Visit Kyushu
The Official Kyushu Travel Guide

The Shimada Museum, which seeks to preserve Kumamoto's warrior culture, opened in 1977 with an exhibition of the personal collection of Shimada Matomi, an independent antique art researcher. Thanks to Shimada's efforts in collecting and preserving historical materials and antiques from the region, the museum offers a glimpse into the history and traditions of samurai culture. The Shimada Museum is built on the site of Shimada's hometown in Kumamoto. Many of Shimada's collection dates back to the time when the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi lived, and some of the works are directly related to Shimada himself. *Please note filming inside the museum is prohibited.