a warrior. The museum displays his ink paintings (sumi-e), including his renowned kingfisher painting, along with various calligraphic works and scrolls. 🔗

• The Book of Five Rings Manuscript: One of the museum's most precious holdings is a 1651 copy of the "Wind" chapter of The Book of Five Rings, made by Terao Magonojo, the disciple to whom Musashi entrusted the original text seven days before his death. No original manuscript in Musashi's hand exists. 🔗

• Weapons and Armor: The collection includes swords passed down via a minor line of the Hosokawa family, including the weapon Musashi used to defeat the masters of the Yoshioka school. There's also a highly practical openwork "sea-cucumber" handguard for a sword designed by Musashi for maximum lightness. 🔗

• Self-Portrait: The museum houses a Miyamoto Musashi self-portrait that is designated as an Important Cultural Property from the prefecture, exhibited every spring and autumn for four months. 🔗

Additional Collections:

Beyond Musashi artifacts, the museum displays armor, weaponry, swords, paintings, and manuscripts from the Momoyama-Edo period related to Kato Kiyomasa and the Hosokawa family. Another room hosts exhibitions of items from the Edo period (1603-1868) and the Meiji era (1868-1912). 🔗

Visiting Information

Operating Hours

• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily
• Last admission: 4:30 PM
• Closed on Tuesdays (open on national holidays)
• Closed for 10 days before and after New Year's 🔗

Admission Fees

• Adults: ¥700 (Group rate: ¥600 for groups of 20+)
• High school and university students: ¥400 (Group rate: ¥300)
• Elementary and junior high school students: ¥200 (Group rate: ¥100) 🔗

Getting There

By Public Transportation:

• 3-minute walk from Jikeibyouinmae bus stop (Araobashi bus line)
• 2-minute walk from Jyouseiko bus stop (Jyouseiko bus line)
• The museum is located through winding backstreets south of Honmyō-ji Temple (about 20 minutes on foot from the temple) 🔗

By Car:

• 10 minutes from JR Kumamoto Station
• Free parking available for 10 cars
• Large bus parking available 🔗

Contact Information:

• Phone: 096-352-4597
• Website: http://shimada-museum.net/ 🔗

The Experience

Museum Experience

The Shimada Museum offers an intimate, contemplative cultural experience distinct from larger institutions. The museum stands in the midst of a bamboo forest serenity, with the natural setting enhancing the meditative quality of viewing samurai culture artifacts. 🔗

Gallery Layout: The collection is displayed across multiple rooms with explanations provided in both Japanese and English. The temporary exhibition features a rotating selection of items from the Shimada collection that changes 3-4 times annually. This rotation is necessary because works on paper cannot be exposed to daylight for extended periods, ensuring these precious historical items remain preserved for future generations. 🔗

Key Viewing Highlights:

• Musashi's ink paintings and calligraphy
• The Book of Five Rings manuscript copy by Terao Magonojo
• Swords and weaponry, including Musashi's innovative designs
• Armor and historical artifacts from the Momoyama-Edo period
• Rotating exhibitions of Important Cultural Properties

Smoky Tree Café

Adjoining the museum is the Smoky Tree Café, where visitors can enjoy home-cooked muffins and cakes. The café displays the work of contemporary artists and features a small garden perfect for meditative contemplation. Visitors can partake of powdered matcha tea on the outside terrace, surrounded by nature, and even within the café, natural light falling between the tree leaves illuminates the space. 🔗

Visitor reviews highlight enjoying "yuzu juice, coffee, blueberry cheesecake muffins and tea" in what they describe as a "fabulous setting." The museum looks onto a flourishing courtyard of foliage, where visitors can relax and take in the exhibits at their own pace. 🔗

Practical Visiting Tips

Best Time to Visit

• May: The most precious works tend to be on display around May to mark the anniversary of Musashi's death. This is the ideal time for serious Musashi enthusiasts. 🔗
• Spring and Autumn (March-May, September-November): The Important Cultural Property Musashi self-portrait is exhibited during these periods for four months total.
• November (Visit Period): Excellent conditions with mild weather, fewer tourists, and comfortable museum viewing. November is the 3rd driest month in Kumamoto with minimal rainfall. 🔗

Timing Strategy

• Arrive when the museum opens at 10:00 AM for the most peaceful experience
• Allow 1-2 hours minimum for galleries, plus additional time for the café
• The museum experiences lower visitor numbers than major tourist attractions, creating an intimate viewing environment 🔗

Museum Etiquette

General Japanese Museum Customs:

• Speak quietly and maintain a peaceful atmosphere
• Respect all photography prohibitions strictly
• In some Japanese museums, shoe removal may be required (check at entrance)
• Tipping is not practiced in Japan - admission price is all-inclusive
• Mobile phones should be silenced 🔗

Shimada Museum Specifics:

• No filming or photography inside galleries 🔗
• Maintain respectful silence given the contemplative bamboo forest setting
• Allow time to enjoy both the museum and the café/garden experience

Cultural Preparation

Understanding Miyamoto Musashi: Reading about Musashi's philosophy and his Book of Five Rings before visiting will significantly enhance appreciation of the artifacts. Understanding his dual mastery of both martial arts and fine arts helps visitors appreciate the breadth of the collection.

Samurai Culture Context: The museum presents artifacts from the Momoyama-Edo period (late 16th-19th centuries), when Kumamoto was ruled first by Kato Kiyomasa and then by the Hosokawa clan. Understanding this historical transition helps contextualize the collection.

Tea Ceremony Appreciation: The Hosokawa family's profound connection to tea ceremony culture runs throughout the collection. Visitors familiar with Sen no Rikyu and the development of tea ceremony will recognize these cultural threads.

November Weather Considerations

November provides ideal museum visiting conditions in Kumamoto:

• Temperature: Daytime maximum around 18°C (65°F), nighttime lows around 7°C (45°F)
• Rainfall: Approximately 74mm spread over 13 days (3rd driest month)
• Sunshine: Average 5.3 hours per day, with clear or sunny skies 61% of the day
• Clothing: Layers recommended - light clothing for indoor museums, warm jacket for evenings 🔗
• Bring a rain jacket as there are 13 rainy days on average in November
• The bamboo forest setting provides natural shade and coolness 🔗

Exhibition Schedule

While the museum doesn't publish detailed exhibition schedules online, the rotating nature means November visitors can expect:

• A curated selection from the permanent collection (3-4 exhibitions per year)
• Possible viewing of the Musashi self-portrait if visiting during the autumn exhibition period (spring and autumn showings for four months total)
• Full access to armor, weapons, and permanent displays 🔗

For visitors specifically interested in seeing the most precious Musashi works, contacting the museum in advance is recommended to confirm which items will be on display during the November visit period.

Nearby Attractions

Honmyō-ji Temple: Located about 20 minutes on foot (0.9 km) north of the museum, this Nichiren Buddhist temple sits on a hillside at the same height as Kumamoto Castle. The temple is associated with Kato Kiyomasa, with his grave above the temple on the hilltop. The temple offers views of Kumamoto Castle across the city. 🔗

Kumamoto Castle: Visible from Honmyō-ji Temple, this is one of Japan's premier castles and was the seat of the Hosokawa domain. The castle provides essential context for understanding the Hosokawa family artifacts in the Shimada Museum.

Western Kumamoto Walking Route: The Shimada Museum is located in western Kumamoto's quiet residential and temple area, offering a peaceful alternative to the busy downtown. The winding backstreets and bamboo forest environment create an atmospheric neighborhood walk.

Integration with Other Locations

The Shimada Museum pairs naturally with several Kumamoto experiences:

Samurai Heritage Trail:

• Kumamoto Castle (Hosokawa domain seat)
• Honmyō-ji Temple (Kato Kiyomasa connections)
• Shimada Museum (Musashi, Hosokawa, and Kato artifacts)
• Reigando Cave (where Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings)

Cultural Depth Pairing: The museum complements visits to larger institutions like the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, which houses the Eisei Bunko Hosokawa Collection with over 80,000 objects from the Hosokawa family. Together, these venues provide comprehensive insight into Kumamoto's samurai heritage. 🔗

Contemplative Experience: The bamboo forest setting and Smoky Tree Café create an ideal pairing with Kumamoto's temple district and garden attractions for visitors seeking peaceful, culturally enriching experiences.

Important Notes

Exhibition Rotation

The most precious works on paper are exhibited on a rotating basis throughout the year to preserve them from light damage. The museum's most valuable Musashi artifacts are typically displayed in May around the anniversary of his death. November visitors may not see all the museum's treasures but will experience a curated selection representative of the collection. 🔗

Language Support

Exhibitions include explanations in both Japanese and English, making the museum accessible to international visitors. 🔗

Private Museum Character

As a small private museum founded from one collector's personal passion, the Shimada Museum offers a more intimate, focused experience than large public institutions. This creates both advantages (peaceful viewing, curated collection) and limitations (smaller space, rotating exhibitions).

Cultural Significance for Musashi Enthusiasts

For visitors interested in Miyamoto Musashi specifically, this museum is essential. It houses approximately one-third of all extant Musashi-related artifacts, making it a pilgrimage site for those studying Japan's most legendary swordsman and his philosophy. 🔗

Location: View on Google Maps

Source: attractions/kumamoto/shimada-museum-of-art.md